Simple Safety Update – Issue 18 June 2011

 
Hi and welcome to our June Simple Safety Update.
 
Well SOS is very excited to be moving into news offices in South Melbourne. We will be using our lovely new space to offer training and continue to develop simple solutions to your OHS issues. Our address is 216 York St, South Melbourne. All our other contact details will remain the same.  
 
It has been a hectic run up to the end of the financial year and we have been working on many projects across a wide range of industries including transport, environment, community services, waste, and manufacturing. We have continued our support of the Safety Institute of Australia in ensuring that people working in the safety industry and providing advice to employers are suitably qualified.  
 
See the simple link below to find out what you need to look for when hiring safety advisors. Remember all SOS consultants are suitably qualified and can help you not only manage safety but make it simple and cost effective.


OHS News

Harmonisation Countdown – 8

We are now half way to the new legislation commencing on 1 January 2012. Remember this is an important opportunity for you to review your safety practices and make sure you are compliant, but more importantly benefiting from your safety activities.

The following States and Territories have already introduced or passed the new legislation in their parliaments New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT. Victoria is expected to introduce its legislation into parliament in October.
 
Safe Work Australia has released some very easy to read fact sheets about key elements of the new harmonised legislation. See our simple links for a fact sheet on the role of Inspectors.
 

Did you know?

Bullying is now a serious criminal offence in some circumstances. New legislation, known as Brodies law in memory of Brodie Panlock who committed suicide after serious and sustained bullying by her work mates, now makes some forms of workplace bullying extends the existing crime of stalking to cover "serious" bullying, such as "threats and abusive words or acts".

Workplace bullies could be jailed for up to 10 years.
Employers must be onto bullying. The first step in taking action is to determine whether the undesirable behaviour at the workplace is bullying or if it might be another issue, such as management of a person’s work performance. Reasonable management action can be upsetting for some people, but if it’s carried out fairly, it is not bullying.
Employers can find responding bullying difficult and managers can sometimes find it very hard to have the right conversations to nip conflict or bullying in the bud.
It’s important to get the right help Simple OHS Solutions has extensive experience assisting organisations identify and manage workplace conflict and bullying. CONTACT US FOR HELP.
 

Simple Safety Stuff Ups

 
"Really??"


Simple Links

The Role of Inspectors under harmonised legislation.
http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/AboutSafeWorkAustralia/WhatWeDo/Publications/Documents/594/Model_WHS_Act_Fact_Sheet_RoleOfInspectors.pdf 
Bullying– A criminal offence - The Victorian Parliament has passed an amendment to the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) that extends the criminal offence of stalking to include conduct that amounts to serious bullying. 
OHS Professional Are they suitably qualified? - http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/14f103804071fb6db254fee1fb554c40/WorkSafe+Position.pdf?MOD=AJPERES


OHS Events

 
Work Safe Week will be held from 17 – 21 October 2011. Put it in your diary and keep checking back to the WorkSafe Victoria website for updates closer to the time.
Worksafe Information Sessions are conducted throughout Victoria. Click here for further information and to book.