18 months ago two men were fatally injured after a trench they were working in collapsed at a worksite in Delacombe, near Ballarat in Victoria. Yesterday, the Victorian Government announced
Worker killed by machinery at Delacombe
Emergency services have confirmed that a 50-year-old man was killed in an industrial accident in Delacombe, near Ballarat in Victoria last week. Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Argall spoke to the
Calls for US asbestos ban as death toll nears 40,000 per year
According to an article published in the New York Times, asbestos is now responsible for the deaths of 40,000 annually, while thousands more are critically unwell with asbestos-related diseases like
Australia’s largest class-action suit over PFAS
40,000 people who live and work on land contaminated by PFAS chemicals have launched legal action against the Australian Government over their falling property values. The legal team leading the
Scaffolding blitz targets Illawarra sites
SafeWork NSW has continued its commitment to safety across the state’s construction sites with a fresh safety blitz across the Illawarra region. It follows a crackdown in recent months by
QLD’s industrial manslaughter laws in focus as first PCBU charged
The Queensland Prosecutor for Work Health and Safety has commenced proceedings against Brisbane Auto Recycling Pty Ltd, with allegations it had committed industrial manslaughter under the state’s Work Health and
PFAS contamination in QLD in the spotlight
In her visit to Australia this week, American activist Erin Brockovich has called on the government to act to prevent the spread of PFAS chemical contamination. ABC News reported that
CFMEU officials now need permits to enter QLD worksites
The Australian Federal Court has closed a loophole that allowed CFMEU officials to enter building worksites, despite the Palaszczuk government supporting the union’s right to do so. On Wednesday this
Worker trapped 8km underground at Lithgow
A mine worker at the Clarence Colliery near Lithgow has been taken to hospital in a serious condition after being trapped eight kilometres underground on Tuesday night. Working underground at
Dangerous levels of lead in Sydney homes
Households across Sydney’s inner west and CBD have been discovered to contain potentially dangerous levels of lead, according to new research by Macquarie University. Students at the university analysed the
Safety alert – use of near-infrared? handheld analysers for the identification of asbestos-containing materials
The Queensland Government has provided information about the use of near-infrared (NIR) handheld analysers for the identification of asbestos-containing materials (ACM). See photos 1,2 and 3. Product description NIR is
Former hairdresser’s mesothelioma linked to salon dryers
A former UK hairdresser has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos-containing materials in hairdryers over a career that spanned several decades. Calogero La Bella, 80, was diagnosed
Spotlight on NZ benchtop industry after Australian industry action
New Zealand’s stone benchtop industry is in focus as authorities respond to the rising levels of lung disease among workers exposed to silica dust. The NZ safety authority has issued
Recall of Johnson & Johnson baby powder after asbestos traces found
Johnson & Johnson’s US share price has taken a dive after the company announced a voluntary recall of its baby powder, following the discovery that some of the product bottles
Workers injured by cement pump on Melbourne worksite
Four workers have been injured on a construction site in Southbank, Melbourne after a cement pump exploded. Around 1pm on Saturday afternoon, emergency services were called to the site, where
Asbestos clean up next to Melbourne childcare? centre
Two weeks after we first reported on the matter, workers in protective clothing are continuing to remove asbestos-containing material at a site in Melbourne’s Altona North, which is adjacent to
Geelong company fined $120K over unsafe worksite
SafeWork month’s focus on scaffolding safety and falls from heights has again been at the forefront, as a Geelong company was $120,000 for exposing workers to the risk of serious
Perth construction company fined $47K for third breach over WHS training
Hanssen Construction Pty Ltd has been found guilty of failing to ensure direct supervision for work on a site where tilt-up work was being completed, and subsequently fined in the
Safety warning from Cancer Council over silicosis rates
New figures released by the Cancer Council as part of its National Safe Work Month safety campaign around crystalline silica exposure have revealed that more than half a million Australians
Calls for ban on engineered stone products
Silicosis is being described as the next “public health crisis” and many workers in the engineered stone cutting business are calling for a ban on the silica-containing product to prevent
No industrial manslaughter for NSW, rejected as ‘little more than a catchy title’
Industrial manslaughter laws will not be introduced in NSW by the Berejiklian Government, with Minister for Better Regulation, Kevin Anderson marking them as “little more than a catchy title”. Earlier
New tech approach seeks to better prevent workplace accidents
The NSW Government is set to announce a new approach to preventing workplace accidents and improve safety across job sites. A new phone app called Speak Up, Save Lives will
X-ray testing “failing to reliably detect” silicosis
The Royal Australian College of Radiologists made a statement last week outlining the ways that traditional chest X-rays are “failing to reliably detect” serious lung disease. As we have reported
Wins for workplace victims could be under threat with new bill
The Morrison Government has announced it’s proposed Ensuring Integrity Bill, which is aimed at improving workplace-union relationships, following several months of mixed publicity between Government and Union Officials. Public safety
Former detention centre worker diagnosed with mesothelioma
A former employee of the Quamby youth detention centre in Canberra has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, raising concerns for her fellow colleagues and those detained at the same time. Three
Suspected asbestos-containing material found unsecured near childcare centre
Worksafe Victoria is investigating the presence of unsecured material that was suspected of containing asbestos near a childcare centre at Altona recently. The material was noticed by a CFMEU member
Worker killed underneath truck
WorkSafe is investigating an incident in Victoria’s Gippsland region after a truck driver was killed when his vehicle rolled on top of him as he checked underneath it. The incident
$200K in WHS improvements after vehicle-related death
A car dealership in the Riverina has been ordered to spend $200,000 improving its WHS culture, following the death of a man in 2015. Local man, David Jenkins, was crushed
£1m fine over Scottish workplace death
A United Kingdom company, Cemex Operations Limited, has been fined £1m over the death of a worker at a Scotland operation in May of 2017. James Brownlie was carrying out
Caringbah site shut down over scaffolding safety concerns
A south-west Sydney worksite has been shut down after it was revealed that tradesmen on the site removed parts of scaffolding and altered the structure, leaving the scaffolding at risk
Worker crushed at Seven Hills warehouse
A 26-year-old warehouse worker has been critically injured after he was struck by a falling container at a site in Seven Hills in Sydney this morning. The incident occurred at around
Hi-vis shirt results in burns for WA worker
An emergency medicine specialist as spoken out to the editor of the Medical Journal of Australia after she treated a man for first-degree burns caused by a high-vis workwear shirt.
Final Wittenoom residents to have property acquired by WA Government
Several landowners who have refused to move from Wittenoom, Australia’s most contaminated site, will be forced to move after a bill was introduced to Parliament to have their properties compulsorily
Youngest case of silicosis recorded in Australia
An Australian tradesman from the Gold Coast has become the youngest person to be diagnosed with silicosis, a fatal lung disease known as the ‘new asbestos’. Connor Downes, 22, has
Warning over tourist spike in Wittenoom
Western Australia’s Pilbara region has long drawn tourists from around the world, but the now-abandoned town of Wittenoom has continued to be a drawcard for visitors, despite warnings from local
Asbestos-containing material spilled in road accident in Sydney
Commuters were stuck in traffic that stretched for more than 10 kilometres last night after a truck spilled asbestos-containing materials. The incident occurred around 4pm on Sydney’s M2 Motorway near
Calls for standardised indoor air quality levels in Australian schools
According to a UNSW Environmental study, some Australian classrooms are recording levels four times higher than the recommended levels of carbon dioxide and should be addressed as per European standards
Spike in silicosis diagnosis’ spreads to America
We’ve reported frequently on the rise of silicosis cases around Australia, linked to engineered stone cutting and manufacturing, has now begun to increase in incident frequency across the US. As
Beagles could be used in the fight against mesothelioma
Beagles, known mostly for their ability to detect drugs and other illicit material, could one day be used to detect mesothelioma, according to a researcher who has seen success in
SafeWork blitz reveals almost half of NSW scaffolding unsafe
SafeWork NSW has conducted a blitz on scaffolding across 700 construction sites in NSW, after the government committed to putting the industry ‘on notice’. Approximately 44 per cent of the
Concerns over rising mesothelioma rates in the UK & around the world
As we reported recently, consistently rising mesothelioma rates are of growing concern in Australia, but it is not the only country to experience high rates of the disease despite asbestos
New hope for mesothelioma sufferers in clinical trial
A new clinical trial in America is testing immunotherapy/antiangiogenic drug combination as a treatment for pleural mesothelioma and early indications in a clinical trial have been positive. The trial combines
Safety Alert: asbestos in bunsen burner gauze mats
SafeWork NSW has made an announcement over asbestos-containing material that may be present in some bunsen burner gauze mats commonly used in laboratories. These mats typically have a ceramic disk
Calls for greater workplace safety as Health and Safety? Month commences
Following a horror period of workplace incidents in NSW, including a number of deaths, SafeWork has called for a greater focus on safety as Health and Safety month commences across
ATO on asbestos testing and removal costs
The Australian Taxation Office has released information on a ruling regarding a tax deduction for the cost of the testing and removal of asbestos from your rental or commercial property.
Adelaide firm stripped of asbestos license
An Adelaide contractor has been stripped of its asbestos removal license after it was accused of unsafe practices by the CFMEU. At a site in Port Adelaide known as Shed 26,
NT to introduce industrial manslaughter laws
Following significant workplace incidents which have been nationally reported, including the deaths of three workers this year, the Northern Territory is introducing industrial manslaughter laws. The new laws will mean that
Worker fatally crushed at Port Botany
A worker at Sydney’s Port Botany has died after being crushed by a shipping container yesterday. First reports of an incident came at around 10:00 am when the man was
Two NT construction firms fined $30,000 over 3M fall through skylight
Two Northern Territory construction companies have been fined and convicted in the Darwin Local Court over an incident from 2017, where a 31-year-old worker fell 3-metres onto a concrete floor.
Record $3M payout over asbestos exposure in SA Court
Asbestos remains a critical issue in Australian workplaces and the recent record damages awarded in the Werfel v Amaca v SA case has highlighted this. As we’ve reported recently, while
