Falling objects are a leading cause of death and serious injury in the construction industry and pose a risk not just to workers, but to people in streets near work sites.
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There have been five deaths and 721 injuries caused by falling objects at construction sites in the past five years.

SafeWork NSW has issued a further two year exemption for the audiometric testing requirements of clause 58(2) of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011. This exemption is granted until 31 December 2020.

This exemption is to ensure persons conducting a business or undertaking in NSW are provided with an appropriate time frame to prepare for the implementation of audiometric testing of workers who are frequently required to use personal protective equipment (PPE) in workplaces with noise levels that exceed the 'exposure standard for noise'.
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The exemption was first published on 9 December 2016 in the NSW Government Gazette number 111, page 3528.

https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/news/safework-public-notice/audiometric-testing-exemption
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Victorian businesses are being urged to take extra care with the safety of their workers this year, after 23 people died in workplace incidents in 2018.
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Already five workers have lost their lives in workplace incidents in 2019.

2019 ENTRIES OPEN

• PUBLISHED ON: 9 JANUARY 2019

THE SEARCH FOR EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN AND INNOVATION

​On 12 December 2018 the Fair Work Amendment (Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Act 2018 took effect. The Fair Work Act 2009 now includes an entitlement to unpaid family and domestic violence leave as part of the National Employment Standards (NES).

Working in heat can be hazardous and can cause harm to workers in both indoor and outdoor work environments.

Factory workers who use hot plant and workers who work in roof cavities with minimal air flow, are just some examples of workers at risk of heat-related illness indoors.

Businesses have duties under work health and safety laws to manage health risks in the workplace, including those associated with working in heat​.

Latest stats from SafeWork 

Young workers between the ages of 16 and 24

• ​1 in 16 have depression, and
  
• 1 in 6 have anxiety

 
 To support young workers with a mental health condition, an employer must:

• Ensure a safe and healthy workplace overall
• Provide support and make reasonable adjustments to working conditions
• Maintain privacy around the worker and their condition

  
Please refer to SafeWork link below for more information:
https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/safety-starts-here/mental-health-at-work-the-basics/mental-health-@-work
 
New government initiative, Business in Mind which aims to promote mental health in small to medium enterprises:
http://www.businessinmind.edu.au/
 
 
Mend Services are proud to be a contributor alongside SafeWork in this initiative of Young Workers and Mental Health.

Mental health in the workplace is a growing issue and requires the education and understanding of businesses. There will be a strong focus on this issue as we move into 2019 as life/work balances are ever changing.
 
Please reflect on how to focus as a business for your workers and the mental health of all those around you in the coming year.
 
We provide a comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP) support for your workplace, please call us on 02 9660 8611 if you require this assistance.

Our office will be closed from 5.00pm on Friday 21st December 2018 and will re-open on Wednesday 2nd January 2019.   

We will provide on call assistance for all emergencies.