news

International Day of Mourning 28 April 2017

26/4/2017

Remembers those who lost their life through a workplace incident or occupational disease

On 28 April each year, countries around the world pause to commemorate workers who have died as a result of a workplace incident or occupational disease.

Each year, Unions NSW and SafeWork NSW hold a service on the day to honour and remember those who lost their life at work.

At the service, families are invited to add 'memory cards' and flowers to the Memory Lines sculpture in honour of their loved ones.

We encourage employers and workers across the state to take time on the International Day of Mourning to think about the significance of work health and safety and how workplace incidents can affect those around them.

Why sleep matters — the economic costs of insufficient sleep

19/4/2017

A cross-country comparative analysis

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States has declared insufficient sleep a 'public health problem'. Indeed, according to a recent CDC study, more than a third of American adults are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis.

However, insufficient sleep is not exclusively a US problem, and equally concerns other industrialised countries such as the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, or Canada. According to some evidence, the proportion of people sleeping less than the recommended hours of sleep is rising and associated with lifestyle factors related to a modern 24/7 society, such as psychosocial stress, alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of physical activity and excessive electronic media use, among others.

This is alarming as insufficient sleep has been found to be associated with a range of negative health and social outcomes, including success at school and in the labour market. Over the last few decades, for example, there has been growing evidence suggesting a strong association between short sleep duration and elevated mortality risks.

Given the potential adverse effects of insufficient sleep on health, well-being and productivity, the consequences of sleep-deprivation have far-reaching economic consequences. Hence, in order to raise awareness of the scale of insufficient sleep as a public-health issue, comparative quantitative figures need to be provided for policy- and decision-makers, as well as recommendations and potential solutions that can help tackling the problem.

Treating depression: A new approach

19/4/2017

One in five Australians is living with depression. Online therapy is emerging as an effective and accessible treatment option.

Mental illness is a largely silent problem, but the cost in health terms shouts loud enough: $200 billion a year – the equivalent of about 12 per cent of the Australian economy’s annual output.

Understanding the underlying causes of these costs is simple: one in five Australians suffers from depression, but 75 per cent do not seek treatment. The reasons are as varied as they are manifold: long-term unemployment or social isolation, a family history of depression, illness, drug and alcohol abuse – even personality type.

Turnbull Government should set national suicide reduction target, mental health advocates say

5/4/2017

Mental health organisations are calling for the Federal Government to set a suicide reduction target, saying they need action instead of "good intentions".

The renewed push follows a meeting of the Council of Australian Governments Health Council last week, when it announced it would develop the first national suicide prevention plan.

The sector said action at a national level was long overdue, but there were concerns the delay might lead to a kneejerk response rather than considered planning.

But some advocates said the rising number of suicide deaths demonstrated the need for intervention.

Victoria OHS Regulations Reform 2017

4/4/2017

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007 (OHS Regulations) and Equipment (Public Safety) Regulations 2007 (EPS Regulations) will expire in June 2017. WorkSafe is required to review and remake these regulations by this date. This work will be undertaken in line with the requirements of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1994, which requires legislation to be reviewed every 10 years.

The OHS Regulations cover general duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OHS Act), various physical hazards, hazardous substances and materials and hazardous industries.