Paramedics at the ambulance Victoria Branch at Sunshine are being put at risk after working fourteen hours shifts and then being required to drive directly home as there are no beds for them to rest on once their shifts are completed before they leave for home. The premises where the branch is located was issued improvement notices in July by WorkSafe for water damage, lack of carpark security and lack of bedroom facilities. Jedda McGlinchy, the Sunshine branch OHS representative stated that … [Read more...]

According to statistics collected by WorkSafe over the last 5 years show that there have been over 11,000 injuries to Victoria workers due to unsafe machines. Of these 11,000 injuries 441 have resulted in amputations of body parts, and over 71% of the injuries have occurred in the fields of manufacturing, construction, transportation, warehousing, and storage industries. While WorkSafe is quick to acknowledge that the machinery resulting in these industries are necessary they urge employers to … [Read more...]

A recent sample test done of 9300 workers in Maribyrnong resulted in showing that the majority of blue collar workers in this area were unhealthy due to high consumption of alcohol, smoking, lack of exercise or not eating healthy. Large percentages of those tested had high blood pressure and were at risk for type II diabetes. One quarter of those tested had high blood glucose levels, high cholesterol, and one quarter had a high waist circumference. While the workers themselves were advised to … [Read more...]

Following the death of a 58-year-old man on a Quad bike, the ACTU is calling for roll over protection devices to be made mandatory on all new Quad Bikes that are produced. ACTU assistant secretary, Michael Borowick pointed out that there have been 160 Quad bike deaths since 2001. He also stated that quad bikes are unstable and due to their increasing popularity as farm work vehicles fatalities could increase, resulting in more injuries and death. Providing roll bars on Quad Bikes makes good … [Read more...]