Safe Work Month - visit the SafeWork SA Website to register for workshops           

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SA Campaign - Don't Risk 2nd Rate Safety
Australia has a chance to have the same Occupational Health & Safety laws in every state and territory around the country that protect workers with the world’s best safety standards.

But proposed new laws lower safety standards and put Australian workers at risk.

....>> click here for more information

Company Fined - But Tougher Penalties needed for Workplace Deaths
SA Unions says a relative "slap on the wrist" for a company responsible for the workplace death of an 18 year old apprentice strengthens its calls for tougher, nationally consistent penalties. Read on>>

International Workers Memorial Day Ecumenical Church Service
SA Unions marked International Workers Memorial Day at the Flinders Street Baptist Church with a call for tougher workplace safety standards, saying too many people die because of negligence Read on>>

Harmonised OHS Laws
The ACTU has initiated a new campaign to deliver the highest standards for harmonised OH & S laws.

At present there are nine different OH&S Laws operating in Australia.  The Federal Government and all the States and Territory Governments have agreed to move towards a simpler more streamlined approach to OH & S law in Australia. In fact, many State governments have already made agreements to deal with cross border issues on OH&S and some aspects of workers compensation law. 

Unions have supported harmonisation, not for the same reasons as employers to reduce workers rights to the worst OH&S Law in Australia, but in fact to use the harmonisation agenda to increase the rights of all workers to the best OH&S law operating in Australia as the basis of any national OH&S Model law. read on>>

WorkCover Campaign
Mike Rann has put a law into Parliament that attacks the rights and cuts the pay of injured workers.  At the same time he wants to reduce the costs for employers.

SA Unions want meaningful negotiations with the Government which should have happened before the Bill was drafted or placed in Parliament.

We want to minimize the impact of any changes to the law on injured workers and ensure that any changes are balanced between the interests of injured workers and employers.

We also want to help with the financial issues facing the scheme by

• Improving the management of injured workers including ensuring that the agent, rehab provider, medical profession and lawyers all do their jobs well with a focus on speedy safe return to work.
• Ensure that employers are penalized for not giving suitable duties for their injured workers.
• Improving access for injured workers to retraining.
• Improving occupational health and safety to prevent injuries in the first place. 

Read on >>

Asbestos Awareness
The long awaited state Asbestos Safety Action Plan has been welcomed by SA Unions as an important tool in fighting the rising incidence of asbestos related disease.

South Australia now has the world's highest per capita incidence of mesothelioma.  The action plan is one step towards building awareness and reducing the number of new victims of this lethal substance. read on>> 

Zero Occupational Cancer
Occupational cancer is the most common work-related cause of death. The International Labour Organisation estimates the human toll at over 600,000 deaths a year - one death every 52 seconds.

At least 1 in every 10 cancers - probably many more - is the result of preventable, predictable workplace exposure. Today, more people face a workplace cancer risk than at any other time in history. It's just that most of them don't know it.

Unions have won recognition of causes of occupational cancer, restrictions on their use and compensation for their victims. By finding out about workplace risks and taking action to eliminate, substitute or control the risks, workers and their unions can make the workplace safer. read on>>

International Workers Memorial Day
The IWMD takes place annually around the world on April 28, an international day of remembrance and action for workers killed, disabled, injured or made unwell by their work.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), across the world:

• Each year, more than two million women and men die as a result of work-related accidents and diseases
• Workers suffer approximately 270 million occupational accidents each year, and fall victim to some 160 million incidents of work-related illnesses
• Hazardous substances kill 440,000 workers annually – asbestos claims 100,000 lives
• One worker dies every 15 seconds worldwide. 6,000 workers die every day. Work kills more people than wars

In 2008 the theme for IWMD was Good Occupational Health for All Workers. This is particularly relevant to Australian workplaces, as it is estimated that over 1.5 million Australian workers may currently be exposed to occupational carcinogens.  Australian unions will be campaigning in 2008 and future years for tighter control and enforcement by government of carcinogenic substances and work processes in our workplaces.   

OHS Links
SafeWork SA (including Asbestos Safety Action Plan 2008) - www.safework.sa.gov.au
VTHC OHS Reps @ Work  - www.ohsrep.org.au
Asbestos Diseases Society of SA Inc - www.adssa-inc.com.au
Asbestos Victims Association - www.avasa.asn.au
ACTU - OHS Campaign - www.actu.asn.au/OccupationalHealthSafety
Asbestos Awareness : ACT Government - www.asbestos.act.gov.au
LabourStart : www.labourstart.org
Building, Asbestos and Industry - www.cartercorporation.com.au
For the Home Renovator - www.asbestosandyou.com.au
For Asbestos Information - www.asbestosinfo.com.au