WorkSafe Queensland Asbestos Safety Alert – Have you got a current Asbestos Register? Click the link for further information Safework Alert Flyer
Crystalline Silica Ban
In a world-first, Australia implemented a ban on the manufacture, supply, processing, and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels, and slabs from July 1, 2024. The ban was put in place due to: • Engineered stone workers are disproportionately represented in silicosis cases. • These workers are being diagnosed with silicosis at a younger age …
NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer’s Report on Management of asbestos in recovered fines and recovered materials for beneficial reuse in NSW
Asbestos is a natural mineral used in various building products due to its strong, flexible, and heat-resistant fibres. Asbestos is however a carcinogen that can cause lung diseases and cancers when inhaled, therefore proper management of asbestos-containing materials is essential to prevent these health risks. In 2022 the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & …
Major Crackdown on Scaffold Safety
As part of Scaff Safe 2024, SafeWork NSW inspectors are targeting scaffold safety between October and December. In NSW construction sites, falls from heights remains one of the leading causes of fatalities. Falls from unsafe scaffolds is a significant contributor. Since 2021/2022, more than 5,200 incidents were reported with the most common injury being ligament, …
The Importance of Cooling Tower Maintenance – a recent outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease
It is a regulatory requirement to effectively manage cooling water systems to prevent the growth and transmission of Legionella bacteria, as infection may cause Legionnaires’ disease, a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. Outbreaks are sometimes associated with contaminated cooling towers because the Legionella pneumophila bacteria grow well in warm, stagnant water. Infection occurs when individuals …
National Asbestos Awareness Week 25 November – 1 December
There has recently been a national push to remove the remaining millions of tonnes of asbestos from Australian residential, public and commercial buildings. It is estimated that one in three homes in Australia still contain asbestos, which is responsible for an average of 4,000 deaths a year from preventable diseases such as mesothelioma and other …
NSW fire safety design, certification and maintenance compliance improvements
NSW Government are implementing further changes to fire safety legislation that is in part due to the identification of non-compliance by Fair Trading. Key Fair Trading Finding ‘Serious defects in fire safety systems are the second most common defect identified by inspections of class 2 buildings undertaken under Fair Trading’s Occupation Certificate (OC) audit program, …
Hazardous Chemicals Assessments – New Globally Harmonised System (GHS) of Labelling
A two-year transition to the 7th revised edition of the GHS (GHS 7) has now ceased and as of 1 January 2023 all chemicals can only have the new GHS 7 labels and SDS for all chemicals stored on site. The transition period enabled manufacturers and importers to use either GHS 3 or GHS 7 …
NSW Fire Safety – Fire Safety Schedule correction, amendments and reissuance changes
NSW Government changes to how Fire Safety Schedules (FSS) are regulated are coming soon. The process of correcting, amending and reissuing FSS is currently dependent upon the following triggers: New building work requiring a Construction Certificate or Complying Development Certificate related to additions or alterations Unauthorised building work subject to a Development Control Order issued …
NSW Fire Safety – Construction Certificate changes for multi-storey buildings
The NSW Government has amended fire safety legislation that commences 3 February 2023 covering changes to the issuance of a Construction Certificate in multi-storey buildings and the applicable Building Code of Australia edition to assess compliance of the design against. The relevant legislation Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Amendment (Construction Certificates) …