OH&S Consulting News - May 2015

TYRE SAFETY GUIDELINE FEEDBACK SOUGHT 

Source:  Resources Safety e-news 12/05/2015

 

Resources Safety are calling for industry feedback on the draft guideline to assist persons operating, maintaining or managing earth moving machinery in mining operations.  The cut off date for feedback is 22 May 2015 (midday).  

 

Click here to access the word version or click here to access a PDF copy.  

CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES ENTER ENFORCEABLE UNDERTAKING 
- ASSISTS INDUSTRY EDUCATION 

Source: Safety Solutions e-news 14/05/2015

 

Geotech Pty Ltd and Hansen Yunken Pty Ltd will spend a total of $570,000 in industry wide education due to an enforceable undertaking relating to the following incidents.

• Two Geotech employees were injured in Jan 2013 when an earth and rock wall collapsed on them whilst they were laying shortcrete.  

• A 3.9m medal rod fell 12m into an exclusion zone at a Hansen Yunken site in June 2013.  Luckily nobody was injured.

Geotech Pty Ltd is providing $370,000 to assist in the development of guidance material and a training course for project managers, site supervisors and site managers involved in the construction of shortcreting retaining walls. 

Hansen Yunken Pty Ltd is providing $201,000 for the creation of guidance material for 4-10 storey multiresidential structures.

The Exec Director of Safety, Mr Len Neist said, “The commitments made by Geotech and Hansen Yuncken are great examples of how enforceable undertakings can be used to improve safety standards for Victorian workers.”

 

TWO MINING FATALATIES IN ONE WEEK 

Nifty Copper mine has reopened after operations were voluntarily suspended after a 46 year old contractor died in an undergound incident on Monday 11th May 2013 .  The contractor was operating a bogger, a low profile front end loader which is used for moving ore when the incident occurred.

 

A 28 year old contractor has died in an underground incident at a Newcrest Telfer mine on Friday 15th May 2013.   The contractor was operating a bogger at the time of the incident.  

 

This fatality marks the seventh death by accidental causes in mining in 2015.

 

SMILING MINDS

Source: smilingmind.com.au

 

Smiling Mind has developed a free app (both apple and android platforms) in conjunction with psychologists with the aim of improving the lives of people suffering from depression, anxiety and other physical and mental illnesses.  

 

The app assists users in performing "mindfulness meditation", bringing people into the "now" rather than being in "default mode" or autopilot. 

 

When performing tasks in a mindful manner, we use different parts of the brain.  This can help in reducing worrying, judging and unhelpful thought patterns. 

 

For further information visit http://smilingmind.com.au/ 

 

Please note:  OH&S Consulting is not recommending this product but is exposing you to some of the latest technology which may assist your mental health management. 

NEW FOOD PYRAMID

Source: nutritionaustralia.org

 

Australia has a new Healthy Living Pyramid.  The new pyramid encourages the reduction of salt and sugar (rather than just reducing salt intake) as well as reminding us to choose water and add herbs and spices to add flavour to meals. 

 

The bottom tier of the pyramid (eat most) contains fruit and vegetables, reminding us all to have our 5 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit each day.  

 

Grains are on the second tier and it is recommended that we consume more whole grains (brown rise, oats and quinoa) rather than processed and refined grains.  

 

The third tier has items such as meat, nuts, seeds, legumes which provide valuable nutrients such as iodine, iron, zinc, B12 and healthy fats.  Dairy items are included which also includes items such as milk, yoghurt, cheese and non-dairy items such as soy, rice and cereal milks.  These provide us with calcium and protein. 

 

The top layer (eat sparingly) contains healthy fats which we need to help our brain and heart.  It is recommended using fats that come from plant sources such as extra virgin olive, nut and seed oils.  

 

Click here to go to Nutrition Australia to view the new pyramid.