Page 15 - The Outdoor Showman OCT-DEC 2024

Using portable ladders in
the workplace
Falls from any height can
seriously injure employees. The
risk of serious injury or death
increases if you work at heights
above two metres. Anyone on a
ladder is at risk of falling, even at
heights below two meters.
Industrial rated ladders
Ladders used in a workplace
need to meet the minimum
standards set out in Australian
Standard 1892.1: 2018 Portable
Ladders, Part 1: Performance and
geometric requirements. These
requirements include:
•
being ‘industrial grade’ and of
robust construction
•
having a minimum 120kg safe
working load rating
•
being suitable to the task
For further information please visit
www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/safety-alerts/
employees-seriously-injured-falls-when-
ladders-failed
SINGLE USE
PLASTICS
BAN
Effective 1 February 2023
Reducing plastic pollution
starts with us
Plastic pollution harms our
health, wildlife, and the
environment.
These problematic single-use
plastics are now banned from
sale or supply in Victoria:
Drinking straws • Cutlery • Plates
• Drink stirrers • Cotton bud sticks
Expanded polystyrene food service
items • Expanded polystyrene
drink containers
The ban applies to conventional,
degradable and compostable plastics.
For further information please visit
www.vic.gov.au/plastics
Occupational Health and Safety
Amendment Psychological Health)
Regulations
Information about the proposed regulatory change to create
Victoria’s first psychological health regulations.
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OHS Act),
employers must provide and maintain a working environment for
their employees, including contractors, that is safe and without risks
to health, so far as reasonably practicable.
In Section 5 of the OHS Act, health is defined as including
psychological health.
The Victorian Government is currently considering options for the
development of the Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological
Health) Regulations (proposed regulations). This also includes the
development of necessary resources to support implementation
including a compliance code and supporting guidance.
The proposed regulations will strengthen the occupational health
and safety (OHS) framework and recognise that hazards that pose a
risk to psychological health are no less harmful to employees’ safety
and wellbeing than physical hazards. The proposed regulations aim
to promote the importance of psychological health and safety in the
working environment.
WorkSafe will update as work progresses.
WorkSafe Victoria – Information
Changes for incident
notification - plant and
equipment
From 1 July 2024, there will be
new obligations and new types of
plant and equipment that you will
need to notify WorkSafe about if
they are involved in an incident.
Report an incident: Criteria for
notifiable incidents | WorkSafe
Victoria
An expanded type of plant
will now require notification if
involved in an incident.
Equipment (Public Safety)
Regulations 2017
From 1 July 2024, under the EPS
regulations, the circumstances
in which persons in charge of
prescribed equipment at an
equipment site will be required
to notify WorkSafe of incidents
involving plant will change.
From 1 July, notification will be
required for prescribed plant
and equipment if the incident
immediately or imminently
exposes a person a serious risk to
their health or safety.
Before 1 July, notification is
required for incidents involving
prescribed plant that exposed
a person in the immediate
vicinity of the equipment to an
immediate risk to that person’s
health or safety.
Safety Alert
Background - A young employee
of a fast food restaurant was
struck on the head by falling
boxes while restocking a
cold room. They suffered a
concussion and needed medical
treatment. The boxes of frozen
fries and patties weighed up to
16 kg each and were stacked
about 2 m high
Fast food employee struck on the
head by falling boxes | WorkSafe
Victoria
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