Surge in medicinal cannabis use creates growing problem for WA’s mining industry
Mining companies in Western Australia are standing down workers who legally use prescription cannabis, as they struggle to determine what level of use makes an employee unfit for work.
Tom received a prescription for medicinal cannabis about a year ago after a devastating family tragedy.
“I was on sleeping tablets for a year … and they didn’t really agree with me,” he said.
“I could actually go to sleep [after taking medicinal cannabis].
“Because you’re pretty time poor up there … you need to have a shower, have dinner, and go to sleep as quick as you can.”
Last week, the WA parliament’s Select Committee on Cannabis and Hemp recommended reforms to the way medicinal cannabis was regulated.
But the mining industry urged caution.
In its submission, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy said the lack of consensus on impairment, led to the current strict approach.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-08/medicinal-cannabis-fifo-workers-prohibition-safety/102190122
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Asbestos company fined $150k after fatal veranda fall
SafeWork SA Acting Executive Director Glenn Farrell said falls from heights, particularly below 3 metres, were among the most common causes of workplace injuries and deaths, all of which are preventable.
‘The lack of consideration and suitable controls to adequately prevent this tragedy is not acceptable,’ Mr Farrell said.
Highlighting the importance of safe systems for working at heights.
https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/hazards-a-z/working-at-heights
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Australia’s increased risk of asbestos exposure
Fears Australia’s recent fires, floods and COVID-19 outbreak could lead to increased risk of asbestos exposure.
“The Australian Mesothelioma Register shows that an increasing number of exposures are now linked to home building work, which increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic; there is also concern about potential exposure related to the recent natural disasters in Australia.
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Silicosis alert: Cases of deadly lung disease in Australian tradies
Young Australian tradies and workers are facing a health crisis as new findings reveal the extent of the public health threat silicosis poses to lungs.
The Australian Workers’ Union, the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the CFMEU launched the “Stop this Killer Stone” campaign on Monday, urging regulatory bodies to take immediate action to stop rising cases of silicosis, a lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust.
The condition is incurable and can cause lung inflammation and fibrosis.
“(We know) silica exposure is all but certain to be occurring at dangerous levels. Our members are working in environments so dusty they can’t see more than 50 metres in front of them. They’re getting covered from head to toe in dust and they walk out with that dust on them which continues to spread,” Walton said.
Read MoreCrystalline silica presents a serious risk to health
For your Silica Awareness Training from Newcastle Rescue & Consultancy Pty Ltd on your site or ours please call 1300 356 686 or Email Us
Silica dust is harmful when inhaled into your lungs. As it is 100 times smaller than a grain of sand, you can be breathing it in without knowing.
Construction materials such as sandstone, concrete and bricks can contain up to 90% silica dust. When drilling on these materials, you can generate and breathe in fine crystalline silica dust, which can cause serious illnesses such as silicosis and lung cancer.
Learn about planning your job and using the correct safety controls to help protect workers and others from silica dust on site – working safely around it could save your life.
Approximately 587,000 Australian workers were exposed to silica dust in the workplace in 2011. It has been estimated that 5758 of these will develop a lung cancer over the course of their life as a result of that exposure.
Click here to understand the dangers of inhaling silica dust: Kevin’s story
The occupations with the greatest exposure include:
- miners
- construction workers
- farmers
- engineers.
You may be exposed to silica dust if your work involves:
- breaking, crushing, grinding or milling material containing silica dust
- sand blasting or casting
- paving, surfacing or cement finishing
- bricklaying
- demolition work
- road construction
- stonemasonery
- mineral ore-treating processes
- manufacture of glass, ceramics, brick, concrete, tile, metals or machinery
Click here to Safework to find out how to protect yourself and workers
Read MoreAsbestos Training for Tradies
For your Asbestos Training from Newcastle Rescue & Consultancy Pty Ltd please call 1300 356 686 or Contact Us
Learn how to identify risks and hazards, how to properly set up a removal area, what personal protective equipment is required, safe handling and decontamination. Asbestos lurks in more places than you think – working safely around it could save your life.
Watch all the asbestos videos on the SafeWork NSW YouTube asbestos playlist.
The first of five videos in a series, showing tradies how to manage asbestos safely on the job. This video covers the hazards and risks associated with asbestos and includes images of many asbestos containing materials.
The second of five videos in a series showing tradies how to manage asbestos safely on the job. This video demonstrates how to set up an asbestos work area if you need to work with or remove less than 10sqm of non-friable asbestos.
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Government Team Tower Rescue Refresher Training
Newcastle Rescue & Consultancy work with many of our valued government clients to deliver a training ranging from White Card to Fire Warden to Asbestos courses but recent travels up the North Coast led to a local government client site to deliver Tower Rescue Refresher training.
Units completed included:
- PUASAR022 Participate in a rescue operation
- PUAEME001 Provide emergency care
Our trainers with a background in emergency service and military have familiarity with Government requirements and on the client site deliver real world scenarios with the latest equipment.
The business relationship with our government clients allows for discussions prior to the training to establish topics to be included or if contextualisation may be required.
Topics covered in this recent training included:
- WH&S Legislation
- Falls from Height Regulations – AS4488 and AS1981.4
- Software Theory – harness, ropes etc
- Hardware Theory
- Life Rescue Knot and Hitches
- Anchor Points/Anchor Systems
- Suspension Trauma
- Rappelling Skills
- Rescue Team Ethos and Ideals
- Lowering and Raising Systems
- Patient Handling
- ‘Pick Off’ Rescues
- Safety Officer and Team leader roles and responsibilities
Photos of the Tower Rescue Refresher Training
COVID Safe Business
Dear Valued Customer,
We are registered as a COVID Safe business in an effort to keep our community safe.
On arrival to our premises you will see posters with a QR Code on our door to scan using your camera on your mobile. This will take you to some questions to answer and submit before entry to the facilities. Staff are available to assist and support.
We are a nationally accredited Registered Training Organisation who have remained opened and committed during these unusual times to ensure people seeking employment or are currently employed receive valuable safety and high risk safety training to achieve practical skills aligned to industry requirements to support a ‘future fit’ workforce.
We thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we all work together to provide our services during this time.
Please do not hesitate in contact Newcastle Rescue on 1300 356 686 or enquiries@newcastlerescue.com.au if you have any questions.
We look forward to working with you now and in the future.
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