Occupational health and safety

ALTERNATIVE LABELS
Industrial safety
Workplace health and safety


Article

Psychosocial safety is everyone’s right and everyone’s responsibility

Psychosocial hazards in the workplace such as harassment, bullying and poorly managed supervision and training can result in stress, burnout and worse. This article outlines some of the laws and organisational cultural changes that can help identify, assess and eliminate or mitigate psychosocial hazards and...
Report

Good practices for handling whistleblower disclosures

This report provides insights for companies and superannuation trustees when designing programs or frameworks to manage whistleblowing in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001. The good practices identified are scalable and include examples of how executives and directors oversee whistleblower programs.
Report

The future of work: designing for safety, wellbeing and the workplaces of tomorrow

The future of work is a context that is rapidly being shaped by powerful forces - the growing adoption of artificial intelligence in the workplace, the increasing casualisation of the workforce, and the decentralised nature of where and how work is being performed. This report...
Report

Communication counts: helping small business supervisors support ill and injured workers to return to the workplace

For this project, BETA collaborated with Safe Work Australia to adapt existing return to work materials for use by supervisors in Small and Medium Enterprises and undertook a literature review, stakeholder consultation, and data analysis.
Survey

Time for respect: fifth national survey on sexual harassment in Australian workplaces

This report outlines the findings of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s latest survey on the prevalence, nature and reporting of sexual harassment in Australia, with a focus on workplaces. This is the fifth such survey undertaken by the Australian Human Rights Commission since 2003.
Report

Joint Select Committee on Parliamentary Standards: final report

The Australian Parliament has long sought to address the issue of codes of conduct. The Committee recommends that parliamentary consideration of this report, including the proposed behaviour standards and codes, should maintain a primary focus on ensuring that Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces are safe and respectful...
Report

Teachers at breaking point: why working in South Australian schools is getting tougher

This report examines the shifting nature of teachers’ work, pointing to growing complexity and increasing professional demands. This research is the first of its kind in South Australia, and provides new insights into the impact of increased demands upon teachers’ wellbeing.
Briefing paper

Towards a thriving healthcare workforce

Healthcare workers are the cornerstone of health service delivery and quality of patient care. This brief identifies and discusses four areas where policy action should be taken to protect healthcare worker safety and wellbeing now and into the future.
Report

Australian teachers’ perceptions of their work in 2022

This report details findings of the 2022 'Monash University teachers’ perceptions of their work' survey - a study of Australian teachers’ perceptions of their career experiences.
Report

It's broken: workers' compensation in NSW since 2012

Workers’ compensation is an essential safety net, and is intended to provide a degree of financial protection for those workers unfortunate enough to be injured at work. This report explores NSW’s workers’ compensation framework since it was reformed in 2012.
Article

Where there’s a will, there’s a way: regulators and collaboration

The new regulatory model recommended by Respect@Work maximises and improves the existing legislative framework, recognising the right of workers to be free from sexual harassment is a human right, a workplace right and a safety right.
Report

Enabling an ageing workforce

This research reveals insights into how a ‘safeness by design’ lens can enable an ageing Australian workforce. Such an approach needs to balance pre-emptive and reactive safety measures, focusing on creating a safe and supportive working environment for all workers.
Discussion paper

Proposed review framework for the list of occupational diseases in the Accident Compensation Act 2001

This discussion document provides a review of Schedule 2 of the New Zealand Accident Compensation Act 2001. The New Zealand Government welcomes views on the proposed framework, alternative options and/or any other relevant points.
Report

Generation expendable? Older women workers in the pandeconomy

Understanding the importance of secure, safe and flexible work as women age, this research project sought to benchmark work outcomes and conditions under the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide a platform for less heard voices.
Working paper

Developing international benchmarks of patient safety culture in hospital care

Improving patient safety culture (PSC) is a significant priority for OECD countries as they work to improve healthcare quality and safety. This document reports on patient safety within hospitals across the OECD.
Technical report

Health and safety management using building information modelling: phase three report

Construction presents high rates of fatalities and injuries and is known as one of the most dangerous industries in which to work. This technical report is part of a worldwide trend to develop better tools for collaborative decision making on construction projects through improved information...
Guide

A best practice guide for flexible and work-from-home arrangements

Flexibility, and work-from-home in particular, should be viewed as a change to the work context that may introduce new workplace health and safety (WHS) hazards. This guide provides practical advice to enhance flexible worker wellbeing through the continual advancement of the organisation’s capability to promote...
Report

Set the standard: report on the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces

In March 2021, the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces was established by the Australian government. Conducted by the Australian Human Rights Commission and led by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, the review was asked to make recommendations to ensure that Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces are safe...
Briefing paper

Silicosis and the manufactured stone industry: an update

The NSW Legislative Council’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice is currently examining the management of silicosis in the manufactured stone industry as part of its annual review of the NSW Dust Diseases Scheme. This e-brief is a modified version of a paper that the...
Report

Review of WorkSafe New Zealand’s performance of its regulatory functions in relation to activities on Whakaari White Island

This is a review of the way in which WorkSafe New Zealand performed its regulatory functions in relation to Whakaari White Island eruption in 2019.
Briefing paper

Mentally healthy workplaces: facilitators, motivators and barriers to improved management of psychosocial risks at work

This summary report is based on the qualitative study exploring the barriers and motivators to workers and businesses in adopting and maintaining mental health interventions and strategies.
Report

Review of the parliamentary workplace: responding to serious incidents

This review found that current procedures and processes are not designed or able to respond appropriately to serious incidents in the Australian parliamentary workplace, particularly with regard to sexual assault. The most significant gap is the absence of readily accessible, timely, independent, trauma-informed services and...
Report

Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces: progress update 2021

The Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces was established in March 2021. This progress update outlines the work of the review to date, including the methodology.
Report

Equality across the board: investing in workplaces that work for everyone

This report presents research into the collection and reporting of workplace data relevant to sexual harassment by ASX200 companies. The report provides insights into how companies currently collect and use data relating to sexual harassment, and based on those insights, makes recommendations about the role...
Strategy

NDIS national workforce plan: 2021-2025

This strategy document outlines the Australian government’s commitment to work with NDIS participants, industry and other stakeholders to grow a responsive and capable workforce for the NDIS.