The Victorian Budget and a Federal Election
This week the Victorian budget was handed down. Members may have missed it given the attention and focus on the federal election. This year’s state budget is primarily focused on health and healthcare. It’s easy to see why with the significant and large investments across Victoria’s health sector have been decided. Disappointingly though, the Premier made no mention of healthcare workers beyond doctors, nurses and paramedics for their...
Introducing Angus Middleton
Greetings comrades I’m Angus, the new guy starting with the Union. Some of you may have already spoken with me or seen emails from me. I’ve come to work for the Union after working for the United Workers Union, formerly the National Union of Workers, where I worked as an organiser representing workers in wide variety sectors; from the oil and chemical industries, to building product manufacturing, the mining supply chain, call...
Psychological health at work important
The Victorian Government is introducing major changes to the occupational health and safety landscape by including regulations that specifically address psychological health in workplaces. The proposed regulations recognise that for workplaces to be safe it is necessary to minimise psychological harm to workers; and that psychological injuries are as harmful as physical injuries. It is perhaps one of largest changes to OHS for a very...
Formaldehyde safety exposed
After 8 years of work examining exposure to formaldehyde and safety associated with exposure to formaldehyde, Safe Work Australia has released a report recommending that the allowable concentration of formaldehyde be dropped from 1 part per million to 0.1 part/s per million. As many members would be aware, anatomical and histology pathology scientists regularly work with formaldehyde in the course of doing cut up and dissection of...
An important change to OHS landscape
The Victorian Government committed to introduce regulations to address psychological health in May 2021. This is a major and important change to the occupational health and safety (OHS) landscape. It is perhaps one of largest changes to OHS for a very long time. The proposed regulations recognises that safe workplaces include the need to minimise psychological harm to workers; and that psychological injuries are as harmful as physical...