Monday 22nd March 2021

Workplace Safety News Roundup: Monday 22nd March 2021

This week's safety news covers a memorial walk honouring workers killed in a trench collapse, plus updated WHS regulatory guidance on COVID-19 vaccines. Below, we break down both stories for safety professionals tracking compliance obligations and industry developments.

Tradies Walk to Raise Money Honouring Lost Workers

A group of tradespeople, friends and family members walked 127 kilometres to raise funds for a memorial honouring those killed in workplace incidents. The trek marked the third anniversary of two tradies tragically killed when a trench collapsed on the outskirts of Ballarat in 2018.

Organisers stretched the walk over four days, travelling from Geelong to Ballarat. Participants covered an average of 35 kilometres per day and arrived exhausted but satisfied with what they'd achieved.

Organiser Kelly Dubberley said watching a family go through such loss shows how deeply a workplace death affects communities. "It affects everybody around them," she noted, reflecting on the ripple effect a single incident can have well beyond immediate relatives.

The initial fundraising goal was $10,000 towards the memorial's cost, but that target has already been surpassed, with organisers now aiming for $20,000. Plans call for the memorial to sit within parkland in the housing estate near where the two deaths occurred.

Dubberley hopes the site will become a place where people can gather alongside others who've lost loved ones in workplace incidents. Further details on this story appear on the ABC website.

Revised Statement from WHS Regulators on COVID-19

WHS Regulators have revised their approach to compliance during the pandemic through an updated Statement of Regulatory Intent. Developed by the Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities (HWSA), the statement now addresses COVID-19 vaccines as an additional control measure.

Employers should consult workers about managing COVID-19 risks in light of this update. While vaccinations rank as a high order risk control measure, businesses must continue applying every other feasible COVID-19 control alongside them.

Safety professionals should review the full Statement of Regulatory Intent – COVID-19 to understand what these changes mean for daily operations.

For further guidance on how this update affects workplaces, workers and employers, visit Safe Work Australia's COVID-19 vaccination information page. Additional resources are also available on the SafeWork Australia website.

Stay Current with Weekly Safety Updates

Compliance requirements shift regularly, so checking in each week helps safety teams stay ahead of regulatory change. Catch up on last week's coverage in our Monday 15th March 2021 roundup, or look further back to our Monday 8th March 2021 update for earlier developments.

Looking ahead, our Monday 29th March 2021 edition covers what came next in the world of workplace health and safety.