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Oct. 24th, 2012

Australia is taking the initiative to improve workplace health and safety (WH&S) through their annual National Safe Work Australia Week, kicking off 21 October 2012. This event is organised by Safe Work Australia, an Australian government statutory agency with the primary responsibility of improving WH&S and workers compensation arrangements across Australia.

This year’s theme, “Safety begins with ‘S’ but starts with ‘YOU,’” emphasizes WH&S as a companywide focus, in which all employees are responsible for improving safety in their workplace. Safe Work Australia presents employees with the opportunity to be recognised as a “Safety Ambassador” by their companies for their commitment to enhancing safety and increasing awareness.

During this week, companies have the opportunity to participate in events hosted by the WH&S agency for their respective state or territory. For example, WorkSafe Victoria is hosting over 100 free seminars and events across 15 different locations during this year’s National Safe Work Australia Week. Statistics from the event last year indicated that 72% of the WorkSafe Victoria attendees made improvements to their company’s WH&S protocols.

Additionally, many of the WH&S governing bodies award companies that exhibit exceptional records in the area of health and safety. With awards in categories such as “Best Workplace Health and Safety Management System,” this week provides an opportunity for employers to showcase their exemplary safety programs.

By promoting improvements in workplace safety and recognising companies with outstanding safety records, National Safe Work Australia Week emphasises the concerted efforts made to improve safety across Australia.

Resources:
http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/events/work-safe-week-2011-a-view-and-download-the-webcasts-and-presentations-today
http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/events/safeworkawards/index.htm
http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/aboutsafeworkaustralia/nationalactivities-/safeworkaustraliaweek/swaw-12/pages/national-safe-work-australia-week.aspx

Jun. 22nd, 2012

The Australian government has announced the creation of a new network of marine reserves. Forecasted to be the world’s largest reserve to date, this would further limit oil and gas drilling off the country’s coast.  Tony Burke, Federal Environment Minister, stated the marine reserves will be protected under national environment law. He also advised the new network will help ensure Australia’s marine environment will remain healthy, fruitful, and resilient for future generations.

There are currently 27 marine reserves in Australia, but the new network will increase this number to a total of 60. Overall, one third of Australian waters, approximately 3.1 million sq km (1.2 million sq miles), will be dedicated to the marine reserves. The reserves include areas of the Coral Sea, off northeastern Australia, areas off the Kimberley coast of northwestern Australia, portions of the Great Australian Bright off southern Australia, and sections around Norfolk and Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea off New South Wales. Also protected will be the Great Barrier Reef and the Diamantina Fracture zone, Australia’s largest under water mountain range.

Initially, fishing and petroleum drilling were strictly prohibited in the regions of the reserves, but with strong debate from those in the oil industry, a compromise has been made to allow exploration off a portion of southwest Western Australia and around the Rowley Shoals. Western Australia’s government, however, is still not satisfied with the compromise.  Norman Moore, the state’s Mines and Petroleum Minister, believes the vast reserves will restrain the state’s oil and gas industry. He further believes the restrictions will greatly hinder current and future exploration and production activities as well as impact the security of domestic gas and LNG export supplies.

It is still unclear how the new marine reserves will affect the rights already granted for exploration within the newly protected areas. A final 60 day consultation period will be completed before the final marine reserves are declared.

Resources:
http://www.ogj.com/articles/2012/06/marine-reserves-creation-would-limit-oil-gas-drilling-off-australia.html?cmpid=EnlDailyJune152012
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mera-mcgrew/australian-marine-reserves_b_1599433.html http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/15/world/asia/australia-plans-worlds-largest-marine-reserve.html?_r=1 http://mission-blue.org/AustraliaAnouncesMarineProtectedNetwork

May. 29th, 2012

Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Agency granted approval to develop the first uranium mine in the country. This mine is expected to start production sometime between 2014 and 2015 and remain open for approximately 14 years.

The project will create approximately 350 jobs during construction and 200 permanent positions. The site will be located in Wiluna and is expected to export about four to five containers of uranium each month. For those living around the prospective site, the EPA confirmed there would be little exposure to uranium. The site will be carefully monitored to prevent any abnormal exposure levels.

Uranium is most commonly used to create nuclear energy.  Globally, 30 nations use nuclear energy to produce 16 percent of the world’s electricity. Uranium is also used for research and medical purposes, such as diagnosing and treating cancer.

Although the EPA has approved the first uranium mine in Australia, public appeals will be heard until June 5th.

Resources:
http://www.world-nuclear.org/reference/default.aspx?id=23792&terms=nuclear%20power%20in%20australia
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-21/uranium-mine-in-wa-given-go-ahead/4023824
http://www.news.com.au/business/breaking-news/was-first-uranium-mine-approved-by-epa/story-e6frfkur-1226362733110
http://www.miningweekly.com/article/toro-gets-environmental-nod-for-wa-uranium-mine-2012-05-21

May. 11th, 2012

Asbestos weighs almost nothing and doesn’t burn, degrade, or react to chemicals, making it practically indestructible and irresistible to manufacturers.

In the workplace, asbestos can be found in: home insulation, pipe and boiler insulation, heater register tape and insulation, joint compounds, patching and spackling compounds, fire protection panels, artificial fireplace logs or ashes, fuse box liners, gypsum wallboard, textured paints, sheet vinyl or floor tiles, underlayment for flooring and carpets, textured acoustical ceiling and roofing shingles.

Asbestos is composed of tiny fibers that can float into the air like dust and are easily inhaled or ingested. The microscopic fibers have no odor or taste and cause several deadly diseases such as asbestos cancer and mesothelioma, a fact which makes asbestos awareness crucial for the workplace.

Asbestos in the United States:

Despite the growing knowledge of the dangers of asbestos, public protest against the mineral did not start until the late 1960’s. The most toxic asbestos site in the U.S. is located in Libby, Montana. This vermiculite mine ran from 1920 to 1990, exposing workers and residents to the toxic asbestos dust.

Asbestos in Canada:

The 20^th century saw a boom of asbestos mines in Canada. At the time, more than 4,000 household products were being produced with asbestos. By the 1970s, doctors deemed the asbestos mining towns in Canada to be among the most dangerous cities in the world. While most countries in the European Union have banned all types of asbestos products, Canada continues to fight the universal ban, attempting to hold onto the profits of the asbestos mining industry.

Asbestos in Australia:

Asbestos was discovered in Western Australia in 1937. Australia began to regulate the use of asbestos products in the late 1970s. The use of crocidolite, or “blue asbestos,” now known to be the deadliest form, was banned in 1967, while the use of amosite, or “brown asbestos,” continued until the mid 1980s. The ban on chrysotile, “white asbestos,” traditionally considered less lethal than the other forms of the mineral, did not come until the end of 2003. Today, the incident rate of mesothelioma in Australia is one of the highest reported rates in the world; the majority of these cases are linked to the exposure of asbestos.

Asbestos in the United Kingdom:

With the growing awareness of the danger of exposure to asbestos, prohibition laws were first introduced in the UK during the mid 1980s. In 1985, the UK banned the import and use of both blue and brown asbestos. This rule was replaced in 1992 with a law that also banned various uses of white asbestos. In 1999, the government decided, with no exceptions, to ban the use and import of white asbestos as well.

How to protect yourself:

• Asbestos Inspections: By law, before construction or demolition work is done on a building older than the late 1970s, trained asbestos workers must be hired to perform an asbestos inspection
• Train employees in Asbestos Awareness
• Know the health effects of being exposed to asbestos
• Acknowledge warning signs stating asbestos could be present
• Seal cracks and holes in insulation
• Use hand tools instead of power tools in potentially contaminated areas
• Wear a mask at all times
• Don’t sweep up debris; use a vacuum cleaner or wet rags

 

Resources:
http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/canada/asbestos.php
http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/australia/asbestos.php
http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/uk/asbestos.php
http://www.mesotheliomacenter.org/about/asbestos-products.php
http://www.mesotheliomanews.com/asbestos/asbestos-exposure-2/
http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_FloodFacts/Bulletin4.pdf
http://www.asbestos.net/exposure/risks/asbestos-exposure-and-building-materials
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/environ/asbestos-amiante-eng.php
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/asbestos/whatis.html 

Oct. 20th, 2011

There were many opposing views last week in Hobart, Australia as the lower house of Parliament, led by Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, voted to adopt the second-largest emissions trading proposal in the world, the first being the European Union.  

The bill would enforce a carbon tax on 500 of the country’s biggest polluters, starting in July of 2012, before transitioning into a market-based trading scheme in 2015. It narrowly passed through a divided House of Representatives with a vote of 74 to 72.   About 80 anti-carbon tax protesters flooded the parliament-viewing gallery, criticizing and taunting Ms. Gillard, bringing government business to a virtual standstill.

Before the vote, Ms. Gillard stated, “Today is a significant day for Australians and the Australians of the future who want to see a better environment.”

Although it is expected to pass the Senate next month, the opposition of the Liberal Party was very quick to dispute the passage of the proposal.  The bill sets an initial price of $23.15 per ton of carbon, while guaranteeing billions of dollars in compensation for consumers and businesses alike.  Tony Abbott, the opposition leader says that the plan would prove disastrous for Australia’s economy, which relies heavily on resource extraction.  He is fighting to repeal the bill, stating, “We can repeal the tax, we will repeal the tax, we must repeal the tax. This is a pledge in blood. This tax will go.”

Tim Jordan, a supporter of the bill and Senior Analyst at Deutsche Bank in Sydney, says that this type of fierce opposition to the bill is being driven by political, not financial, orthodoxy.  He states, “The impact on most businesses is modest.  Businesses that are ready for a world where carbon is priced, such as electricity utilities with renewable generators in their portfolio, will do well.  Many high-emitting industries will receive free carbon allowances, giving them time to adjust to a carbon price.”

Regardless of the position many Australians find themselves in, Ms. Gillard continues to argue that Australia is one of the world’s largest polluters per capita and can no longer ignore its global responsibilities.   

Resources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/world/asia/australias-lower-house-narrowly-passes-carbon-tax.html?_r=2&ref=energy-environment