Office workers who use sit-stand or treadmill desks are on track to being more productive and attentive with fewer signs of workplace stress than their sedentary chair-dwelling colleagues University of Queensland School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences researcher Associate Professor Nicholas Gilson has been studying the effects activity-promoting desks have on worker productivity. Continue →

Ports of Auckland’s decision to eliminate the gas used for container fumigation has won applause from the Green Party, which wants other ports to follow suit Part of an ambition to become the most sustainable port in New Zealand, the initiative will require the total recapture of methyl bromide gas used for container fumigation by September 1, 2017, and for all cargoes by the end of the year Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson says: “Methyl bromide is a very effective pesticide and a key part of New Zealand’s biosecurity defence, but it is toxic to humans and depletes the ozone layer. Continue →

Are your employees exposed to or suffer from debilitating and frustrating carpal tunnel and OOS, asks Hasmate Director Gordon Anderson During a conversation, a friend’s son-in-law mentioned he had worked in the forest industry for eight years and had operated a log recovery excavator with a Waratah head that required  him to multifunction by working a set of toggle controls. Continue →

  Using timber blocks to support or stabilise a large piece of equipment or a heavy load has long been accepted practice, but experience has shown that it’s not the safest or most efficient option Occupational health and safety professionals know that timber, when used as a support, is a serious safety risk for workers, being unpredictable, unsafe and unnecessary. Continue →

Strangulation can cause serious injury, and in some cases death, WorkSafe NZ warns The health and safety regulator notes that there have been incidents where a young child has become entangled in a rope or cord while playing on play equipment. Continue →

A former Young Farmer of the Year stresses the importance of communication when it comes to farm safety David Kidd grew up on a farm with strong verbal communication around health and safety. Continue →

WorkSafe New Zealand has clarified the circumstances in which it is acceptable to carry passengers on single-seat quad bikes, in consultation with Federated Farmers, Beef + Lamb NZ, and DairyNZ Under the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) 2015, persons conducting a business or undertaking such as farming must identify and manage risks arising from work, so far as is reasonably practicable. Continue →

New research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) suggests that the process of dealing with emotional exhaustion can sometimes increase happiness The study examined when and how dealing with emotional exhaustion can enhance happiness in a work environment. Continue →

An Australian innovation about to enter world markets automates the hazardous, costly and never-ending task of slashing roadside grass around millions of poles, fences, safety barriers and signposts lining highways and byways Instead of whole teams of roadside workers laboriously manually trimming vegetation around the multitude of safety fence poles and advisory signs involved, the new SlasherTeck innovation uses one man on a tractor to do the job in a fraction of the time. Continue →

New floor protector coatings from 3M employ highly advanced chemical technologies to protect floors and maintain a brand-new look Unique hybrid technology in Scotch-Gard Floor Protector products densify surfaces, increase hardness and ultimately improve wear. Continue →

Canada’s Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) has published a new research report to help prevent confined space accidents by helping companies apply existing regulations Researchers wanted to gain a better understanding of confined space risk management and identify issues based on the literature and field observations, and develop a confined space risk analysis and work categorization tool that meets the needs defined in the first stage of the project. Continue →

Working alone outside of the traditional office is commonplace for tens of thousands of staff in New Zealand, but it needn’t stand in the way of safety Employers owe their employees a duty of care, and as such need to consider the risks for a person entering situations that have the potential to become a hostile environment. Continue →

Leading gas process systems manufacturer Oxair has launched a cost-saving alternative to conventional oxygen cylinders The company’s Medical Oxygen Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) automated equipment and nitrogen systems can eliminate the inconvenience and cost of shipping in conventional supply methods. Continue →

For solo farmer Peter Phillips, repeatedly suffering a ‘crook back’ from lifting ewes during lambing was a major and painful inconvenience – until he found the perfect solution Installing a second-hand wheelchair lift on the back of his ute now enables him to lift and move animals and other heavy loads without getting injured – and avoid downtime during his busiest time of the year. Continue →

Prolonged sitting is very prevalent – more than half of the working population’s 15 hours waking day is sedentary according to Massey University Professor of Ergonomics Stephen Legg and research student and physiotherapist Jane Pierce  It has been linked to serious health effects – diabetes, cardiovascular disease, possible cancer and obesity to name but a few. Continue →

Effective health and safety systems and practices are essential in the workplace to prevent harm to people while they work, WorkSafe New Zealand emphasises This was highlighted at the sentencing of landscaping and outdoor timber supplier TW Transport Ltd after an employee lost two fingers while using an unsafe rotating blade saw to cut timber. Continue →

Noise, agri-chemicals, silica and asbestos were the most common work-related health issues WorkSafe health issues inspectors dealt with in the first six months of last year Noise was a cross-sector issue, with 11 per cent of 721 assessments made resulting in an enforcement notice, almost all improvement notices. Continue →

Around 400 Canterbury construction workers will receive free health advice over the next fortnight to help raise awareness about the health risks they face on worksites WorkSafe New Zealand has organised an occupational health van to tour rebuild sites. Continue →