IRIA

WorkSafe Victoria has released the employers’ toolkit to help injured workers get back to safe work early. The toolkit, which has templates, checklists and forms that can be customised to suit their needs, was released as a part of WorkSafe’s ‘Return to Work, Return to Life’ campaign.

The kit can be downloaded from WorkSafe’s ‘Return to Work’ website: www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/returningtowork. It would be particularly useful to small to medium-sized businesses and to those that don’t have a lot of experience with workplace injury insurance claims, said Dorothy Frost, WorkSafe’s Return to Work Director.

Around 28,000 Victorian workers are seriously hurt each year. Of that number, more than 3000 do not return to work within six months of being injured. In the past five years, nearly 150,000 Victorians have lodged compensation claims with WorkSafe, totalling more than $2.7 billion in treatment and rehabilitation costs.

“An early return to work reduces claim costs and keeps the cost of a business’s injury insurance premium down,” Frost said. Medical evidence shows the longer someone is off work, the harder it is for them to return and the greater the chance they will suffer adverse health effects.

“It’s important injured workers are given the best possible chance of getting back into the workplace. A successful return to work does not have to mean going straight back into full-time work or the initial position that was originally held – it can be a gradual return or a return to modified duties or even undertaking further training at work while the worker recovers.”

A recent Newspoll survey found 71% of Victorians believe injured workers would benefit from returning to work before being fully recovered and more than 78% believe that by returning to work it would help speed up the recovery process. Other findings of the Newspoll survey include: 96% said families played an important role in helping return to work; 93% said doctors and physiotherapists also played an important role; 68% agreed that returning to work but performing different duties would definitely provide an increased feeling of self-worth; and 78% of people surveyed felt returning to work but performing different duties would help speed up the recovery process.

In an initiative to encourage a progressive and proactive approach to helping injured workers return, WorkSafe is calling on businesses to submit their successful comeback stories in this year’s WorkSafe Awards.

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The emergence of cloud computing is having a direct and positive impact on manufacturers’ IT performance and subsequently supply chain operations, according to a report from IDC Manufacturing Insights.

By Jeff Berman, Group News Editor

The emergence of cloud computing is having a direct and positive impact on manufacturers’ IT performance and subsequently supply chain operations, according to a report from IDC Manufacturing Insights.

In its report, entitled “Business Strategy: Cloud Computing in Manufacturing,” IDC stresses how “cloud computing will have a very positive impact on IT performance for those firms that take a well considered approach to investment.”
By definition cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network such as the Internet.
Some of the notable findings of the report included: -44.3 percent (of the nearly 100 manufacturers surveyed in this report) are either implementing or currently evaluating cloud deployments;-more than 22 percent have already implemented cloud computing systems; and manufacturing IT budgets will shift away from internal management of infrastructure over the next 24 months, with some of that shift going to traditional outsourcing, coupled with a healthy mix of public and private cloud spending.

“It is exciting to see that so many manufacturers are already deploying cloud systems,” said Kimberly Knickle, IDC Manufacturing Insights practice director. “There are companies delivering the [cloud] infrastructure, as well as provide the security and the application. In the manufacturing world—from a supply chain and procurement, unit manufacturing or PLM perspective—many are using systems like SalesForce or Amazon that act like a cloud system. And in the supply chain world there are companies like Conexus, GT Nexus, RedPrairie and E2open that all have supply chain applications in the cloud. We have an increasing willingness to use the cloud to offload IT maintenance and hardware costs.”

And cloud systems also provide manufacturers with an application they want to use that gives employees the functionality they need, added Knickle.

Looking ahead, the IDC report points out that manufacturing IT organizations have “established an excellent track record of improving IT productivity in the decade from 2000 to 2009,” when IT spending as a percentage of revenue improved by about 25 percent.

What’s more, the firm said that the need for new IT capabilities in the complex context is couched in an expectation that productivity improvements will continue, with cloud computing being the most important productivity platform in the next decade.

One of the top benefits of investing in cloud systems as identified by the surveyed manufacturers was that cloud systems can be used to establish “standard services” within an organization.
“Cloud can help a facet of manufacturers’ operations such as sales up and running, and the idea is that IT can help make that happen very quickly,” said Knickle. “It does not mean they have to go out and buy a new supply chain application or collaboration program.”

And the top three business benefits of cloud systems as identified by manufacturers in the report were: reducing total hardware spend; improving IT staff productivity and service levels provided to end users; and reducing total spend on software licensing and maintenance.

“I was a little surprised that IT hardware spend was so high up on this list,” said Knickle. “This follows a logical path, though, which says ‘if I use cloud, I don’t have to buy the latest server or rack, and there is some storage I can let someone else buy and manage the actual physical hardware requirements.’ But they still want to people connection such as business analysts or a different mix in IT employee skills. But I want those people to be the enabling function for the manufacturer.”
In terms of the role cloud computing can play in the future when it comes to logistics and supply chain technology, Knickle said one of the biggest benefits of the cloud is to get employees in different locations on the same page quickly.
One of the big things IDC is currently reviewing, she said, is whether or not supply chain segmentation—for a specific product line or customer—is going to be increasingly adopted.

“So instead of aggregating all of their suppliers or warehouses, or even the actual logistics or transportation piece, they may decide based on the service levels they have for a specific customer may be different than the rest of their business,” said Knickle. “Some of this supply chain segmentation is going to be difficult for companies, and I think cloud systems will be one of the ways companies will address that.”

Published on www.mmh.com

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Businesses are advised to work towards harmonised occupational health and safety laws, despite Victoria and Western Australia calling for a delay on the long-mooted changes that are due to take effect in January 2012.

New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory Governments have passed the national uniform model. AIG chief Heather Ridout says the matter is currently before the South Australian and Tasmanian Parliaments, and there are expectations the Northern Territory will proceed shortly.

But Victoria and Western Australia, run by Liberal governments, say although they agree with harmonisation in principle, the January 2012 deadline is too tight given delays in the process throughout the year. They have indicated harmonisation will occur in their states in January 2013.

Hall & Wilcox senior associate Jessica Fletcher says despite the complaints of Victoria and Western Australia, harmonisation is just a matter to timing.

“Our advice to clients is don’t wait – start getting prepared now, because in many ways this is best practice so there’s little downside,” Fletcher says.

Still, businesses operating across the country will need to undertake a “gap analysis”, she says.

Fletcher advises companies to undertake a review of contractor arrangements and their contractor management system, review their policies to reflect new terminology, and make sure their staff are prepared for the changes.

“And at an executive level for businesses, look at the positive obligation on an officer of a company to exercise due diligence to ensure the company is discharging its safety obligation,” Fletcher says.

AIG this week said if Victoria and Western Australia truly believe a longer transition period is needed, “all states have the option of legislating the model Act (which was finalised in 2009) to demonstrate they retain their stated commitment to harmonisation, whilst retaining the option of a later operational date.”

The Housing Industry Association and Master Builders Australia have previously called for a postponement of national harmonised laws, saying more time was needed to prepare, and Independent Contractors Australia have warned harmonisation will place unfair impositions on employers in regards to their employees’ safety.

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It has been revealed by the Alberta Labor group that the place isn’t safe enough for them to work. They are of the view that due to the growing number of deaths at the workplace, they find it difficult to work there and the security arrangements for the employees aren’t very appropriate.

There has been the death of another employee at the workplace in Edmonton, this being the 14th death that took place in the year. He died after being crushed under a collapsing steel beam.

It was revealed by Ali Fattah, a worker at the construction site, that the situation is becoming more and tenser with each passing case, and no serious action is being taken in this regard by the authorities.

He further added that many of these accidents could’ve been averted if there were proper arrangements for the security of the workers. Barrie Harrison from the Occupational Health and Safety Board is also of the view that these accidents could’ve been put off, with serious action by the authorities. He further added, that the inherently dangerous construction sector, can also avoid a number of accidents, through careful planning for safety.

”Look at the equipment they’re working with and the jobs they perform. That’s why Occupational Health and Safety has laws in place. That’s why we expect them to be followed. Many times when they’re not, they end up with fatalities”, he added.

He further added that there was need for a proper review of the place to be done by the inspectors, so as to find out the reason for so many deaths in the year. This alone can prevent any further cases. The organization and the workers would also have to agree on some common grounds, so as to make the workplace safer for one and all.

frenchtribune.com

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As the world continues to analyze energy availability and the long-term effects of climate change, businesses too are turning their attention to an area of opportunity—reduction of carbon emissions, energy conservation and supply chain sustainability.

6 tactics to promote CSR

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An ever-increasing number of companies today—manufacturers, distributors, retailers and others—have implemented warehouse management systems (WMS) to drive immediate, measurable cost reduction and improve operational efficiency. These companies leverage powerful functionality to maintain efficient operations and satisfied customers

Five sure-fire strategies for WMS Approval

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By Court Reporter
AN inquest jury has returned a verdict of accidental death on a precision engineer who was crushed as he assembled racking at a Dunmow company.

The alarm was raised by staff at Boddingtons Electrical Ltd on Chelmsford Road Industrial Estate when they found Kevin Jolly’s untouched cup of tea, Chelmsford Coroners Court was told today (Tuesday, October 18).

The 54-year-old’s body was discovered at 5pm on November 18, 2009 tangled up among the collapsed racking in the pitch dark of a shipping container, which was being converted into a storage unit.

Self-employed Mr Jolly, of School Villas, The Street, High Roding, had partly erected the framework. Health and Safety Executive investigator David Rudland told the jury that the quarter of a tonne structure was “liable to collapse”.

He continued: “The design was such that it could fold with very little force applied, with the bolts holding it together acting like hinges or pivot points.”

It was, he said difficult to see how Mr Jolly’s mind was thinking.

The worker, whose partner Susan Smith attended the hearing at County Hall, died from traumatic asphyxia caused by what was described as the “substantial” 228kg weight of the metal work which collapsed on him.

The inquest heard that Mr Jolly, who had regularly worked as a self-employed contractor for Boddingtons after he was made redundant from a Stansted firm, had been given the design for the racking by Boddingtons’ boss Nick Jordan and retired consultant engineer Harald Fielder. It had been left to him to decide how to assemble it.

Sales administrator Lorraine Hone said she talked to Mr Jolly at lunchtime and he had been “nonchalant” when he told her there had been a moment when the racking had slid and “sort of dropped on him”.

The alarm was raised by production assistant Daniel Jankowski as the factory was about to close at 5pm. He said: “I saw Kevin’s tea was on the table, it was cold and not been touched at all. I noticed the container doors were open, I thought it was unusual because everybody was going home.”

He went to fetch a light to see inside the dark container in the yard and continued: “I thought I saw a hand. It made me sure something was not right.”

Emergency services were called and Mr Jolly was confirmed dead at the scene.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death and after the hearing on Tuesday, Mr Jolly’s partner said she did not wish to comment on whether any legal action might be considered.

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Three steps to take now to make sure your warehouse or DC can hit the ground running

Is your warehouse ready for the Upswing

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re-thinking the global supply chain

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GRW Industries’ CoolMe vest is a cooling garment to limit the effects of heat stress and promote rapid recovery for workers in extreme heat conditions.

Unlike other cooling garments, CoolMe vest, which has been developed by three James Cook University researchers – Dr Glen Deakin, William Armstrong and Robert Ennis-Thomas – does not require any pre-cooling or preparation work, said Deakin.
CoolMe vest is suitable for emergency situations as it can be activated by simply adding water to the reservoir and offers immediate strong cooling. Some of the other cooling garments currently being sold in the Australian market take hours to get cold, claimed Deakin.

Australian research commercialisation company UniQuest is helping Deakin and his two fellow researchers commercialise the product. A company, GRW Industries, has already been formed and the product is expected to be commercialised this year. The researchers have closely been working with Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS)
to develop the first product which is being optimised for intense-heat and short-duration situations.
CoolMe generates a strong cooling effect, of between 3-5°C, that promotes recovery and limits heat stress when undertaking intensive short-duration activities; it does not require access to refrigeration or power. It is single-use disposable, therefore reducing maintenance/hygiene issues, and is effective when worn under protective clothing and in humid environments.
The product, which is yet to be formally launched in the market, has already received accolades. In 2009, GRW Industries won the University of Queensland Business School Enterprize competition, and the inventors also won the James Cook University Trailblazer competition for innovative ideas.

The vest could benefit firefighters/emergency workers, miners, military professionals and sportspeople among others. In a hot environment, workers in protective suits can experience temperatures up to 50°C and lose 2 litres of fluid in 30 minutes, according to GRW Industries. In a study at a single Australian underground mine, over 100 cases of acute heat exhaustion were recorded in a single year, according to the company website. It is estimated that within the United States fire service alone, approximately 50 deaths and a further 12,500-25,000 injuries are connected to heat stress.

It could also lead to a reduction in cardiovascular strain and provide thermal comfort, the company claims.
GRW Industries undertook controlled trials with product prototypes to assess the effectiveness of the vest. Measurements of fluid loss, core body temperature and heart rate showed the positive impact of using the vest, claims the company. Results are shown in the graph. (Blue = CoolMe vests, Red = control).

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