Is your work phone making you sick? Smartphone Health and Safety tips from the experts

A press release published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) about the potential dangers of cell phone use has been making headlines around the world. The report found a strong link between mobile phone use and cancer.

In follow up to the IARC press release; the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a fact sheet on the health effects of cell phones. This fact sheet states: "A large number of studies have been performed over the last two decades to assess whether mobile phones pose a potential health risk. To date, no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use". The IARC classified cell phones in Category 2B, which is "possibly carcinogenic to humans". 

All employers and business owners providing staff with work mobile phones are responsible for educating staff in the safe use of provided work tools, whether it be a jackhammer or a mobile phone. 

We’ve put together some practical safety tips to help you train your staff to stay safe and healthy when using their work smartphones:

Never text while driving because it is illegal and very dangerous

When possible use handsfree, especially while driving

If youre worried about radiation, use a handsfree or text messaging to reduce electromagnetic energy (EME) exposure to the head

Always purchase approved mobile handsets and accessories - knock-offs may be cheaper but they use inferior materials and are not tested for safety

Use your mobile in good coverage areas

Pedestrians using mobiles should remain alert to traffic and other obstacles

Turn off chargers at the powerpoint when not in use

Ignore cyberbullies and do not respond to bullying messages, where possible block them

In an emergency call Triple Zero (000) and provide your location information to the operator. As long as you are within coverage of a mobile network you will be able to call Triple Zero (000), even without credit or a SIM card. 

If you have a smartphone with GPS capability, you can download the Emergency + App (developed by NSW Fire and Rescue) for free from iTunes or the Google Play store - this app uses your smartphone's GPS capabilities to provide you with your location information which you can give to the Triple Zero operator if needed. It also provides advice about when to call Triple Zero or alternative numbers such as the SES or Police Assistance Line.

The WHO fact sheet can be accessed here 

If your business employs professional drivers, such as truck drivers or bus drivers, weve attached the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association Fact Sheet developed here

Still feeling confused? Contact ISOsafe on 1300 789 132 for help with training and managing health safety in your business

New Zealand construction firm fined after worker injured in 2.9m fall

The construction company was fined $34,000 and ordered to pay reparations of $16,000 after pleading guilty to one charge under sections 6 and 50 (1) (a) of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
On 22 October 2015, the worker was installing a flooring system on the second storey of a house in Timaru in the southern Canterbury region of New Zealand. The system is a composite steel flooring system made of lightweight, pre-formed steel sheets.
While drilling timber fascia boards to a steel beam, the steel sheets, which the worker was using as a work platform, moved and the worker fell 2.9m onto the concrete floor. He was knocked unconscious, sustained fractures, and suffers fatigue and headaches as a result of his head injury.
A WorkSafe investigation revealed the company had failed to complete adequate planning and hazard assessment in relation to the work, which would have included assessing whether the sheets made a safe work platform and making sure that the sheets were installed in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.
The worker was unfamiliar with the installation process and had received no training on how to do so. No one had checked that the worker installed the sheets correctly.
WorkSafe’s Construction Programme Manager Marcus Nalter said “working from height is a well-known risk in the construction industry and it must be managed appropriately at all times.”
Nalter added, “The company should have ensured that the fitting of the flooring system was being done correctly and appropriate controls were in place to prevent a fall from height, such as providing a safe working platform.”
“People working in high risk industries such as construction should be able to trust that the employer has their workers’ safety at the front of their mind. In this instance, The company’s inattention to safety has resulted in injury and ongoing health impacts for the worker,” said Mr Nalter.
The importance of training and hazard management while working at height has been reinforced here. Don’t risk non-compliance contact ISOsafe today on 1300 789 132 

South Australian Construction Company prosecuted after worker fatality

The family of a worker electrocuted in 2014 has received compensation as part of a decision made by the South Australian Industrial Court.
The court convicted and imposed a penalty of $45 000, plus court costs on a construction company in recognition of an early guilty plea and the business agreeing to publicise the incident in local newspapers.
In addition, the business in concern consented to an order to pay $20 000 to the family of the worker.
On 23 April 2014, a worker was electrocuted when metal flashing he was holding came into contact with overhead power lines, resulting in his death.
Following investigation by South Australian regulator, SafeWork, the construction company was charged with failing to provide and maintain a work environment, failing to ensure the provision and maintenance of a safe system of work, and failing to ensure the provision of information, training, instruction or supervision of workers.
Presiding Magistrate Ardlie acknowledged that this was the company’s first offence as well as the significant capital invested by the company in training workers, since the incident.
Ardlie added, “Importantly and fundamentally the business now conducts an inspection of each site before any plans are submitted to council prior to the commencement of any work,” said Magistrate Ardlie.
The conviction highlights the serious impacts of unsafe work practices and especially the need for extra care when working near overhead power lines. Don’t risk getting caught out, be proactive, contact ISOsafe today to book a free advisory meeting 1300 789 132.

Victorian courts order local businesses to pay record $6.2 million in penalties over health and safety breaches in 2015-16

WorkSafe Victoria have revealed that over the 2015-16 financial year, 108 businesses and 21 individuals were fined totalling more than $6.2 million.

Of the 108 businesses, almost 40 were from construction sector. The worst offenders included:
A piling, foundations and ground engineering company which was convicted and fined $750,000 over the death of a worker who fell more than 40 metres when the mast of a piling rig collapsed at Southbank in 2011.
A mining services provider, which was convicted and fined a total of $600,000 following two incidents involving an overloaded barge working on the Patterson River. One of the incidents involved the barge capsizing, throwing three workers into the water and trapping one in the excavator in the water, seriously injuring him.
A residential builder, which was convicted and fined $300,000 over an incident in which a carpenter died after being crushed by a brick wall on a construction site at Brighton East in 2014.
A sign company, which was convicted and fined $250,000 over its involvement in the attachment of a timber hoarding to a wall which increased the risk of the wall collapsing at Carlton. The wall collapsed and killed three people in 2013.

A significant number of businesses in the manufacturing sector were also prosecuted. They included:
A conveyer belt manufacturer, which was fined $90,000 over an incident in 2014 in which an employee suffered serious arm injuries when he became caught in machinery beneath a moving conveyer belt.
A caravan manufacturer, which was convicted and fined $80,000 over an incident in 2014 in which an employee had two fingers severed while using an unguarded router.
A Chicken processer, which was convicted and fined $60,000 over an incident in 2014 where an employee suffered serious hand and arm injuries when she became caught in a giblet processor.

WorkSafe Chief Executive, Clare Amies, said the record amount of fines imposed by the courts in 2015-16 was a reminder to businesses and individuals of the significant penalties they faced if they did not comply with their health and safety obligations.

“WorkSafe is committed to improving workplace health and safety and, if it is found that employers have failed to provide a safe working environment for their workers, they can expect to face large fines and significant damage to their reputation,” Ms Amies said.

Don’t risk noncompliance. ISOsafe’s services will protect your business. We will prepare all safety documentation to demonstrate compliance. Call us now 1300 789 132 or email us at enquiries@isosafe.com.au, to learn more about our services for businesses and their owners.

Nearly a million dollars in safety fines after bricklayer almost killed

A Granville bricklaying company and its director have been fined nearly three quarters of a million dollars after a worker almost died from electric shock on a Hammondville construction site in 2012.
The worker had been installing vertical metal bars into brickwork at a residential and commercial construction when he made contact with overhead power lines, suffering electrical burns to his hands, arms and torso. After being pronounced dead at the scene, he was revived by the Director.
SafeWork NSW charged the bricklaying company and its director for failing to comply with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW). The judge found that the Director of the company failed to exercise due diligence by not checking that the scaffold was a safe distance from power lines and verifying that a risk assessment had been conducted.
Two other companies, at the same site, were fined $500,000 in 2014 and $75,000 in 2015 respectively, over the incident.
Executive Director of SafeWork NSW, Peter Dunphy said the incident could have been prevented if the business had a few simple safe work systems in place.
“There was a clear risk that the bricklayer could receive a potentially deadly electric shock if they came into contract with the power lines while working from the scaffolding,” Mr Dunphy said.
“The Director should have verified that a safety assessment had been conducted, ensured the scaffolding was a safe distance from power lines and advised the bricklayer of the risk.
“Unfortunately, this did not occur and the bricklayer almost died in an incident that was completely preventable.
“Fines from this incident now total almost three quarters of a million dollars, serving as a strong deterrent to those in the construction industry thinking about ignoring safety laws.”
Failure to manage health and safety can result in serious incidents. So, as well as putting staff wellbeing at risk, businesses can be left exposed to substantial financial penalties, criminal and civil prosecution and loss of reputation.
Don’t risk noncompliance. ISOsafe’s services will protect your business. We will prepare safe systems of work, safety instructions and all other documentation you require. Call us now 1300 789 132 or email us at enquiries@isosafe.com.au, to learn more about our services for businesses and their owners.