Agsafe Achiever Award

Continual improvement and a positive safety culture is something the staff at RAFF Group Pittsworth pride themselves on. The store, which forms part of the CRT network has been operating for almost 20 years. Owners Annabelle and Robert Raff, who also run stores in Millmerran and Clifton, believe Agsafe has made a valuable contribution to their workplace health and safety procedures.

 

Important changes to the Dangerous Goods Code

One of the most significant challenges faced on our roads and rail network is the transportation of dangerous goods. As an Agsafe member, we encourage you to become familiar with, and let your staff know about, the recent updates to the Australian Dangerous Goods Code. The new code, which is reviewed and updated every two years by the National Transport Commission (NTC), includes changes specific to Australia and better reflects the United Nations ‘Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods – Model Regulations (18th edition)’.

 

ChemClear on its way to WA

ChemClear is heading to Western Australia in June 2016 and is urging chemical users to register their surplus or unwanted agvet chemicals for safe disposal before 22 April 2016. Since the program was established 16 years ago, ChemClear has undertaken five regional collection runs across Western Australia and retrieved in excess of 61 tonnes of obsolete agvet chemicals.

 

Important notice regarding spray drift management in cotton growing regions

Agsafe is reminding all resellers to advise customers about the importance of following label directions to ensure correct usage of crop protection products to avoid spray drift incidents from occurring this season. The APVMA recently received reports of herbicide damage to cotton crops, as well as isolated reports of damage to vineyards, possibly due to the application of herbicides when surface temperature inversion conditions were present.

 

Barratta Creek catchment meeting

In response to continued water quality issues in the Barratta Creek catchment, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in conjunction with BRIA Irrigators Ltd is convening a meeting of key stakeholders, including chemical resellers, to discuss practical initiatives to help improve water quality. Agsafe’s Accreditation & Training Manager Frances Cameron will be present at the meeting to explain the organisation’s objectives and how these link to activities in the Burdekin.

 

Maximise your points with VOCAM online training

For a limited time only, Agsafe is offering members 100 training points for each VOCAM course booked and completed. VOCAM e-learning courses give Agsafe members seeking reaccreditation the ability to complete relevant training courses in a time frame that suits them and their workplace, ensuring they continue to meet legal requirements under WHS regulations.

 

Agsafe supports free Infopest service

Infopest is a free, searchable online database that gives primary producers, consultants and resellers access to product labels, safety data sheets and reporting tools. You can search by pest, host, company or product. Infopest was originally developed by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, but is now looked after by Growcom and supported by organisations like Agsafe.

Free safety workshops for small business

Need help with safety? Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is offering free workshops in various areas to help small business operators manage work health and safety with ease and efficiency. Check out the full range of free workshops as well as the other services available to small businesses operating in Queensland by clicking here.

 

‘Jason’s story’ film

The Queensland Government’s new workplace safety film, ‘Jason’s story’, takes a confronting, very honest look into the heartache of losing a son and a mate to a preventable workplace incident. Jason Garrels was just 20 years old when he died at a construction site in Clermont in 2012. He had only been working there for nine days.

 

The worker who ‘didn’t know best’

A worker who wiggled his fingers at his employer’s safety officers to show he knew all about safety has failed to convince the Fair Work Commission (FWC) that his dismissal was unfair. He claimed he had been unfairly dismissed, and originally, a Fair Work Commissioner had found in his favour and awarded him $11,507 as he had not found work elsewhere since being terminated and reinstatement was inappropriate. But his employer successfully appealed the Commission’s decision.

 

WA inspection program looks at safety in waste and recycling industry

WorkSafe WA is conducting an inspection program to look at safety standards and issues in the waste and recycling industry. The program will continue through the financial year, and will be conducted in both metropolitan and regional areas of the State. WorkSafe Director Joe Attard said the sector was being targeted because of its wide range of hazards that could result in serious injuries.

AGVET CHEMICAL SUPPLIER COURSE

 

Workshops:

• 3 March 2016, Armidale, NSW
• 8 March 2016, Queanbeyan, NSW
• 8 March 2016, Bundaberg, QLD
• 15 March 2016, Maitland, NSW
• 21 March 2016, Brisbane, QLD
• 22 March 2016, Griffith, NSW
• 22 March 2016, Horsham, VIC
• 22 March 2016, Katanning, WA
• 23 March 2016, Nambour, QLD
• 22 March 2016, Lismore, NSW
• 23 March 2016, Ballarat, VIC

• 1 March 2016, Barratta Creek catchment meeting, Clare, SA
• 1 March 2016, Fresh Produce Testing for Food Safety event, Sydney, NSW
• 7 March 2016, ‘Safety in the workplace’ STA (VIC) Seminar, Glen Waverly, VIC
• 15–17 March 2016, OHS Leaders Summit, Gold Coast, QLD
• 16–18 March 2016, Australian Melon Industry Conference and Field Days
• 23–24 March 2016, Dangerous Goods Conference 2016, Perth, WA
• 11–13 May 2016, Safety First Conference and Expo 2106, Sydney, NSW
• 6–8 September 2016, Safety in Action, Sydney, NSW

 

If you would like to contribute information about events or other news, please email olivia.porter@agsafe.com.au.