Socio-psychological factors and compliance with work health and safety regulation – theory, policy and practice. This project will examine and provide an account of the relationship between socio-psychological factors (knowledge, motivations, attitudes, perceptions and norms), and procedural and substantive compliance with work health and safety regulation and lead the way in reducing workplace injuries through improving regulatory effectiveness.
MatesMonitor: Evaluating Suicide Prevention In The Construction Industry
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$628,742.00
Summary
We will evaluate a smart-phone based suicide prevention program for the construction industry called MatesMonitor. This will complement face-to-face training provided by an industry-wide suicide prevention program. MatesMonitor will provide education and awareness about suicide prevention and additional social support through regular contacts with participants. We anticipate MatesMonitor will result in improved suicide prevention literacy, and reduced suicide ideation and self harm.
Microbiologically Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking in Underground Mines. Premature brittle failure of rock & cable bolts due to stress corrosion cracking can cause fatalities and serious damage, and has been reported in several mining operations across Australia and world-wide. The evidence suggests that microbial activity is a contributing factor. The project aims to implement experimental methodologies to determine the specific conditions responsible for bolt failure and develop novel prevent ....Microbiologically Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking in Underground Mines. Premature brittle failure of rock & cable bolts due to stress corrosion cracking can cause fatalities and serious damage, and has been reported in several mining operations across Australia and world-wide. The evidence suggests that microbial activity is a contributing factor. The project aims to implement experimental methodologies to determine the specific conditions responsible for bolt failure and develop novel prevention techniques applicable in underground mines. The benefits of this research will be improved understanding of the environment causing catastrophic failure of bolts and avoidance of potential hazards & economic loss in mining projects. This will lead to improved safety & increased productivity in mining operations.Read moreRead less
Forensic platform technologies for roadside and workplace testing based on nanostructured silicon chips. Roadside drug testing has recently been incorporated into government legislation throughout Australia and abroad. The objective of this project is to develop advanced analysis technologies for implementing effective roadside and workplace testing. The availability of these technologies will increase the safety of Australian drivers and workers.
The Great Disruption of COVID-19: Re-imagining the work-family interface. This project aims to highlight new possibilities to re-imagine and reduce parents’ work-family conflicts. Covid-19 brought an unprecedented disruption to Australian parents' work-care routines, with different effects for women, and those working ‘at work’ versus at home. Using mixed-methods approaches and multiple Australian datasets collected pre- and post-pandemic, this unique project intends to identify families who are ....The Great Disruption of COVID-19: Re-imagining the work-family interface. This project aims to highlight new possibilities to re-imagine and reduce parents’ work-family conflicts. Covid-19 brought an unprecedented disruption to Australian parents' work-care routines, with different effects for women, and those working ‘at work’ versus at home. Using mixed-methods approaches and multiple Australian datasets collected pre- and post-pandemic, this unique project intends to identify families who are at risk of longer-term scarring to family wellbeing from work-care conflicts; and critical workplace supports which may prevent this. Together, this urgently-needed evidence contributes to family-friendly work for diverse parents, employers and policy, protecting social and economic participation for Australian parents.Read moreRead less
Using multiple data sources to understand the opioid crisis in Australia . This project aims to improve the quality and integration of population-level data for monitoring the consumption of opioids, licit and illicit, in Queensland communities. The analysis of opioids in wastewater, integrated with opioid use information such as prescription and seizure statistics will vastly increase knowledge of consumption patterns of opioids. By analysing wastewater samples from 2011 and triangulating with ....Using multiple data sources to understand the opioid crisis in Australia . This project aims to improve the quality and integration of population-level data for monitoring the consumption of opioids, licit and illicit, in Queensland communities. The analysis of opioids in wastewater, integrated with opioid use information such as prescription and seizure statistics will vastly increase knowledge of consumption patterns of opioids. By analysing wastewater samples from 2011 and triangulating with other datasets, the expected outcomes include building capacity to estimate consumption of all opioids; detecting the misuse of licit and illicit opioids over time. Anticipated benefit is to provide objective evidence of opioid use patterns for decision makers and a framework for a national opioids monitoring program.Read moreRead less
Review Of Domestic Commercial Vessel Safety Legislation
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$36,500.00
Summary
This industry consultation needs to be collated to assist the Australian seafood industry provide a nationally co-ordinated and well-informed response to a review of AMSA legislation.
There is a need for a nationally co-ordinated and well-informed seafood industry response to a review of the AMSA legislation. SIA has engaged with industry nationally and the need to respond in a collective submission that is reflective of the views of Australia’s seafood industry
In addition, ....This industry consultation needs to be collated to assist the Australian seafood industry provide a nationally co-ordinated and well-informed response to a review of AMSA legislation.
There is a need for a nationally co-ordinated and well-informed seafood industry response to a review of the AMSA legislation. SIA has engaged with industry nationally and the need to respond in a collective submission that is reflective of the views of Australia’s seafood industry
In addition, there is a need for subsequent interpretation of the outputs from the AMSA legislation review to aid industry in understanding the implications of the findings. This industry consultation needs to be collated to assist the Australian seafood industry provide a nationally co-ordinated and well-informed response to a review of AMSA legislation.
Objectives: 1. Engage a range of seafood industry representatives (individuals and organisations) in provision of input to a consolidated SIA response to the AMSA Legislation Review 2. Understand and report on industry issues associated with the application and content of the AMSA legislation 3. Provide advice to SIA to inform a national response to the AMSA legislation review Read moreRead less
Australian Aquaculture - Practical Solutions To The Triple Bottom Line - A National Workshop
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$63,910.00
Summary
Federal and state legislation is increasingly demanding more stringent environmental controls on aquaculture activities and place the onus of proof for demonstrating environmental performance on the industry. In addition, regulation for and approval of aquaculture activities is increasingly directed through state EPAs. There is thus a regulatory imperative to defining the ESD sustainability indicators for the aquaculture industry.
Public perception of the industry as environmentally u ....Federal and state legislation is increasingly demanding more stringent environmental controls on aquaculture activities and place the onus of proof for demonstrating environmental performance on the industry. In addition, regulation for and approval of aquaculture activities is increasingly directed through state EPAs. There is thus a regulatory imperative to defining the ESD sustainability indicators for the aquaculture industry.
Public perception of the industry as environmentally unsustainable is often not substantiated by scientific fact, but can have a detrimental affect on aquaculture development through objections to individual aquaculture planning applications. A negative public perception can also enhance the influence of uninformed pressure groups on Government policy development. This is a constraint to future development of the whole industry.
To address these two issues, there is a clear need to identify the issues related to various aquaculture sectors and develop protocols and frameworks through which organisations can demonstrate their compliance with environmental objectives. What is required is a national framework and standards for assessing the environmental performance of aquaculture. Additionally, industry needs to be equipped with practical tools and solutions for dealing with these issues.
The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (SCFA) adopted an ESD framework for fisheries in 1998 and a FRDC/SCFA-funded project has undertaken a number of case studies using this framework. To date the focus of SCFA framework case studies has been on wild fisheries. This approach needs to be expanded to a broader range of stakeholders involved in aquaculture and fine-tuned to ensure it is appropriate for all aquaculture systems and sectors.
In addition, internationally benchmarked environmental management systems (such as ISO 14000) are options that should be explored to implement ESD frameworks and have already been developed for aquaculture sectors in other parts of the world (Gavine et al 1996, Boyd, 1999).
Advantages for the aquaculture industry in adopting the principles of ESD and documenting environmental performance include:
(1) Improved public perception of the industry; (2) Reduction in waste and improved efficiency at site level; (3) A competitive advantage in the market place if accreditation is used as a branding tool; and (4) Ability to effectively engage new Government policies (such as Tradeable Emissions Policies).
This workshop will be the first step in bringing together the stakeholders to identify issues and develop practical solutions that will allow the Australian aquaculture industry to continue to develop in a sustainable manner.
Boyd, C. 1999. The aquaculture industry must learn to deal effectively with environmental issues, beginning with recognising the role of the different players involved. World Aquaculture 30 (2):10. Gavine, F. M., Rennis, D. S. and Windmill, D. 1996. Implementing environmental management systems in the UK finfish aquaculture industry. J.C.I.W.E.M 10, October: 341-347. Objectives: 1. To identify practical solutions to ESD issues which will enable aquaculture organisations to develop in a sustainable and cost effective manner. 2. To develop an action plan that achieves a) standard auditing and reporting protocols for environmental performance of aquaculture operations within and ESD framework and b) adapts the existing SCFA ESD framework to incorporate the requirements of aquaculture operations. Read moreRead less
Assisting Commercial And Recreational Organisations Adapt To National Maritime Safety Standards
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$79,460.00
Summary
The Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 defines general safety obligations on both the Owner and Master. The Owner has a general safety obligation to implement and maintain a safety management system that ensures that the vessel and the operations of the vessel are, so far as reasonably practicable, safe. The Master also has a general safety obligation aboard the vessel to, so far as reasonably practicable, implement and comply with the safety management system for t ....The Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 defines general safety obligations on both the Owner and Master. The Owner has a general safety obligation to implement and maintain a safety management system that ensures that the vessel and the operations of the vessel are, so far as reasonably practicable, safe. The Master also has a general safety obligation aboard the vessel to, so far as reasonably practicable, implement and comply with the safety management system for the vessel and the operations of the vessel. http://www.amsa.gov.au/domestic/vessels-operations-surveys/certificates-of-operation/
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is rolling out a program of risk management and SMS workshops to help industry meet the National Standard for Commercial Vessels, Part E Operations. A number of other organisation are also delivering SMS training to meet Part E. FRDC recognises that some industry sectors face particular challenges in accessing these programs, possibly due to location, timing, English language proficiency, or sector specific operations. These specific needs may be beyond the scope of these other programs. This funding will complement those programs by addressing these challenges.
The Australian Government’s Policy for a More Competitive and Sustainable Fisheries Sector (2013) included a commitment to assist commercial and recreational organisations adapt to National Maritime Safety Standards. Funding is provided by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation on behalf of the Australian Government to deliver on this commitment.
Objectives: 1. Manage funding to help industry meet the National Standard for Commercial Vessels, Part E Operations Read moreRead less
A Case Study Into The Development Of OH&S Processes In The Pinctada Maxima Pearling Industry To Benchmark Worlds Best Industry Diving Practice
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$71,656.00
Summary
At various periods, the lack of detailed information on the development and application of the pearl industry dive protocols has resulted in criticism of the industry's occupation health and safety performance from Coroners, Unions, Government, Statutory Organisations and other parties.
The review of OH&S processes and finalisation of the drift dive research will present a cogent, defensive argument of the Industry's safe diving practices. This will place Industry in a better position ....At various periods, the lack of detailed information on the development and application of the pearl industry dive protocols has resulted in criticism of the industry's occupation health and safety performance from Coroners, Unions, Government, Statutory Organisations and other parties.
The review of OH&S processes and finalisation of the drift dive research will present a cogent, defensive argument of the Industry's safe diving practices. This will place Industry in a better position to negate the need for future legislative or Industrial Relations initiatives by responsible departments and bodies because they will be better informed regarding pearling industry occupational health & safety standards.
The diving systems and protocols developed by the pearling industry would be applicable to similar diving industries. Without a review and documentation of the process by which they were developed and the results, it could limit those industries ability to adopt and develop their own appropriate economic and efficient systems of safe diving.
This review will also constitute an element of the required documentation for Worksafe WA to consider, examine and gazette a Pearling Industry Code of Practice. This Review will also contribute to the consistency of OH&S across WA fisheries.
There is a crucial need for an objective, factual measure of the safety being achieved by the pearling industry. The drift dive database was the tool used for this measurment, however it has become dysfunctional and requires upgrading to supply this measure. (This component of the proposed review comes under the State IDU Programme 5 - 'Information Systems' and Strategy 5.2 - ' Maintain a database of relevant information, and access to similar databases.'
It will also be a benchmark document by which further studies and research on divers health can refer to and build from. Objectives: 1. Write a brief history of the pearling industry focusing on the reasons and 'drivers' for the development of the OH&S processes and programs within the industry. 2. Compile, from all previous reports to FRDC & Fisheries, the Final Research Report on the drift diving profile research and summarise in the review report the results and principles applied to establish their safety. This Final Report is for the FRDC project 'IMPROVED HARVESTING EFFICIENCY OF PEARL OYSTERS THROUGH MODIFICATION OF DIVE PROFILES' (94/098) 3. Document the development process and implimentation of the PPA Diving Code of Practice that was developed in conjuction with Fisheries WA and Worksafe WA. 4. Update the PPA drift dive database and draft a statistical report from the dive data base, which will have logged the total manhours of drift diving over the past 10 years and correlate the reduction in decompression illness (DCI) incidents to the adoption of the research results. 5. Collect and summarise the international presentation papers of pearling industry systems by Dr. R. Wong. Briefly describe the fishing industries worldwide that have adopted the principles that underpin the pearl diving system as conveyed by Dr. Wong at international hyperbaric medical conferences. 6. Document the work done by the PPA in support of hyperbaric medicine including the provision, training and support of the recompression chamber facilities in Broome. 7. In support of the above objectives, to collect all source documents regarding OH&S in the pearl diving industry since the inception of the PPA (1989). (Dive mortalities, Incidents, Coroners reports, CoP development, Chamber Purchase, International Conference papers etc.) Read moreRead less