Most companies take their workers' health seriously,
but around one in five still don't control employees'
exposure to risks, such as harsh sun and loud noises.
Image: iStockphoto

A survey has revealed that, although most companies take their worker's health and safety very seriously, around one in five do nothing to limit employees' exposure to sunlight, loud noises and vibrations.

The Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) Chairman, Mr Bill Scales AO, announced the release of the National Hazard Exposure Worker Surveillance (NHEWS) survey – 2008 Results and the accompanying handbook on 3 December 2008.
 
“I am pleased to report the NHEWS survey shows that most workers in Australia who are exposed to an occupational disease causing hazard are provided with some form of control to reduce risk.

“Although these are positive findings, it is concerning that some workers who are exposed to hazards are reporting that no controls for risks are provided at all. For example, around one in every five workers reported that their employer did nothing to prevent health problems caused by exposure to direct sunlight or sunburn. Around the same number of employees reported that their employer did nothing to prevent their hearing from being damaged or to prevent problems caused by using a range of vibrating tools.

“This is not acceptable. It is everybody’s right to be safe and healthy at work and all employers need to review their approach to these important issues,” Mr Scales said.

Some key findings of the NHEWS survey include:

• Most of the 1538 respondents who worked in direct sunlight were provided with sunscreen, hats or protective clothing to prevent problems caused by exposure to direct sunlight or sunburn. One in five (21 per cent) who worked in direct sunlight undertook their work outside of peak UV hours to reduce sun exposure. Close to 17 per cent of workers reported that they or their employer did nothing to prevent health problems caused by exposure to direct sunlight or sunburn
• Of the 1437 respondents who worked with loud noise, around two thirds were provided with ear plugs or ear muffs (60 per cent) to prevent hearing from being damaged. One in five (22 per cent) said noisy equipment was placed in an isolated room, while 36 per cent said quieter machinery was purchased whenever possible. Almost one in five (17 per cent) reported they or their employer had done nothing to prevent hearing from being damaged by loud noise
• Two thirds (65 per cent) of the 1348 respondents who worked with tools, equipment or in vehicles that vibrate were provided with gloves to prevent any related health problems. A third of respondents said they had been provided with vibration absorbing seats and 31 per cent said they were provided with products with less vibration. One in five (22 per cent) reported that they or their employer had done nothing to prevent problems caused by working with vibrating tools and equipment or in vehicles that vibrate.
• Participants in the NHEWS survey were engaged through telephone interviews.

A sample of 1900 workers were surveyed for the first part of the study, which targeted workers from the five priority industries as identified under the National OHS Strategy 2002-2012. These are transport and storage, health and community services, construction, manufacturing, and agriculture, forestry and fishing.

A second sample of 2600 workers was drawn from both priority and non-priority industries.

The National Hazard Exposure Worker Surveillance (NHEWS) survey – 2008 Results and National Hazard Exposure Worker Surveillance (NHEWS) survey – Survey Handbook are available for free download from the ASCC website.