My Blog Site - Hazardous Hairdresser and OHS

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whsblog.com OHS and Safety

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Hazardous Hairdressers

SW OHS Act - s8(1);

Having ones hair tinted my not be quite as hazard free as one may imagine. In the case of Workcover Authority (Inspector McKean) -V- A & C M Warbrick Pty Ltd trading as Christiane's Hair Design [2005] NSWCIMC 131 (29 August 2005) we read about a hairdressers apprentice who received first degree chemical burns to both of her hands whilst mixing a peroxide bleach that was to be applied to a clients hair. Hairdresser needed

The risks associated with use of bleach and peroxide products were documented in Material Safety Data Sheets 2 and 3 for hair products used in salons. MSDS number 2 applies to the peroxide products. "Health effects: Irritant. Attacks eyes. Protect eyes when using. Acute effects: Eye: Eye contact may cause ulceration: Skin: Avoid contact. Temporary whitening or bleaching of the skin may occur. Irritation and formation of blisters may also occur. Personal protective equipment: Skin - gloves (vinyl, rubber or plastic) must be worn when handling this product. Eyes: Eye protection must be worn (safety glasses) to avoid accidental splashes into eyes. Product is a class 5.1 dangerous good."

Copies of MSDS Number 2 and MSDS number 3, both applying to the task in question, were not available at the salon at the time of the incident. The company had no formal system of supervision in place at the time of the incident and no system to ensure that supervisors were competent to supervise staff, but they relied on the fact that supervisors were qualified hairdressers with trade licences. There was no formal system of follow up by the company to monitor the effectiveness of supervision and the company relied on the manager of the salon or the area manager to advise of any issues and to check work practices.

The defendant was ordered to pay the sum of $17,250 by way of penalty. In addition the defendant was ordered to pay the prosecutor's costs and disbursements of just over $3,100.

Full details:- http://www. austlii.edu.au/au /cases/nsw/NSWCIMC/2005/131.html

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Case studies - WHS through the cases - Australia

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◦	Rise in manslaughter cases
◦	Ladder use - training not required
◦	Make sure that your defence team knows the right numbers
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◦	Employment agency not vicariously liable
◦	Tourist dies whilst on tour in Northern Territory
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◦	Enforceable undertaking
◦	Lifting of boxes is part of normal office work
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◦	Who is NOT an officer of a PCBU.
◦	Powers of WorkCover NSW to force a company to produce documents
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◦	HSR loses unfair dismissal case
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◦	When a frolic is not compensatable!
◦	117 Workers found guilty
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◦	Claim 19 years after death
◦	Throwing Stones – Not the Right Answer
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◦	Is 'lippy' a cure for bullying?
◦	Does a principal contractor have a responsibility to train a sub-contractor
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◦	Be Polite
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◦	Sex not work - High Court decides
◦	Court defends HSR's actions
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◦	Worker crushed by machine safe system failed
◦	Is it work? The courts don't always agree
◦	How not to break an egg
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◦	Lifting copy paper nets almost $240k
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◦	Director is not 'too remote' from the company
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◦	Bunnings and the Potting Mix
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◦	Robbery at Franklins
◦	Fosters $1.25m penalty
◦	Self employed - Safety for the disobedient

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◦	UK Company pays 1 million pounds
◦	Hotel workers to wear panic buttons
◦	Royal Opera House made to face the music
◦	When can work be a smoko?
◦	penalty reduced on financial grounds
◦	Star Wars Film Producers Prosecuted
◦	Electromagnetic fields harmful to your health
◦	Warning to Welders
◦	A big payout for two four two letter words
◦	Green Tea can improve brain function
◦	Don't bully the boss
◦	When is a mother not a mother
◦	Obesity and work - the connection
◦	New Zealand to adopt Australian WHS law
◦	How I Broke My Collar Bone
◦	The church thatdoes not believe in prayer, and the whore house that does
◦	OHS Consultant fined for being unqualified
◦	Prison for OHS fraud
◦	What is sex discrimination worth?
◦	Don't get Cross about a Cross
◦	Fired for being too sexy
◦	Is lactation a condition of pregnancy
◦	Email From Home results in sacking
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◦	Top ten US causes of workplace injury
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◦	Does your company have a love contract?
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◦	The crazy world of Britain's OHS Regulations
◦	Buffered for Morale, or getting it all off

Stories from around Australia

◦	Who is looking after those that look after us.
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◦	Urine testing banned
◦	Discriminatory Conduct
◦	Coles fined $170 000
◦	Unfair Dismissals
◦	Sex on a business trip
◦	Director acquitted and charged after appeal
◦	Telstra employee injured while working from home
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◦	20 20 Hindsight
◦	OHS in a Brothel

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◦	Workers’ Compensation Claims for Mental Stress
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