SafetyAtWorkBlog

This episode examines recent developments in workers’ compensation for gig workers in Australia, focusing on legislative changes and ongoing challenges. It explores the evolving definitions of gig work, the complexities of coverage, and the need for national coordination in policy and regulation. The discussion highlights the gaps in health and safety protections for gig workers, the practical iss...

This episode explores the latest evidence on occupational health and safety (OHS) in the context of working from home. Drawing on recent research and expert commentary, this discussion examines the rise of hybrid work arrangements in Australia, their impact on productivity, and the broader socioeconomic benefits—especially for parents, individuals with health conditions, and those facing barriers...

This episode unpacks a heated parliamentary exchange over workers’ compensation premiums in New South Wales, revealing a deeper crisis in workplace mental health. While political leaders debate costs and reforms, the conversation sidesteps the root causes: rising psychological injury claims, structural workplace stressors, and ineffective well-being programs. The discussion challenges compliance-d...

This episode explores a major shift in workplace health and safety: Victoria’s new psychological safety regulations, effective December 1st. With no transition period and no room for delay, employers now face a clear legal duty to prevent psychological harm—not just manage it. The discussion breaks down the regulator’s Compliance Code, the hierarchy of control, and the implications for HR and OHS...

This episode explores the overlooked and often misunderstood world of occupational health and safety in Australia’s sex work industry. Drawing on 18 years of reporting and analysis from SafetyAtWorkBlog, the discussion highlights how stigma, legal ambiguity, and political inertia have left sex workers exposed to physical and psychosocial risks. From violence and poor ventilation to regulatory negl...

14,000 tuned in to WorkSafe Victoria’s webinar on new psychological health regulations—taking effect December 1, 2025, with no transition period. This episode unpacks the urgency, the compliance code, and the cultural resistance to real change. From retail violence to “adequate resourcing,” we explore what’s mandatory, what’s missing, and why reactive safety won’t cut it anymore.

This episode explores how language—particularly verbs—shapes perceptions of leadership and commitment in political and workplace safety contexts. From the AUKUS submarine announcement to COVID-era vaccine pledges, it examines the use of “soft” verbs that dilute responsibility and obscure intent. Drawing parallels with occupational health and safety legislation and corporate risk management, the di...

This podcast examines who truly shapes safety on infrastructure worksites — and why the client often holds the decisive power. The episode explains how client decisions on budgets, timelines and procurement set the incentives that drive safety culture, why current procurement and political pressures frequently prioritise cost over worker protection, and how embedding minimum OHS standards into ten...

This episode explores the evolving concept of workplace safety, inspired by Matthew Hallowell’s book "Energy-Based Safety". The discussion expands on traditional safety frameworks, highlighting the importance of considering not only physical hazards but also the impact of emotional energy and psychological harm in the workplace. Topics include the idea of “Hazardous Human Interaction”, the role of...

In this episode, I reflect on RMIT University’s inaugural SHINe Symposium—an overbooked, research-driven event that brought international safety experts to Melbourne during Safe Work Month. From Dr Matthew Hallowell’s insights into the Construction Safety Research Alliance (CSRA) to Professor Michelle Turner’s call for systemic change in mental health, this episode explores how evidence-based rese...

In this episode, I explore a critical question: If clients—especially government bodies—hold so much influence over workplace safety, why aren’t we using it to protect workers? I discuss how clients set project budgets, timelines, and standards, yet often fail to enforce basic safety protections. I challenge the common excuses about cost and disruption, arguing that real leadership means setting,...

Join me, Kevin Jones, I share a candid audio summary reflecting on a recent webinar about psychological safety in the workplace. In this episode, I critique the dominance of HR concepts and pop psychology in safety discussions, highlighting the lack of focus on legal obligations and genuine psychosocial hazards. I explore the need for better integration between OHS and HR, especially as new psycho...

Kevin Jones explores the political tensions and evolving landscape of workplace health and safety in Australia, tracing the journey from the heated OHS harmonisation debates of 2010—when NSW Premier Kristina Keneally clashed with the federal government—through to today’s renewed focus on psychosocial hazards, union rights, and regulatory reform. This Safe Work Month episode discusses pivotal momen...

In this episode, Kevin Jones—OHS adviser and writer of the SafetyAtWorkBlog—dives deep into the messy, misunderstood world of workplace culture. Drawing on nearly two decades of writing and research, Kevin explores how safety culture is inseparable from organisational culture, and why psychosocial hazards have pushed culture into the spotlight. He challenges the superficial treatment of culture in...

Join Kevin Jones, OHS adviser and writer of the SafetyAtWorkBlog, as he dips into Victoria’s new psychological safety regulations and what they mean for workplaces. In this episode, Kevin explains why these long-awaited changes matter, how they align Victoria with national standards, and why HR’s role is crucial in making workplaces safer and healthier. Discover practical controls for psychosocial...

This episode explores the tragic story of Brodie Panlock and its profound impact on workplace safety in Australia. As we mark Safe Work Month 2025, Kevin reflects on Brodie’s experience of relentless bullying at Café Vamp in Melbourne, which led to her untimely death in 2006. The podcast examines the legal and cultural changes sparked by this case, including the introduction of Brodie’s Law and th...

Join Kevin Jones, as he explores the urgent issue of psychosocial hazards in Australian workplaces during Safe Work Month 2025. In this audio summary, Kevin reflects on recent high-profile cases—including WorkSafe Victoria’s prosecution of a government agency after a workplace suicide—and advocates for proactive, evidence-based strategies to improve workplace mental health. Through real-world exam...

In this audio summary, I explore the often-overlooked issue of work-related suicide, drawing on a September 30, 2025 blog article and research by John Bottomley and colleagues. The episode challenges dominant narratives that medicalise distress and ignore structural workplace harm, highlighting how neoliberalism, toxic work cultures, and institutional denial contribute to suicidality. With new psy...

This episode dives into the changing landscape of workplace safety in Australia, focusing on the introduction of psychosocial risk regulations—covering stress, burnout, bullying, and isolation. I briefly explore the intersection of OHS, HR, and workplace culture, offering practical insights into compliance, the impact of new laws, and what it means for employers and workers. With real-world exampl...

In this episode, Kevin Jones explores the contradictions in Australia’s OHS laws, where employers are required to comply but left to define what compliance looks like—often only clarified after an incident. Drawing from a new SafetyAtWorkBlog article, he examines how this ambiguity especially burdens farmers and small businesses, and critiques the misuse of “reasonably practicable” standards. With...

In this short podcast, Kevin Jones discusses the Victorian government’s proposal to make working from home a legal right—and why it’s more campaign strategy than safety reform. From missed commutes to missed opportunities, Kevin explores the rhetoric, risks, and oversights in the current debate. Drawing on his latest SafetyAtWorkBlog article, this episode challenges listeners to rethink workplace...

Join Kevin Jones as he discusses the world of quad bikes on Australian farms, exploring their impact on occupational health and safety, compliance, and the politics of prevention. Discover the evolution of safety laws, the cultural resistance to regulation, and the ongoing efforts to make quad bike use safer. This episode is based on a SafetyAtWorkBlog article from October 2021 and remains highly...

In this episode of the SafetyAtWorkBlog podcast, Kevin Jones delves into the challenges and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. He discusses the evolving role of occupational health and safety (OHS) during the crisis, highlighting the importance of PPE, the inconsistencies in safety advice, and the innovative yet sometimes flawed solutions implemented on worksites. Kevin shares personal an...

Kevin Jones shares reflections from the 2025 AIHS Victorian Branch symposium—where standout sessions tackled safety clutter, AI innovations, and hard-learned lessons from construction incidents. From Site Pilot’s public transparency to SHINe’s push for clarity, this episode blends critique, insight, and a behind-the-scenes tour of Marvel Stadium. Not every speaker hit the mark, but the value of sh...

Join Kevin Jones as he delves into the second edition of Arie Freiberg's book, "Regulation in Australia." This episode explores the reasons behind regulation, market failures, and the role of government in restoring fairness and equity. Kevin also discusses "The Big Myth" by Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway, which examines how business interests have shaped our perception of government and free marke...