The 'nanny state' gets worse...

[prydey]

http://www.news.com.au/business/work...-1226489795262

BOSSES will have to roster jobs around workers' social lives and check that staff who yawn or daydream aren't too tired to work safely.
Those proposals are contained under national laws being drawn up to fight workplace fatigue.
Employers are furious they will be turned into the "yawn police" under Safe Work Australia's draft code of practice for workplace fatigue.
The government agency's checklist for employers to spot worker fatigue includes headaches, daydreaming, constant yawning, low motivation and moodiness.
It has proposed that bosses "eliminate or reduce the need to work extended hours or overtime" so staff don't get too tired.
"Safety critical" tasks - such as administering drugs, driving a truck or electrical work - should not be performed in the post-lunch "low body clock period" of 2pm to 4pm, the draft code states.
And rosters should be drawn up to accommodate workers' social lives.
"If a worker leaves their job tired and exhausted they may be less able to enjoy out of work activities or could be a danger to themselves and others in the community," the document says.
"Likewise, if a worker arrives at work unfit for duty due to a lack of sleep, illness or other condition, they may be less productive or could be a danger to themselves and others in the workplace.
"To avoid any potential conflicts between personal and work demands, controls include (to) consult with workers and design shift rosters that will enable workers to meet both work and personal commitments."
The code says employers should train workers in "balancing work and personal lifestyle demands".
The code of practice - to be finalised next year - will be admissible in court if an employer is charged with breaching workplace health and safety laws.
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Peter Anderson said employers should not be held responsible for fatigued workers worn out from partying or family demands.
"It would require employers to delve into matters of a personal and private nature that are none of their business," he said.
"We don't want to be the yawn police."
The Australian Industry Group's representative on the Safe Work Australia board, Mark Goodsell, warned that employers might be held responsible for the fatigue of staff moonlighting in other jobs.
Any boss who pried into a worker's partying habit would "look like a nark and invade their privacy", he said.
"People can lie to you and say they weren't doing anything on the weekend to make them tired," he said.
"They've got no obligation to tell you what they're doing at home.
"But there is a legal implication that if an employer is accused of breaking the law, the fact you weren't following the code can be used against you."
Even unions have criticised the code, with the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union complaining the fatigue checklist is "not very helpful".
"How would a workplace assess such things as `reduced immune system function' or `hallucinations' and `headaches'?" it told Safe Work Australia in a submission.
And the ACTU suggested that high-risk tasks be minimised between 2am and 6am - not the the 2pm to 4pm suggested in the code.
Safe Work Australia said it was revising the code to address concerns - but would not give details of any changes.
"Changes aim to reflect recent research findings and outcomes of case law," a spokeswoman said.
----------
FYI Checklist: Safe Work Australia's guide to worker fatigue
> Headaches and/or dizziness
> Wandering thoughts, daydreaming, lack of concentration
> Blurred vision or difficulty keeping eyes open
> Constant yawning, a drowsy relaxed feeling or falling asleep at work
> Moodiness such as irritability
> Short term memory problems
> Low motivation
> Hallucinations
> Impaired decision-making and judgment
> Slow reflexes and responses
> Reduced immune system function
> Increased errors
> Extended sleep during days off work
> Falling asleep for a few seconds without realising
> Drifting in and out of traffic lanes
Source: Safe Work Australia draft code of practice on workplace fatigue


Read more: http://www.news.com.au/business/work...#ixzz28YTOKYGf

surely this can't be serious!!

[pottery beige]

surely this was drafted by some green slanted overeducated accedemic...

who wouldnt know a hard days work if it snuck up and slapped em on the ***..

do good world gives me the *****.. accomadating the weak.. we all become weak.. how about the weak just toughen the **** up...

[prydey]

imagine trying to get deliveries done in the early afternoon!!

'yeah, it will have to wait for tomorrow now, my driver is just having his siesta as he was a bit tired after lunch..'

whatever next.

so if you decide to have a big night mid week, your boss then has to accomodate you?? here's a solution, meet them at the door with their pay check and tell them to find employment elsewhere!!

[ROBBO1981]

and all the 457 visa workers are rubbing there hands

[csv8]

GovCo gets worse......"For the first time, the Government's paid parental leave for fathers will be extended to dads who whose partner is another dad.

Two women who become mums are also eligible for the paid leave.

The two weeks of baby care leave, paid at the minimum wage of about $606 a week, will from next January be available for fathers with same sex partners.

The baby they care for could come from adoption, sur
rogacy or other arrangements with a birth mother.

It is the exact scheme which will be used by fathers in conventional households from January 1.

Last January the Government introduced paid parental leave of 18 weeks for the "primary carer", usually the mother. Some 200,000 have taken up the baby care break."

[FGII-XR6]

this is not a new thing, employers in the heavy vehicle industry are already responsible for monitoring fatigue under the chain of responsibility provision of national fatigue laws.
This is a safety issue and the impact of worker fatigue can't be minimised. that being said a driver who is constantly fatigued can have his suitability for the position reviewed

[Jim Goose]

Pilots and truckies have a strict set of fatigue rules they work by.... the pilots rules for flying hours etc have been around for decades.

Doctors and nurses Australia wide are frequently working up to 3 and 4 days straight with only a few hrs sleep in empty hospital beds (and not going home).

I can understand if Hosptials were finally forced to introduce such rules, but for the rest of the workforce?

In any case its only a draft (daft) proposal.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

this is not a new thing, employers in the heavy vehicle industry are already responsible for monitoring fatigue under the chain of responsibility provision of national fatigue laws.
This is a safety issue and the impact of worker fatigue can't be minimised. that being said a driver who is constantly fatigued can have his suitability for the position reviewed

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Pilots and truckies have a strict set of fatigue rules they work by.... the pilots rules for flying hours etc have been around for decades.

Doctors and nurses Australia wide are frequently working up to 3 and 4 days straight with only a few hrs sleep in empty hospital beds (and not going home).

I can understand if Hosptials were finally forced to introduce such rules, but for the rest of the workforce?

In any case its only a draft (daft) proposal.

agree with these 2 posts but certain employment positions carry with them responsibility.

what gets me about the article is the opening line..

BOSSES will have to roster jobs around workers' social lives and check that staff who yawn or daydream aren't too tired to work safely.

obviously this is just the journo's words but i like to stay up late on sunday nights to watch the F1 etc, so my boss now needs to factor that in to my roster...??

[RspecAU]

It may seem a bit trival to those who think this is a joke but how the hell would ur wives and families feel if u were killed at work by some who wasn't able to concentrate and trust me when i say that workplace deaths are quiet high not only in australia but world wide. Safety is big thing and shouldn't be taken lighty.

[Jim Goose]

I know some mine sites employ some rediculas rules, as well as some good ones regarding fatigue.

Many years ago I was kept awake all night by housos, at around 4am was when the boys in blue finally arrived. 5.30 i was getting ready for work.
Told my supervisors i had 30mins of sleep and they said ok, your not driving any forklifts today.....

Sadly a lot of people seems to show up at work hungover with minimal sleep, how does a boss react to that? or worse if the boss is hungover and tired and then expects you to work because he is?

Again it boils down to common sense, which these days is lacking.

[mik]

it is getting like the individual has less and less responsibility to look after themselves, govco will do it for you !

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by mik

it is getting like the individual has less and less responsibility to look after themselves, govco will do it for you !

no they won't - they will just hold you responsible for not wrapping them in cotton wool
making laws that cannot be implemented does nothing more than cover their own buts, while holding others responsible

[JG65TE]

Swa have just changed forklift assessments to something only a rhodes scholar will pass.complete with incorrect answers in the assessment guide and told trainers to use it. I am no longer surprised by anything they do. I think I feel a yawn coming on. See ya tomorrow boss

[302 XC]

This mid day siesta is used O/S and it actually works
A non productive working doesnt make money and really is a liability not only for himself but for other workers
Fatigue is no different to someone at work of their head,wether by grog or drugs
People need to take responsibilty for their actions, im not responsible for you, you are
A place i worked at many moons ago, there were 2 on a night shift, 1 bloke turned up well under the weather, he got sent home , the shift couldnt work with 1 worker so the factory closed for one shift,massive loss productivity
As for the author of the story, never let the whole truth get in the way of a good story

[Benny D]

mmm sounds good to me.
better tell my boss i can only start at about 9am because i will be too tired beforehand,
might aswell knock off after lunch, again coz im tired.
and i want full pay.....

[Ben73]

Might tell the boss my social life doesn't allow me to work weekends or night shifts anymore.
Ill say I can only work 11am-7pm weekdays and must have a nap for an hour after lunch.

[H.G]

isnt this called fatigue managment??

[onfire]

I think you'll find most progressive workplaces will at least speak of " work / life balance " and while the points above seem a little outlandish.. yet how many truly back it?

How often do you see people working 10-12+ hours a day? Potentially even as unpaid over time? Working sick, hurt or exhausted? Working rotating hours, or rotating days where they start early some days, later the others? Being called out without significant breaks, or constantly on call.

The answer is, all the time.

I know personally, I've been sick, carried a few aches and pains, worked 12 hours out of necessity, been exhausted, etc. All in the last month.. just looking at that list.. I've personally experienced:

Headaches and/or dizziness
lack of concentration
Blurred vision
a drowsy relaxed feeling
Moodiness such as irritability
Short term memory problems
Low motivation
Impaired decision-making and judgment
Reduced immune system function
Increased errors
Extended sleep during days off work

The big one for me has been the short term memory problems, resulting in an increased amount of minor mistakes or missing details, and I'm not the only one. Consider 5 or 6 core members of management in the same boat? How efficient is your workplace? If I'm walking around all day making poor decisions, in an irritability state and forgetting things... how does that impact my team? My Business? Significantly. How does that effect me?

While the contents of the original post seem out there, the idea isn't necessarily a bad one. It should simply be about the employees having enough down time to be able to function as close to 100% as possible.

[EDManual]

I work when I want. Doesnt matter when, as long as the jobs done. Thats the way to go i think.
If a mate asks me if I want to go fishing on a friday morning, I just go, and do a bit of work to make up for it at a later date.
If I am tired, i just wake up later.

[castellan]

Well it's all about legal issues. get use to it because it's not going away and if you don't look out you will be taken to the cleaners. end of story.
People are getting smarter and they know there rights now and if they can get some deal to go there way, who cares ! they certainly don't and we are not a christian nation anymore, so anything goes.
It's all a casino mentality world now. wake up to it ! and no one especially the young generation gives a rats.
I have given up employing anyone now, because you are just shafted no mater were you turn.
Communism is on the way.

[gtfpv]

i totally agree with this .
at the moment employers push psuyh and push unsafe work practices and long hours with no consideration to the employees or thier families .
Recently the emphasis of safety has been put moreso onto the employee rather than the company being resposible for negligence , so WHY NOT GIVE THEM SOME OF THIER OWN BACK .
most people dont realize when a truck overtakes them , he is in a hurry and fatigued because his company has him on a deadline , which a lot of them take drugs just to stay awake . ( that isnt acceptable ) we all know about it but that seems ok . ( well it's not ok ) .

[gtfpv]

i have 1st hand experience where employers lead you into an accident .
i attended a funeral , and instead of going to the wake , i felt obliged to go to work , when i got to work i informed the boss i had just came from a funeral !!!
one would think that work should be allocated accordingly in these circumastances , but no , i was sent straight up into a dangerous job , whilst others were allocated softer work for the day , 1/2 hr later i had a fall , fractured my back ,broke 2 ribs , punctured my lung , and liver and was in the back of an ambulance , and had 4 months off on compo .
a little common sense may have prevented this .

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by RspecAU

Safety is big thing and shouldn't be taken lighty.

Agree, but there is a difference between safety and wrapping the entire world in cotton wool.

[Dr Jekkyl]

There will always be over-the-top proposals but until there are no preventable workplace deaths we can always do better.

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by Dr Jekkyl

There will always be over-the-top proposals but until there are no preventable workplace deaths we can always do better.

the only way we can have no preventable workplace deaths is to continue to send all of our jobs off shore because our poor workers are tired and stressed from having to get up and go to work

and by bringing in all of this cotton wool, we are well on the way to doing that unfortuantely

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by gtxb67

the only way we can have no preventable workplace deaths is to continue to send all of our jobs off shore because our poor workers are tired and stressed from having to get up and go to work

and by bringing in all of this cotton wool, we are well on the way to doing that unfortuantely

cotton wool , what is that ? some made up rubbish , probably a keyboard worker - i mean typer and stamper are you ?

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by gtfpv

cotton wool , what is that ? some made up rubbish , probably a keyboard worker - i mean typer and stamper are you ?

wow, that was unexpected. someone has a different opinion and they receive personal insults . . . bravo

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by gtxb67

wow, that was unexpected. someone has a different opinion and they receive personal insults . . . bravo

well that sounded like a post from someone who faces the dangers of paper cuts , or the odd chance of a piece of space junk landing on them while they are at work .
many many many proffessions face more danger and cotton wool wont save them . i personally dont believe that any australian worker is surrounded in cotton wool by any govt or employer .
and i'm insulted by suggestions that this is the case .
sorry for any personal insult though . its just a disagreemant which is a little close to home .

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by gtfpv

well that sounded like a post from someone who faces the dangers of paper cuts , or the odd chance of a piece of space junk landing on them while they are at work .
many many many proffessions face more danger and cotton wool wont save them .

maybe you should know what people do before posting

[GTP owner]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Doctors and nurses Australia wide are frequently working up to 3 and 4 days straight with only a few hrs sleep in empty hospital beds (and not going home).

I can understand if Hosptials were finally forced to introduce such rules, but for the rest of the workforce?

In any case its only a draft (daft) proposal.

No we don't work 3 to four days straight. Safety rules have curtailed the extreme hours and it is now considered unreasonable to make someone work under those type of conditions - for patient safety reasons. A dr can't be held responsible for an adverse outcome if forced to work unreasonable hours.
A heavy week these days is around 70 hours. We don't have them very often.

I can imagine the new laws in place...."sorry mrs J I can't come to deliver your baby, I'm recovering from a big day in the shed working on my XB, and watching Bathurst with my mates. You understand don't you, it's about a social life/work life balance"