Leave and Safety Essay

Submitted By JusticeKnight97
Words: 782
Pages: 4

LEAVE - Family leave
29 May 2009
Juggling work and family responsibilities is one of the greatest challenges facing workers today.

There are a few types of leave employees are entitled to in order to help workers look after their family and do their jobs properly.
Parental leave
Full-time, part-time and casual employees are eligible for parental leave, however to get parental leave, an employee must have worked for the employer for at least 12 months.
Maternity leave
Mothers are entitled to:

* A minimum of six weeks leave immediately after the birth of their child * Up to 52 weeks unpaid leave if they are the primary caregiver * Under a new scheme introduced in January 2011, primary carers will receive 18 weeks paid leave at the rate of minimum wage (subject to an income test).
Paternity Leave
Fathers are entitled to:

* Up to 52 weeks unpaid leave if they are the primary caregiver * Up to one week unpaid leave if they are not the primary care giver.
Adoptive leave
Adoptive parents are entitled to:

* Long adoption leave of up to 52 weeks of unpaid leave * Short adoption leave of up to three weeks continuous unpaid leave

SAFETY - Asbestos
29 May 2009
Over recent years, asbestos has been a high profile occupational heath and safety issues for workers (especially construction workers) in Australia. Here’s why:

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fibre that was widely used in building materials up until 1985. It was used because it is a versatile material which withstands heat, erosion and decay, and has fire and water resistant properties. However it was later found out that asbestos is a carcinogen – a substance that causes cancer.
Dangers of asbestos
Heath risks arise from the inhalation of asbestos fibres into the lungs and can cause serious health effects such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer and pleural disease. These illnesses can take up to 50 years to develop.
Sources of asbestos exposure
In the past, exposures to asbestos were very high particular areas such as asbestos mining and asbestos-cement manufacturing. These industries no longer operate in Australia. Now the demolition of buildings that contain asbestos has the potential for the release of huge amounts of fibres, unless severe precautions are taken.
Laws to protect workers against exposure to asbestos
There are now significant laws in place to protect workers from the dangers of asbestos. In 2003, it became illegal to use, re-use or sell any products containing any form of asbestos in Australia. The ban does not apply to asbestos products that are already in place, but when they are replaced non asbestos alternatives must be used.
What does this mean for me at work?
An employer must identify and implement measures to prevent the uncontrolled disturbance of asbestos containing material if construction work is being carried out. An employer must also ensure that employees contracted to carry out asbestos work are informed of the dangers involved and the precautions to be taken.