fitzroyalty

Philosophy from new men’s clothing shop Urban Native on the Collingwood side of Smith St.

A Workcover press release states that their inspectors will be undertaking inspections of businesses in Fitzroy as part of a national campaign targeting unsafe workplaces with a particular focus on young workers:

Cafes and restaurants in Fitzroy, Collingwood and St Kilda are encouraged to get ready for a targeted workplace inspection campaign over April and May.

The visits back-up WorkSafe’s recent controversial advertising campaign focusing on young workers.

The inspection campaign is being run nationally and intended to help employers provide safer workplaces and better understand their obligations to new and young workers who are a major part of the hospitality sector.

The campaign is also designed to increase the awareness of new workers and those under 25 about their workplace health and safety rights and responsibilities.

Inspectors will be checking that new and young workers are:

• Provided with a working environment in which they are not exposed to hazards
• Provided with the necessary information, instruction and training to complete their work safely
• Adequately supervised
• Consulted and communicated with about workplace health and safety issues.

Inspectors will also check for safety hazards including electrical safety, chemical use and storage, plant and equipment guarding, manual handling issues, slips trips & falls and workplace violence.

I am interested in hearing from employees and employers about their experiences in relation to these issues.

Used Pty Ltd is a second hand furniture and objets shop on Johnston St. It used to be a shop that sold African djembe drums. I went in on a recent Saturday morning, met owner Helen and found out a bit about the shop. The tenant running the previous business moved on (though a few of his African statues continue to lurk among the new items), and the building’s owners have turned the space their own shop featuring some of their extensive collection of wonderful things.

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Yume is another relatively new casual Japanese eatery on Brunswick St. I chose to eat there early in the evening before the recent state final of the Raw comedy competition. The menu includes a few dishes I have not seen on the menu at similar places and I was curious to see how it compared to Happy Kappa. I started with a deliciously smooth Kirin beer and looked out on the street through the open French doors near the front table.

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