Workplace bullying victims will be required to seek advice from an "independent" agency before taking their case to the Fair Work Commission, under the Federal Coalition's new IR policy, which also includes a plan to "urgently" review the necessity of the Safe Rates Tribunal.
Workers who are subjected to bullying and stress at work are more likely to have children and grandchildren with autism or cancer, and their employers could be held liable under the due diligence provisions of the model WHS Act, a new Australian white paper says.
Measles alert issued after Qld worker diagnosed with the disease; WA regulator calls for safer approach after sixth agriculture death; and Western Australian workplace safety awards open.
Safe Work Australia will host free training and information sessions in 10 cities to help employers transition to the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). Also in this article, OHS Alert examines the progress of the safety prosecutions arising from the Pike River Coal Mine tragedy.
A recent NSW Court of Appeal decision shows that non-Commonwealth licensees can still be found liable under state workers' compensation schemes for injuries caused by a "gradual process", according to a Curwoods Lawyers report.
A security officer who claimed his psychological injury was caused by a co-worker's aggressive behaviour has had his workers' comp claim dismissed, after the Queensland IRC found his condition arose from his mistaken belief that managers failed to act on his concerns.
As NSW transitions OHS prosecutions away from the Industrial Relations Commission, the ACT has started the process of establishing an Industrial Court to deter unsafe work practices.
An independent report on New Zealand's "ineffective" OHS regime - prompted by the Pike River Coal Mine tragedy - has called for the adoption of the Australian concept of the PCBU, and outlined 13 "prerequisites" for a high-functioning safety regulatory system.
An employer that was given the green light - by a government official - to work in a hazardous area, was not entitled to assume that its workers would be safe, the ACT Supreme Court has found.
Alert issued after portable work toilet thrown 50 metres in whirlwind; New WA DMP inspectors appointed as NSW issues mine alerts and asbestos guide; and SWA releases latest monthly fatality report.
