Browsing: Coronavirus, COVID-19 | Page 8

A nurse who was initially charged with recklessly attending work when she had COVID-19 - an offence potentially attracting jail time - has been fined $25,000 for failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of people at her high-risk workplace.

The Fair Work Commission has affirmed that working safely, in a way that doesn't put fellow workers or the public at risk, is an inherent requirement of a job, in a dismissal case involving a former WorkSafe Victoria lawyer who breached vaccine rules.

A business manager who introduced workplace safety brainstorming sessions, which led to the development of a device that eliminates the need for workers to enter high-risk areas on roads, has received a major WHS award.

Highlighting the dangers of excessive remote work and barriers to safety management, a comprehensive analysis of European WHS data has confirmed that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly exacerbated a range of risks faced by workers in a major sector.

A global study has identified an alarmingly high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, in frontline workers, linked to nine major COVID-19 risk factors, highlighting the ongoing need for employers to monitor staff for symptoms of PTSD and provide appropriate support.

• WHS discussions urged ahead of COVID changes; and
  
• Safety Bill amends new direct-employment provisions in Qld.

The termination of a long-serving firefighter who refused to disclose his COVID-19 vaccination status while on annual leave has been ruled unfair, with a commission finding his employer embarked on a "well-worn disciplinary path" without carefully considering his correspondence on the issue.

UK researchers have emphasised the need for protective wellbeing strategies for remote workers, after finding working from home increases the likelihood of engaging in unhealthy alcohol and tobacco consumption, and physical health and mental wellbeing deteriorating, particularity in younger people.

The National Cabinet's decision to scrap mandatory isolation requirements for COVID-19 cases will help businesses maintain or increase workforce numbers, but will also require them to maintain stringent health and safety practices to stop the spread of the coronavirus, according to peak employer bodies.

• Employer cherry-picked expert's workplace injury report; and
  
• "Long COVID" support service launched in Tas.