A small business that failed to store sheet materials safely has received one of the highest workplace safety fines in Western Australian history, after a pre-apprentice was killed. Also in this article, WorkCover NSW is investigating a Port Botany fatality.
Senior lawyer calls for laws to "stop bullying in its tracks"; Safety trainer fined $121K after explosion injures six people; Victorian employers to pay $110K over missing handrail; and WA employer fined for interlock and training failures after amputation.
Australia is one step closer to having national safety regulators for the heavy vehicle, rail and maritime sectors, with the Council of Australian Governments signing three new intergovernmental agreements on Friday.
Discriminatory workers' comp legislation abolished in Western Australia; and Employers urged to review systems after second tree-related death in two days.
A Western Australian contractor has been handed a record-equalling workplace health and safety fine over the January 2008 prison-van death of the Aboriginal elder, Mr Ward.
Western Australian employer fined for isolation failure after 15-year-old permanently injured; and Western Australia and the Northern Territory step up synthetic cannabis bans.
The draft model Work Health and Safety Regulations and Codes of Practice for mining have been released for public comment, but "harmonisation" appears to be a long way off for this sector, with at least four jurisdictions looking to introduce their own laws.
Western Australian Mines Minister Norman Moore has dismissed as "flawed" the belief that a lack of safety inspectors is linked to workplace accidents, and has warned miners that their safety management systems will be audited regularly.
