The return-to-work rate of injured workers who receive 'extensive' employer support is seven times higher than for those who receive no support, a Safe Work Australia survey has found. Also in this article, SWA has released a fact sheet on workers' comp laws relating to psychological injuries.
A recent case involving a worker who was awarded $240,000 in damages - after being bullied for just 11 days - demonstrates how important it is to proactively respond to all workplace bullying complaints, according to employment and safety lawyer Hedy Cray.
A report on an ongoing investigation into a serious dozer incident caused by heavy rain has outlined three safety lessons for employers, while a UK study has identified ways to reduce the risks associated with inadvertently operating excavator controls.
The Fair Work Commission should place little weight on workplace bullying investigations - when determining anti-bullying applications - unless it is satisfied the investigation was conducted "rigorously, impartially and independently", a leading employment lawyer says.
An employer that told a worker to "stop wearing a skirt", when he complained about his arduous manual handling tasks, has been found liable for the man's serious back injury.
New Zealand's new workplace bullying prevention guide is superior to Australia's for a number of reasons, including that it recognises "institutional bullying", which helps employers determine if their culture is creating the problem, an OHS consultant says.
Manager's death highlights small business safety gaps; Employers urged to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds; and High-risk work licences expiring in Northern Territory.
Asking colleagues who exhibit suicidal warning signs, such as talking about tidying up affairs, if they are suicidal won't "tip them over the edge", but "provide a starting point for a solution", a new suicide position statement says.
