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Shift work and obesity have been linked to low back pain (LBP), which increases absence rates and costs the Australian economy $9 billion a year in direct and indirect costs, an Australian study has found.

An anti-bullying tool has been developed by WorkCover NSW to help employers eradicate the "$100 million" workplace problem. Also in this article, the NSW Government has injected $1 million into research to reduce the high quad-bike-related fatality rate.

"Broader" OHS investigation flagged after ACT work death; Retailer adopts paperless OHS system for 140 sites; Alert issued after miner injured in explosion; and NSW and Queensland hosting free WHS and RTW seminars.

Many injured NSW workers are likely to turn to the State IRC and Fair Work Australia to block the reduction of their weekly benefits under the new step-down provisions of the Workers Compensation Act, according to a leading law firm.

A spate of work-related suicides and rising stress rates have prompted the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and other international bodies, to call on employers to continue investing heavily in OHS, for both ethical and economic reasons.

"Harvesting" worker knowledge key to reducing risks; SA Greens call for introduction of WHS manslaughter provisions; ACT accused of undermining safety through procurement process; WorkSafe ACT releases guidance notes on workplace bullying and other issues; and Comcare updates rehab forms and learning modules.

Employers should consider offering flexible shift lengths to combat sleep deficiency, which has been identified as a major health problem for workers, US researchers have advised.

The Australian Mines and Metals Association has called for the Federal Government to step up education programs, and curtail "unjustifiably" broad provisions of the Fair Work Act, in the battle against workplace bullying.

In a message that applies to all industries, farm employers are being urged - as part of national Farm Safety Week, commencing today - to improve OHS by upgrading their machinery and processes.

Safe Work Australia could include - in its special stevedoring Code of Practice - a requirement to have safety observers in place for high-risk tasks. Also in this article, a community-based network has been established to tackle the high quad-bike-related fatality rate.