Apprentice-related supervision breaches can lead to recklessness fines; Queensland removes earthmoving requirement from WHS Regulation; and South Australian WHS Act added to Fair Work right-of-entry laws.
Some test and tag requirements and safety restrictions placed on apprentices will be removed under a proposal to reduce the administrative burden of Queensland's electrical safety regulations.
Heavy vehicle amendment Bill passes Queensland Parliament; SWA releases new WHS guides on health monitoring; Western Australian resources sector records first ever fatality-free year; and WorkSafe Victoria investigating fall death.
A much anticipated guidance note on managing workplace fatigue has been released by the Queensland Department of Mines. It explains how to develop and implement a "fatigue risk management plan", and how to comply with consultation requirements.
Harmonised WHS Acts have commenced in South Australia and Tasmania, while in other jurisdictions new Codes of Practice have taken effect, and some transitional arrangements have expired or been extended.
Many Queensland WHS Regulations pushed back to 2014; Transitional arrangements expiring in NT as annual reports released; and NHVR boss appointed as national law amended.
Queensland's mirror WHS Act could be amended to allow safer employers to pay lower workers' comp premiums or drop into a lower WHS penalty band, according to a workers' compensation and safety lawyer.
A Victorian manufacturer and a Queensland cruise ship company have been fined a total of $320,000 for guarding, training and Code breaches, after two workers were killed in separate incidents.
Queensland's mirror WHS Act could be significantly amended to remove subcontractors from the definition of "worker", and limit union entry rights, under a roundtable plan to reduce the "cost burdens" on employers.
A Queensland mine worker, who lost his job after an employer-appointed doctor - who had never met him - found he was obese and permanently unfit for work, has had the doctor's decision overturned by the Court of Appeal.
