Browsing: Workplace safety legislation, regulations, standards and codes | Page 8

The Federal Government has highlighted the link between low pay - along with the threat of "deactivation" - and poor safety outcomes in the gig sector, in announcing "world-leading" laws giving new powers to the Fair Work Commission.

All but one of Australia's eight harmonised WHS jurisdictions have now introduced the new model clauses on psychosocial risks, with the ACT being the latest to do so, while joining a subgroup that has chosen to prescribe the use of the hierarchy of controls for these risks.

• Employer fined $320k over reversing-vehicle breach and death;
  
• SWA launches stats site with case study, flags WHS changes; and
  
• Fair Work amendments to protect FDV victims from discrimination.

• Tougher spotter and guarding rules made for EWPs; and
  
• WHS blitz targets violence and manual handling in aged care.

• WHS insurance bans and other changes introduced in Tas; and
  
• Presumptive cancer Bill applauded for world-first development.

• WHS regulator targeting numerous NSW businesses;
  
• Key WHS measure for Cth parliamentary workplaces introduced; and
  
• WHS Regulations amended in WA.

• Falling-object prosecution avoided through EU; and
  
• New Code covers WHS and electricity compliance in WA.

• SWA outlines work-from-home duties in new resources;
  
• Model WHS amendments for silica applied in SA; and
  
• Paid FDV leave extended to many workers.

PCBUs' incident notification duties could soon be amended to capture a much broader range of incidents and require periodic reporting of matters like workplace bullying and traumatic events.

The national model WHS laws have been amended to significantly increase the maximum available fines and jail times, and to clarify the operation of the category-1 offence in a way that is likely to give regulators and prosecutors more confidence to pursue company officers for recklessness or gross negligence.