Changes to company safety policies must be "clearly and openly communicated" to all employees before they can take effect, Fair Work Australia has ruled, in reinstating a speeding worker who was dismissed under a policy he denied knowledge of.
NSW set for model safety laws with likely election landslide; WorkCover SA maintains levy rate despite falling unfunded liability; SISA Awards open; and Queensland Return to Work Awards open Monday.
Comcare reintroduces recess compensation; Petroleum employers to pay three new safety levies; and Tasmania calls for comments on no-fault asbestos compensation Bill.
Injuries caused by biomechanical demands, such as repetitive hand movements or heavy lifting, cost Australian business $361 million a year in compensation payments - and 99 per cent of employees are at risk, according to new Safe Work Australia research.
Notices issued to workers disputing their workers' comp entitlements must be written in "clear and unambiguous language", the NSW WCC has stressed in awarding ongoing compensation to an injured worker who was dismissed for stealing.
Western Australia to abolish discriminatory workers' comp rules; Second Western Australian employer fined for safety training failure; ACT and South Australia offer health and safety funding; and Commonwealth safety Regulations amended.
A Queensland worker whose office chair rolled backwards when she stood up, causing her to land of the floor when she sat down, was entitled to $420,000 in damages, the Supreme Court has confirmed in dismissing her employer's appeal.
South Australia introduces workplace child-safety laws; ACT enacts new incident reporting requirements; SWA releases premiums update and launches model Regs survey; and WorkCover NSW releases harmonisation Q&A sheets.