A man has been convicted of WHS breaches after an experienced crane operator was killed when a 300kg machine part fell on his head, in a case highlighting the importance of suitable lifting attachments.
Exposure to certain occupational fumes can double the risk of workers contracting invasive pneumonia-causing infections, and affected workers should be offered vaccines, researchers say.
A full Federal Court has quashed a company's $181,000 shared-liability award, averting a situation where employers that aren't liable for an injury under workers' comp laws could be stung with a hefty contribution bill.
Employers have a high degree of responsibility to prevent foreseeable risks arising from criminal conduct by third parties, a court has highlighted in awarding nearly $300,000 in damages to a worker who developed psychological injuries after an attempted robbery.
The vast majority of workers with disabilities, health conditions or injuries are motivated to retain, secure or return to suitable employment, but necessary work accommodations are rare, and outcomes are stymied by stigma and discrimination, according to a major report on empowering workers.
A leading workplace heat stress consultant has warned of the effects of "heat hangover", which causes workers in warm workplaces to experience the same symptoms they would after consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, and could account for the spike in incidents during hotter months.
A PCBU that exposed a visiting pest controller to the risk of death or serious injury from a fall through a trapdoor has been convicted and fined, in a long-running case that challenged the validity of all WHS prosecutions over a three-year period.
Many employers continue to rely on administrative controls like training in lifting techniques and stretching to tackle work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) risks, despite strong evidence that these strategies don't work, according to a report prepared for Safe Work Australia.
In a decision highlighting the importance of consistent zero tolerance drug and alcohol policies and disciplinary processes, a major employer has been ordered to reinstate a worker who tested positive for cannabis.
A regulator has been refused special leave to appeal to the High Court against a ruling that an injured worker's consent orders don't bar him from lodging further compensation claims.
