A tribunal has rejected a claim that the permanent impairments in a worker's knees, caused by four months of repetitive ladder climbing and crouching, can't be combined under controversial laws because one knee injury "commenced" two years earlier.
A senior worksite manager allowed his preconceptions of a union to "colour his attitude" when he breached the Fair Work Act, and showed disregard for WHS laws, by ripping up entry notices and telling officials they couldn't investigate serious safety issues until after a site meeting, the Federal Court has found.
Employers are being urged to proactively "minimise feelings of uncertainty" during the COVID-19 pandemic, with researchers finding the unprecedented job losses caused by COVID-19 are causing high levels of depression among employed workers.
The Fair Work Commission has advised an employer and a union to adopt a "new cooperative approach" to workplace safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, after the former sought orders curtailing the union's entry rights in light of current health restrictions.
The operator of the Dreamworld theme park has been handed an Australian record-high workplace health and safety fine of $3.6 million, after its "frighteningly unsophisticated" safety systems resulted in the deaths of four patrons in October 2016.
An employer has failed to overturn its $300,000 WHS fine by claiming the trial judge failed to address the extent to which it controlled a workplace or whether it was obligated to implement the measures identified by the prosecution.
The COVID-19 pandemic is causing unhealthy, fatigue-inducing sleeping habits in workers, and employers are being urged to take steps to maximise workplace alertness and safety, including monitoring for sleep disorders.
A PCBU's WHS breaches, which led to the hydrogen sulphide deaths of two workers and put a third in mortal peril, were in the high range of culpability and warranted a near maximum pre-discount penalty, a judge has ruled.
