Browsing: Authority/inspectorate (ACT) | Page 17

• Minister appointed to reverse Qld's WHS amendments; and
  
• Eight agencies issue safety alerts, publications and other information.

The final quarter of 2014 was a busy three months for workplace health and safety and workers' compensation, with major legislative changes and other developments in all jurisdictions. What did you miss?

New safety laws have taken effect in most jurisdictions this month, while some planned regulations have been scrapped.

An employer will spend $625,000 on a web-based induction platform and other safety initiatives as part of the first enforceable undertaking accepted under the ACT's mirror WHS Act.

• Safe Rates Tribunal targets six new sectors;
  
• Government releases revised construction code; and
  
• ACT releases guidance on construction inductions and SWMSs.

• Unions step up defence of asbestos lump sum payments; and
  
• ACT adopts model WHS asbestos laws and additional provisions.

• Employers urged to comply with RTW codes;
  
• "Little failures" cause major safety incidents;
  
• SafeWork debunks myths on "disallowed" codes and height rules; and
  
• WorkCover SA getting new name.

The inadvertent use of asbestos-containing materials is likely to increase as employers turn to the internet to source cheaper materials, according to the ACT Work Safety Commissioner, who has also outlined measures being put in place to ensure the safe demolition of more than 1000 "Mr Fluffy" buildings.

In this update, OHS Alert examines the most important workplace safety and workers' comp news from the third quarter of 2014, including Safe Work Australia's controversial decision to dump draft Codes of Practice in favour of guidance packages, and other legislative developments.

Safety month kicks off this week; and Queensland commits to national rail safety regime.