Hundreds of thousands of Australian workers are regularly and unnecessarily exposed to carcinogens such as lead and formaldehyde, according to three new Safe Work Australia reports, which outline how to reduce exposure to the substances.
More than 260 international asbestos experts and other stakeholders have condemned claims from some manufacturers that some forms of asbestos are safe, and called for all Australian state's to adopt the ACT's plan to demolish asbestos buildings.
Federal Employment Minister Eric Abetz has called for employers and unions to play an active role in a plan - agreed to by Abetz and other G20 employment ministers - to improve workplace safety through "robust legal frameworks".
Inadequate guarding and lack of roll-over protection contribute to more than a third of work-related fatalities associated with unsafe plant or equipment design, a new Safe Work Australia report has found.
Two John Holland entities have been fined $180,000 each for failing to train a vehicle operator or ensure the vehicle had adequate brakes, after a worker was fatally struck by the vehicle.
The Fair Work Commission has received far fewer applications than expected under its new anti-bullying jurisdiction, but it has received more than 100,000 enquiries on the issue, and the application rate is gradually increasing, according to its annual report.
A senior departmental officer has assured critics of the SRC Amendment Bill that Comcare has the expertise and resources to regulate complex, heavy industries.
