Stena Clyde death probe handed to DPP, as MUA targets Toll; NTC announces fatigue-law leeway and releases new Code; NSW employer fined over missing asbestos; and Tasmanian work safety awards open.
A worker who claimed he was sacked because he complained of workplace bullying, took sick leave for a work-related injury, and made safety complaints to WorkCover NSW, has had his adverse action claim rejected in the Federal Circuit Court.
The future of Safe Work Australia as an independent agency appears assured, with Employment Minister Eric Abetz hinting that absorbing it into his Department wouldn't be cost effective.
A national employer has reduced its workers' comp claims rate and costs by ensuring its injury management consultants contact all relevant parties within 24 hours of an injury or illness being reported.
An alleged victim of workplace bullying has failed to convince a Commissioner that the Fair Work Act's new anti-bullying provisions should be construed in favour of "all Australians".
WHS Codes of Practice have been adopted, tweaked or released for comment in Queensland and NSW, while the MUA has slammed a renewed call to scrap the draft WHS Code for stevedoring in the wake of a workplace death.
Employers can take a number of steps to eliminate workers' comp fraud and drive down their premiums, including checking injured workers' social media pages, Comcare says.
The return-to-work rate of injured workers who receive 'extensive' employer support is seven times higher than for those who receive no support, a Safe Work Australia survey has found. Also in this article, SWA has released a fact sheet on workers' comp laws relating to psychological injuries.
The process of finalising 12 model WHS Codes of Practice - including those on workplace traffic management and plant design - is likely to stretch well beyond two years, with the documents still needing to be "considered" by Ministers of the now-defunct Select Council on Workplace Relations.
