Browsing: Authority/inspectorate (QLD) | Page 52

The death of a worker who accidentally overdosed on painkillers has prompted a coroner to recommend employers provide better support to employees with health problems.

July continues to be a busy month for safety and workers' comp issues in Queensland, with the State Government introducing a Bill restoring common law access to all injured workers, and allowing those affected by the 2013 common law changes to seek additional compensation.

Two employers will spend nearly $440,000 on developing a new Australian Standard and numerous other safety initiatives, after entering into enforceable undertakings relating to a forklift injury and hair entanglement.

Queensland has overhauled its safety and workers' comp agencies for the second time in a year, and committed to implementing its proposed WHS amendments within the next 12 months.

In this article, OHS Alert examines all the most important workplace safety and workers' compensation news from the second quarter of 2015, including a record OHS fine, a world-first decision on PTSD, and legislative changes in every state and territory.

• WHS Amendment Bill divides Queensland inquiry; and
  
• WA committee examines diesel health issue and high-risk work licences.

An experienced worker's complacency while performing a workplace manoeuvre he had completed thousands of times contributed to his death, the Queensland Coroner has found.

• Qld announces low premium rates for 2015-16;
  
• SA employers promised premium cuts of up to 95%;
  
• SRC Bill passes House of Representatives; and
  
• WA increases workers' comp payments and opens safety awards.

• Royal Commission into rising WA work deaths demanded;
  
• Safety alerts issued in three jurisdictions; and
  
• High-risk licences expiring in South Australia.

• DuPont fined after four workers gassed to death in US;
  
• UK employer and individual fined over fatal fall; and
  
• Australian regulators issue fatality alerts.