WHS transitional arrangements that are due to expire at the end of the year in Queensland are likely to be extended by 12 months, while the State Government is set to approve eight model Codes of Practice.
Electronic fatigue diaries improve safety, but privacy issues raised; NHVR reviewing disaster-inquiry recommendations; Two work deaths linked to forklift attachments; and Safety rebate program expanded to cover bigger NSW businesses.
WorkCover SA to be scrapped and replaced; Seven-step safety guide released; New Victorian dangerous goods Code commences; and Explosives and dozer alerts issued in Qld and WA.
In this update, OHS Alert recaps all the important OHS and workers' compensation legislative changes made in the third quarter of 2013. We also point subscribers to the most significant court and tribunal rulings and other developments in each jurisdiction.
Inspectors can deal with workload under safety-entry change, says Bleijie; Queensland's safest employers announced; and Alerts issued after near misses involving explosives.
Safety and health reps could be blocked from suspending unsafe work, while all contractors will be covered by site safety management systems, under a plan to overhaul Queensland's mine safety laws.
Five entities have been ordered to pay more than $270,000 in fines and costs, after a teacher was killed, and other safety incidents. Also in this article, two rural workers have been fatally crushed by vehicles.
Vexatious workers' comp litigant blocked by High Court; Workers rally on anniversary of offshore deaths; and Queensland worker killed by bi-fold workshop door.
