Queensland premiums increase by 2% as bigger hikes recommended; NSW coal premiums falling thanks to safety training and gas monitoring; SA Greens adjourn workers' comp retirement-age Bill; and Western Australia's maximum weekly benefits increasing by 4%.
As a leaked BHP Billiton email adds further fuel to the fire in the enterprise-agreement dispute between the company and Queensland coal miners, a union boss explains why employees in certain safety-critical roles must remain outside the "management structure".
Mining employers have a range of options - under their fatigue and drug-testing policies - for improving workplace health and safety, including banning otherwise legal substances, the Queensland Mines Inspectorate has advised.
Employers that rely on safe-lifting training to control the risks associated with manual tasks could be in breach of safety laws, Queensland's OHS regulator has warned.
The CFMEU's claim that it should organise elections for safety representatives at a Queensland mine - to ensure representatives' independence - was not supported by the "inadequately drafted" provisions of the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act, the Supreme Court has found.
SWA releases harmonisation Q&A on volunteers; NT employers fined over Canadian worker's death; Queensland Govt warns against mine-safety-levy cut, is accused of rushing harmonised WHS laws; Western Australia's new workers' comp dispute system gets underway; and WorkSafe WA releases FIFO fatigue alert.
A special report prompted by a Queensland gymnast's death, and coronial inquests into two white-water rafting fatalities, have highlighted just how critical it is for employers in all industries to undertake comprehensive risk assessments.
South Australia to accelerate lower-premium laws; Workplace regulators investigating five fatalities; WorkCover WA increases medical fees and fines employer; and Q-COMP develops RTW site.
