Depression-related absences hidden from employers; Presumptive workers' comp laws pass in WA; Future of heavy vehicle safety laws determined tomorrow; and ABCC-restoration Bill introduced.
A worker has failed to convince the Fair Work Commission that his positive drug test was "exacerbated" by the surge of adrenalin he experienced while fighting a fire on a front-end loader.
With warmer weather fast approaching, employers have been warned of the safety risks associated with seasonal work and natural disasters, while NSW has waived some asbestos regulations in fire-affected areas.
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.
Qld employers urged to check validity of safety summonses; Cancer compensation laws pass in Tas, trudge forward in SA; and Caution urged after concrete panel incidents and welding explosion.
BHP Billiton claims in its 2013 sustainability report, released today, that it can partly attribute a reduction in workers' exposure to carcinogens and airborne contaminants to establishing its own occupational exposure limits when regulatory limits are inadequate.
Revised WHS construction Code released for comment; Vic launches firefighter hotline as "presumptive" laws progress in Tas; and Nanomaterials project opens the door to effective toxicity testing.
Sick-leave notification policy must be clear, says lawyer; Victorian Government avoids vote on firefighter compensation laws; and ILO convention on seafarer safety takes effect.
The Victorian Government has been accused of trying to avoid its obligations to firefighters, in announcing that career and volunteer firefighters who develop cancer will be required to convince a new assessment panel - for workers' comp purposes - that the disease was caused by their job.
