A rail worker who suffered a seizure was fairly sacked for being unable to satisfy the medical requirements of his safety-critical role, the Fair Work Commission has found.
NSW's dangerous goods regulations have been amended to require all tanker trailers to be retrofitted with roll-stability systems, while a Western Australian employer has been fined for unsafely storing dangerous goods. Also in this article, regulators in five jurisdictions have issued alerts after two workers were killed and other incidents.
A recent OHS prosecution has driven home the message that regulators are prepared to take action against employers for safety breaches regardless of whether an incident has occurred.
Workers running the drug-testing gauntlet, survey reveals; Being crushed a leading cause of work deaths; Comcare tops RTW scorecard; and Presumptive cancer compensation promised for NT firefighters.
A Victorian employer has been convicted and fined $375,000 following a series of safety incidents involving poorly guarded machines, while a Western Australian company and its director have been fined after a 13-year-old girl was injured.
A Victorian employer has been convicted of failing to provide documents relating to a suspected OHS breach to the WorkCover Authority (VWA), while several other employers have been fined for neglecting to report injuries to the regulator.
Employers should monitor incidents and near-misses in their broader industry - not just their own workplace - to ensure they prepare for and minimise safety risks, says Lander and Rogers partner Neil Napper.
Employer pleads guilty to safety breaches following death; Vic Labor pledges more support for firefighters suffering PTSD; and Essential safety news from four jurisdictions.
