Browsing: Jurisdiction (NSW) | Page 217

Western Australia claims to have gained an ally in NSW in its push to delay the Work Health and Safety Act, and the Federal Government has conceded that the "deadlines are getting tight", in yet another troubled week for the harmonisation process.

NSW introduces WHS transition Bill, confirms move away from Industrial Court; and Victoria's safest employers and workers announced.

A judge has stressed that employers are obliged to communicate company policies to staff in "clear and unambiguous terms", in awarding workers' compensation to a Jetstar flight attendant who was issued a final warning for drinking alcohol on a plane.

In this update, OHS Alert outlines all the important OHS and workers' compensation legislative changes made in the third quarter of 2011. We also recap the most significant court and tribunal rulings and other developments in each jurisdiction.

Worker handed record safety fine over Aboriginal elder's death; NSW promises tougher laws after Orica spill deemed "not serious"; and Supervisor's unsafe act a lesson to high-risk industries.

A NSW employer that appointed inexperienced site coordinators for a construction project has been fined $300,000, after workers were left "totally exposed" to the risk of falling. Also in this article, an employer has been fined $90,000 after a worker fell 14 metres.

Employers that develop comprehensive safety systems must "always be alert to ensure that those systems are adhered to and enforced", a judge has emphasised in fining two John Holland companies $255,000 for OHS breaches.

A transport regulator chief has called for employers to provide safer environments, saying safety management systems are often ignored, and heavy vehicles are over-represented in rail-related accidents causing death.

A machine operator was crushed to death while cleaning an industrial blender more than 12 months after an audit identified a lack of guarding on the plant as a "high priority" issue, the NSW Industrial Court has heard.

Holidaying carers guilty of $64K WorkSafe fraud; Research finds no trace of mobile phone/tumour link, says industry body; SA Unions call for fairer workers' comp scheme; and WorkCover NSW investigating Orica spill and finger amputations.