A Westpac employee who was bullied and called "Scabby Abby" by colleagues has been awarded workers' compensation, after the Queensland IRC found one manager lied about the worker's performance, and another failed to act on her harassment complaints.
ACT funds new safety inspectors as Qld locks in "competitive" premiums; Coalition confirms commitment to FWC bullying plan; and Warnings issued after outdoor workers killed in South Australia and Victoria.
Graphic video ad campaign encourages young workers to speak up on safety; SWA guide provides tips on avoiding armed hold-ups and other cash-related risks; and Qld issues rural safety advice and amusement alert after five-year-old injured.
In this article, OHS Alert points readers to the latest health and safety developments, safety alerts, guidance material, upcoming seminars and more, from all of Australia's nine safety jurisdictions.
The inquiry into the Queensland workers' comp scheme has recommended retaining journey claims, common law claims and the current definition of "injury", and warns that vulnerable groups could slip through the cracks under a plan to narrow the meaning of "worker".
A national employer will, in lieu of a Queensland safety prosecution, train dozens of its managers and foremen to develop JSAs and SWPs, and then use the documents created in the training exercises to develop best-practice procedures.
Suspected workers' comp fraud must be reported, says Q-COMP; Average cost per workers' comp claim exceeds $7800 in South Australia; and WorkCover WA calls for input on disability access plan.
Apprentice-related supervision breaches can lead to recklessness fines; Queensland removes earthmoving requirement from WHS Regulation; and South Australian WHS Act added to Fair Work right-of-entry laws.
Queensland is likely to press ahead with its plan to narrow the definition of "worker" in the State workers' comp Act, with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General dismissing submissions that oppose the proposed amendment.
