An employer probably would have prevented a workplace death if it complied with an operator's manual and enforced the use of a stop button on a crane, the Tasmanian Coroner has found. Also in this article, two NSW employers have been handed safety fines after a derailed train ended up in a driveway.
In a day of mixed fortunes for harmonisation advocates yesterday, the Northern Territory Work Health and Safety Bill passed through Parliament, while the Tasmanian Upper House voted to delay the implementation of its mirror laws for 12 months.
The OHS harmonisation process is well on the way in seven of Australia's nine workplace safety jurisdictions, with the Northern Territory and Tasmania introducing Work Health and Safety Bills to their parliaments.
An employer that replaced heavy trolleys with golf buggies has been recognised as one of South Australia's safest organisations. Meanwhile, the winners of the WorkSafe Tasmania Awards have been announced.
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.
Tasmania sets date for WHS Act, slams Opposition's "sloppy" Bill; Work-related deaths fall in May; and Applications for Tasmania's $80K work health and safety grants close soon.
Employer fined for dangerous-goods breach after horrific acid spill; Rail workers trained to support traumatised mates; Tasmanian asbestos victims win access to no-fault compensation; and HWSA developing quad bike safety tools.
Injured Odco contractor not an "employee"; Unions call for removal of all asbestos as WorkSafe ACT shuts down worksites; and Cancer comp laws for firefighters one step closer.
HR expert calls for change in attitude to disability; Tasmanian injury rates to increase with high impairment threshold; and Tasmanian regulator develops manual handling guide and asbestos website.
