The Victorian Building Authority has defended its decision to prosecute an individual over the Swanston Street wall collapse that killed three pedestrians in 2013, and rejected claims it has set a precedent for major employers to "walk away" from safety and permit breaches.
A union's bid for an employer to establish a "show cause group" - made up of employee representatives - to determine the consequences of failed workplace drug and alcohol tests, has been rejected in the Fair Work Commission.
An employer whose drug and alcohol policy didn't state when workers should stop drinking, prior to starting a shift, has been ordered to compensate an employee who was sacked for smelling of alcohol after the Melbourne Cup.
Victorian agencies must do more to stamp out occupational violence in the healthcare sector, and ensure it's properly recorded, with current incident data describing punches and attempted strangulations as "mild" or "near miss", the State Auditor-General has found.
A study of a new metric and nearly 5000 Australian workers has found OHS leading indicators are associated with greater "safety motivation" and fewer incidents.
Two Victorian employers accused of OHS breaches have committed to spending $570,000 on developing detailed safety guidance for the construction industry, funding safety research and other initiatives.
