Some 31 of the 45 national reforms aimed at reducing regulatory variations between the states and territories, and saving businesses $4 billion in the process, have been achieved or are on track, but a COAG report shows a number of safety-related reforms have a long way to go.
Two Victorian employers fined over falling object; Qld PCBUs advised to assess new remote-work requirements; and Grace period over for old WorkCover WA forms.
A major Western Australian employer will be retried for safety breaches relating to the death of a mining apprentice in a vehicle crash, after the Supreme Court found the trial judge failed to properly consider whether additional signage would have reduced the risk.
In this article, OHS Alert revisits all the important work health and safety and workers' compensation legislation news from the final quarter of 2013. We also examine the most significant court and tribunal rulings and other developments in each jurisdiction.
A Western Australian employer has lost its indemnity claim against a vehicle manufacturer and been ordered to pay an injured worker $800,000 in damages, after the District Court found a broken service door on a truck was its responsibility.
Electrical advice offered in wake of electrocutions and shocks; Hospitality employers fined for safety and notification breaches; and Mine alerts issued after death, serious injury and dust incidents.
Employers are being urged to "think more broadly" about who could be affected by heat hazards, with soaring temperatures forecast for much of Australia over the next few days.
Exposure to carcinogens during work isn't limited to occupations traditionally associated with hazardous substances, such as mining, according to a Western Australian study, which found white-collar workers are also at risk.
An investigation into a trainee worker's death will consider whether vehicle collision-prevention controls used at mines rely too heavily on "human behaviour", according to a NSW Mine Safety report.
