Unions WA has called for the State Government to stop "bludging" and "get on with harmonising occupational health and safety laws", with Safe Work Australia's latest comparative report showing Western Australia's safety record is poor.
Electronic fatigue diaries improve safety, but privacy issues raised; NHVR reviewing disaster-inquiry recommendations; Two work deaths linked to forklift attachments; and Safety rebate program expanded to cover bigger NSW businesses.
WorkCover SA to be scrapped and replaced; Seven-step safety guide released; New Victorian dangerous goods Code commences; and Explosives and dozer alerts issued in Qld and WA.
WA death could have been prevented with $1000 investment; Inspectors focus on non-compliant sleeper cabs; Gardeners warned of Legionella risk; SA police to be protected by new blood-test laws; and Draft electrical safety guide released for comment.
In this update, OHS Alert recaps all the important OHS and workers' compensation legislative changes made in the third quarter of 2013. We also point subscribers to the most significant court and tribunal rulings and other developments in each jurisdiction.
The definition of "worker" in Western Australia will be changed - for workers' compensation purposes - to explicitly exclude independent contractors, under a plan to replace the State's 30-year-old workers' comp Act with a new statute.
Employers urged to step up safety focus during October; Government told to tackle rising suicide and PTSD rates among soldiers; and Warnings issued after structure collapse and high winds.
Qld employers urged to check validity of safety summonses; Cancer compensation laws pass in Tas, trudge forward in SA; and Caution urged after concrete panel incidents and welding explosion.
