A slaughterhouse employee who was bullied by workers who regularly threw fat and blood clots at him has been awarded workers' compensation, while a clerk has failed to convince a tribunal that repetitive keyboard use caused her spine injury.
A parliamentary committee has warned that a gap in safety legislation is exposing FIFO workers to bullying and other risks at accommodation facilities, and accused Rio Tinto of 'underplaying' the impact of FIFO work on mental health.
An "unpleasant" worker who insulted colleagues and repeatedly swore was unfairly sacked for bullying, a Commission has found in criticising his employer's reliance on inconclusive CCTV footage during the disciplinary process.
The CFMEU has questioned how a Grocon subsidiary can be fined just $250,000 over three deaths when the union was fined $1.25 million for "speaking out" on safety issues, while Federal Employment Minister Eric Abetz has accused the union of being "pro-drugs" on Victorian building sites.
The Australian Drug Foundation has found that three per cent of workers have sustained an injury after drinking too much at a work function - a figure that shows injuries or other incidents that expose employers to claims are highly probable at any work Christmas party.
Tasmania's mirror WHS Act and other laws could be strengthened to crack down on workplace bullying, according to a draft plan, which says many workers are able to bully others "without fear of consequences" under the current system.
A worker who applied to the Fair Work Commission for a stop-bullying order, before allegedly seeking a large cash settlement from his employer, has failed to convince a Commissioner to disqualify himself from the matter for being inattentive and unsympathetic.
A national employer has been given the go-ahead to conduct confirmatory urine drug and alcohol tests on workers who fail saliva tests, after a five-member Fair Work Commission full bench quashed a Deputy President's decision on the issue.
