The Fair Work Commission has upheld the sacking of a worker who punched a supervisor in the face at a Christmas party, after rejecting his argument that he was unaware the event was a work function and hence his conduct was not connected to his employment.
In a judgment highlighting the dangers of sedentary work, a commission has found that being desk-bound with a "slow" computer for seven hours a day substantially contributed to a worker's deep vein thrombosis.
An employer has been found liable for injuries a FIFO worker suffered on a fishing trip with his general manager, because it impliedly encouraged him to engage in the activity to rest and recuperate after a demanding week of shift work.
An inquest into the death of a teenager at a major event has highlighted the importance of work systems that prevent fatigued, ill-equipped workers from being forced to make critical decisions.
A coronial inquest has found a worker's death could have been prevented by simple and inexpensive actions like proactively maintaining personal protective equipment, which, among other things, sends a clear message to workers on the importance of using PPE.
Shift rosters requiring workers to work 28 days in a row could soon be a thing of the past, with three unions claiming victory in their fight for less dangerous and more family friendly arrangements.
Yesterday's sentencing of South Australia Police (SAPOL) over the death of an employee in a freezer has provided crucial WHS lessons for PCBUs with workers who work alone. Meanwhile, the State Government has flagged laws to protect the health of emergency workers from "disgusting behaviour".
Pre-employment testing for physically demanding work needs to involve an "in-depth investigation" of workers' abilities, including their task-specific fitness and aptitude for working safely, according to a European study on an emerging high-risk industry.
A supervisor has become the second entity to be convicted and fined over a FIFO worker's drowning, after he pleaded guilty to failing to follow his employer's safety manual or provide safe access to the workplace.
