Browsing: Workers' comp legislation, regulations, standards and codes (WA) | Page 2

In a busy two days in the west, the State Government has mandated COVID-19 vaccines for most workers, extended emergency safety measures for the pandemic, introduced a major IR Bill with protections for bullied and s-xually harassed workers, and established a compensation scheme for medically retired police.

More than seven years after a major review triggered the drafting process for new workers' comp laws in Western Australia, a Bill has finally been released for comment. It includes new requirements for labour-hire arrangements and pre-employment screening, and extends the step-down period for injured workers' payments.

• New dangerous goods offences and mine rules made in NSW;
  
• Dangerous goods changes and penalties commence in WA; and
  
• WA's presumptive COVID-19 protections take effect.

• COVID-19 penalty warnings reissued to Vic, NSW employers; and
  
• COVID worker protections pass with amendments in WA.

New laws accelerating workers' access to COVID-19-related compensation and easing constraints on damages claims have been flagged for Western Australia. The State has also revised the start date for its mobile phone distraction crackdown, and called for comments on an anti-violence Code for workplaces.

• WHS duties of host and labour-hire PCBUs outlined in guide;
  
• New injury dispute system and "one-stop shop" announced in NSW; and
  
• New work injury rules for police and others pass in WA.

• Work safety regulations aligned with driver medical standards; and
  
• Injury Bill overhauls medical retirements of police in WA.

• Death benefits doubled and new safety Code promised in WA; and
  
• Electrical workers warned about unsafe pressure after 14 incidents.

In a move that will give many stakeholders feelings of deja vu, the Western Australian Labor Government has approved the drafting of a new statute to replace the State's 37-year-old Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Act.

• Workers' comp changes demanded after health survey;
  
• New Code underpins safety amendments in WA; and
  
• Allowance forms part of injured worker's earnings, increases benefits.