It has taken the South Australian Parliament 78 weeks to agree on the first two clauses of its WHS Bill, suggesting it could be another 207 years before the new laws take effect, according to a fed-up Greens MLC, who is also pushing for stronger HSR training entitlements.
The South Australian Opposition's claim that a safety-vest directive was an example of "bureaucracy gone mad" has been described as "ridiculous" by the Government, and refuted by WorkCover SA data.
The South Australian Opposition has called for SafeWork SA's powers to be limited under the proposed WHS Act, and warned that some employers face "massive" levy increases under WorkCover's new experience rating system.
"Harvesting" worker knowledge key to reducing risks; SA Greens call for introduction of WHS manslaughter provisions; ACT accused of undermining safety through procurement process; WorkSafe ACT releases guidance notes on workplace bullying and other issues; and Comcare updates rehab forms and learning modules.
Lawyer not convinced by South Australian "control" clause; NTC pushes to align Dangerous Goods Code with UN regulations; and COAG to consider ratifying ILO safety conventions for mines and dock work.
South Australia's mirror WHS Bill looks increasingly likely to pass through Parliament, after the State Government agreed to insert an explanatory clause on "direct control".
Many PCBUs and workers mistakenly believe that supervisors are "officers" - and that home-based work is too risky - under harmonised WHS laws, according to WorkSafe ACT director Mark McCabe. Also in this article, South Australia has released the final draft of its mirror WHS Regulations.
The South Australian Opposition will move to defeat the State Work Health and Safety Bill, rather than push for amendments as originally planned, when debate on the legislation resumes in Parliament today.
Workplaces in the five OHS jurisdictions where harmonised safety laws have taken effect are now safer and more productive, according to Federal Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten. But stakeholders continue to squabble over the draft model Codes of Practice.
