Browsing: WHS legislation, regulations, standards and codes (National) | Page 34

Fate of draft WHS Codes unclear; Workers killed in crashes, falls and explosions in June; and Queensland issues fatality, mobile plant and sign alerts.

A global employer's Australian arm has saved tens of thousands of dollars, and eliminated the need to constantly prepare for and participate in audits, by integrating its safety, environmental and quality management systems.

Calls to eliminate major-project safety "cracks"; and NSW employer and director fined over amputation after interlock disabled.

A safety regulator has been accused, on the two-year anniversary of a double work fatality, of being "too close" to employers, while Safe Work Australia has been accused of siding with big business on the future of a model WHS Code of Practice.

The model WHS Act should be amended to ensure health and safety reps are punished for abusing their powers, but its due diligence provisions should be maintained and broadly applied by employers, according to Ai Group.

Union "abuses" of safety issues would be reduced if each relevant jurisdiction followed Queensland's lead on amending model WHS right-of-entry provisions, according to Master Builders Australia.

The number of serious injury claims per year is continuing to drop, but the average amount of time lost from work keeps rising, according to a new Safe Work Australia report. The agency has also released a report that recommends changing the workplace lead exposure limits in the model WHS Regulations.

SA asked to comment on second harmonisation review; WHS transitional arrangements extended in NT; and Safe Rates Tribunal targets new industry.

Stakeholders in the harmonised states and territories are being asked to comment on whether the model WHS laws should be amended to include stricter entry rules and less prescriptive regulations - but they've been given just days to do so.

Nine more draft model WHS Codes of Practice - including those covering scaffolding, forklifts and plant supply - have been dumped in favour of guidance material.