The process of finalising 12 model WHS Codes of Practice - including those on workplace traffic management and plant design - is likely to stretch well beyond two years, with the documents still needing to be "considered" by Ministers of the now-defunct Select Council on Workplace Relations.
Worker rightly sacked for ignoring safety alarm; Duty holders fined for hand tool and helmet breaches; Video safety alert for forklifts and other warnings issued by regulators; and Fatigue exemption extended for heavy vehicle drivers in Queensland.
Comcare, the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Council and Safe Work Australia have been spared in the Federal Budget, with the latter being tasked with reviewing and removing "unnecessary" regulation from the model WHS laws.
Fifth jurisdiction joins harmonised rail safety regime; Victoria ditches crane permit requirements for many roads; New NHVR chief executive appointed; and Graincorp fined for repeat safety breach.
Australia's state and territory governments have all agreed to examine ways to reduce the "red tape" associated with the model WHS Act, while Tasmania looks likely to be the next jurisdiction to significantly amend its version of the laws.
Bleijie understates worker death rate while claiming safety 'dominance'; Queensland safety awards open; and First Road Safety Remuneration order applies from today.
Unions are using International Workers' Memorial Day today to warn of the link between "cutting red tape" and high work death and injury rates, while Coal Services NSW explains how a deadly occupational disease was eradicated through safety regulations.
The Federal Government's new building industry Code includes less-prescriptive safety and rehabilitation provisions, and will apply retrospectively to enterprise agreements made from the end of this week.
The Victorian Labor Party has made it clear that it won't introduce a mirror WHS Bill if it wins the next State election, while a leading OHS lawyer has called for the harmonisation "farce" to be scrapped and replaced with uniform laws.
