Mirror WHS Acts take effect in South Australia and Tasmania in less than two weeks. In this article, OHS Alert points SA and Tas readers to the resources they need to prepare for the new laws, and looks at the ongoing transitional arrangements in other jurisdictions.
FWA blocks move to drop OHS provisions from modern award; Special risk assessments urged after electrocution; and WA workers' comp amendments commence tomorrow.
Employers are obligated under OHS laws to become aware of and comply with the Australian Standards that apply to their operations, the NSW Industrial Court has stressed in fining a business owner over a go-kart death.
OHS regulator ARPANSA has, in a report outlining the seven key characteristics of holistic safety, highlighted the critical role that "non-technical skills" play in reducing incidents and improving productivity.
The parliamentary inquiry into the "scourge" of workplace bullying has declined to recommend a national equivalent of Brodie's Law, instead calling for the development of a national advisory service to help employers and workers deal with the issue.
USU to compensate NSW workers injured travelling to or from work; ACTU to tackle "trend" of employers meddling in workers' medical treatments; and Unions call for better safety consultation in "hazardous" offshore sector.
In what was a busy day for safety today, Australia's 10-year work health and safety strategy was officially launched, the Safety Ambassador of the Year was announced, and an interpretive guideline on the entry provisions of the model WHS Act was released.
The model Code of Practice on first aid is best practice and should be adopted by employers in all jurisdictions, according to St John Ambulance's Brett Hamilton. But he advises employers to deploy more first aiders than recommended by the Code.
All quad bikes used by Commonwealth employers will either be substituted with less hazardous equipment or retro-fitted with crush-protection devices, the Federal Government announced today.
