Browsing: WHS legislation, regulations, standards and codes (QLD) | Page 10

• High mine safety fines in doubt with upcoming Qld election;
  
• ACT introduces new workers' comp fine and triples death benefits;
  
• PTSD and anti-violence Bills introduced in Tas; and
  
• New laws protect Vic emergency workers from cars used as weapons.

A parliamentary inquiry has recommended the passage of a Bill increasing Queensland's maximum mine safety fines 15-fold to nearly $3.8 million, despite non-Government members raising concerns about the possibility of duty holders being penalised twice for the same breach under the changes.

WHS amendments that recently passed in Queensland and will be pushed nationally effectively mandate risk management, while the industrial manslaughter provisions "create conflict" in the operation of the WHS Act, according to leading health and safety lawyer Michael Tooma.

Safety regulations for transporting mobile cranes are likely to be overhauled, with a coronial inquest into a double fatality making a series of recommendations to Safe Work Australia, WHS and road regulators and a crane manufacturer.

Queensland's controversial 67-page WHS Bill passed Parliament last night, with amendments explicitly excluding lack of intent as a defence against the new industrial manslaughter offence.

Queensland will push for industrial manslaughter provisions and other safety amendments to be adopted nationally during the upcoming review of the model WHS Act, a parliamentary committee inquiry has revealed.

• Officer and company fined $175k after fall;
  
• New safety regulator imminent with $25m promise; and
  
• Government launches national review of increasing road trauma rates.

• Five tips to managing worker suicide risks;
  
• Labour-hire licensing scheme passes in Qld; and
  
• New pesticides Regulation commences in NSW.

Mine safety laws in Queensland are being amended to increase the maximum fine 15-fold to nearly $3.8 million, indexed annually, and introduce civil penalties of up to $126,150.

• Four sets of safety regulations and amendments commence;
  
• New sockets Standard released, while NSW crushes dodgy chargers; and
  
• Utilities-avoidance toolbox tools released.