Browsing: WHS legislation, regulations, standards and codes (QLD) | Page 16

• Fair Work Bill passes without repealing workers' comp accruals;
  
• Qld adopts recommendation for WHS Amendment Bill; and
  
• Qld streamlines application process for high-risk work licences.

An inquiry into FIFO work practices has called on the Queensland Government to establish minimum accommodation standards for FIFO workers, including adequate protection from noise and light and access to health services, and to ban "motelling".

A safety Bill that facilitates the national introduction of electronic fatigue diaries in the heavy vehicle sector has passed Queensland Parliament, after the State Transport Minister promised it wouldn't lead to Big Brother-style industry monitoring. Meanwhile, two Queensland workers' comp Bills were read for the second time last night.

• Stena Drilling Australia fined $330k; and
  
• National safety Bill gets green light in host jurisdiction.

The Queensland Government has promised to introduce domestic violence leave, tackle workplace bullying, and adopt all recommendations of an independent review of sexual harassment and bullying among firefighters.

• Harmonisation of explosives laws examined in SWA paper;
  
• Qld releases new safety guides and scaffold warning;
  
• WA releases draft isolation guide and safety alerts; and
  
• NSW tweaks rules on explosion-protected plant.

Queensland has overhauled its safety and workers' comp agencies for the second time in a year, and committed to implementing its proposed WHS amendments within the next 12 months.

• WHS Amendment Bill divides Queensland inquiry; and
  
• WA committee examines diesel health issue and high-risk work licences.

The Queensland Opposition has introduced a "non-discriminatory" workers' compensation Bill for firefighters with cancer, while the State Government's IR reforms and a Bill affecting national heavy vehicle laws have passed Parliament.

Harmonised safety laws for the heavy vehicle sector are being amended to facilitate the introduction of electronic fatigue diaries and increase some penalties by more than 200 per cent. This article also examines related safety initiatives in NSW and the Northern Territory.