Browsing: WHS legislation, regulations, standards and codes (VIC) | Page 13

• Two million sun-exposed workers "left to fend for themselves";
  
• OHS amendments to reduce blood lead thresholds; and
  
• Safety Bills for emergency workers and commercial vehicles pass in Vic.

• High Court's HSR ruling applies to harmonised WHS laws;
  
• Draft Compliance Codes for asbestos released in Vic; and
  
• Heavy vehicle safety changes pass in NSW and agreed to nationally.

• Tougher electrical safety laws introduced in WA;
  
• Safety alerts, code and helmet advice released; and
  
• Sustainable workers' comp imaging being pursued in NSW.

• 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.

• Mandatory load-restraint training likely after double fatality;
  
• High fines for incident-notification breaches commence today; and
  
• Employer fined after passer-by trapped in hole.

Understanding the Victorian OHS Act in the context of the model WHS regime is critical for duty holders, with superior courts, for instance, viewing the unstated objects of the former "through the prism" of the latter's broad objectives, according to the latest edition of Victoria's OHS law "bible". (Read on for your chance to win one of three copies!)

• Anti-violence policy standardised and mandated in Vic;
  
• "Fit notes" compulsory in the ACT soon; and
  
• LPG, amputation, roof and dust alerts issued in Qld.

A 30-page Bill quadrupling maximum fines for failing to report safety incidents or preserve incident sites to more than $190,000 passed Victorian Parliament last night, despite the State Opposition arguing that there is no basis for the dramatic increases.

A depressed worker's long-running and prolix injury and discrimination claims have become even more complicated for his former employer, with an appeals court finding a tribunal arguably erred in dismissing his equal opportunity claim as frivolous.

Victoria is likely to take steps to better harmonise its OHS Act with the model WHS Act within months, in addition to introducing legislation establishing a labour-hire licensing scheme with safety requirements.