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

OHS laws in Victoria could be amended to adopt the national model WHS Act's PCBU framework and broad definition of worker, under one of 35 recommendations for the labour-hire industry tabled in Parliament today.

• Which industry dominated record OHS-fine haul? and
  
• Employers promised $9m savings under new OHS Regs.

New OHS and equipment-related public safety regulations have been released for comment in Victoria, with the former adopting the global system for labelling chemicals and clauses providing consistency with the national model WHS laws.

Victoria now has the highest maximum work health and safety fine in the country, with a Bill amending the State's OHS and workers' comp laws passing the Upper House last night.

• Australia's biggest OHS fine passes Vic Lower House;
  
• New RTW laws reduce employer liability in NSW;
  
• ACT Bill streamlines asbestos claims for dying workers; and
  
• FWBC issues methamphetamine warning.

The Victorian Opposition has declared its support for the Bill that more than doubles the State's maximum OHS fine, making it higher than the maximum penalty in the harmonised jurisdictions.

• Director fined for abusing, hindering safety inspectors;
  
• Government fast-tracking Safe Rates abolition; and
  
• WA announces another record-low premium rate.

The maximum OHS fine in Victoria will more than double - to become higher than the maximum $3 million fine in the harmonised states - under a Government Bill introduced to Parliament yesterday.

WorkSafe Victoria has released a Q&A to clarify its new safety rules for quad bikes, while the Queensland Government has flagged plans to crack down on the high quad-related death toll. Also in this article, employers have been told to properly immobilise heavy vehicles, after a worker was crushed.

The Ai Group has called for Victoria to consider adopting the harmonised WHS laws during its new "expert panel" review of WorkSafe.