Browsing: Workplace safety representatives | Page 11

• 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.

The High Court has upheld a ruling on the interaction of health and safety representatives and Federal right-of-entry laws, refusing permission to WorkSafe Victoria and a union official to challenge the full Federal Court judgment.

A safety regulator will attempt to convince the High Court, this Friday, to accept its application for special leave to appeal against a decision that reduces the "pool of persons from whom an HSR can appropriately seek assistance".

• Harmonised HSR powers pass both Houses of SA Parliament;
  
• Death benefits increased and de facto clauses removed in WA; and
  
• WA accelerates FIFO Code, releases four-step anti-bullying guide.

The powers of South Australia's health and safety reps are on the verge of being aligned with those in the other harmonised jurisdictions, with a Greens Bill passing the Upper House last night. Meanwhile, Safe Work Australia has announced its first free seminar for National Safe Work Month.

• GM outlines noise-reduction strategies;
  
• Shooting victim convicted of workers' comp fraud; and
  
• Upside down guard causes finger amputation.

• Two-month plans and zero targets transform safety culture; and
  
• Safety alerts, guides and initiatives released in five states.

A major employer has responded to a series of hot-work incidents and reduced injuries by establishing a "high performance" team of frontline employees, safety managers, engineers and union experts.

The dispute over union powers to enter sites to assist HSRs appears to be far from over, with a safety regulator "considering its options" in relation to the full Federal Court's Friday decision on the matter.

A full Federal Court has quashed an earlier ruling that union officials don't need entry permits to enter workplaces to assist elected health and safety representatives.