WorkCover NSW's decision to allow a health and safety representative to choose his own training provider has set a precedent that will save lives, according to the Transport Workers Union.
A PCBU's incident-response plan should include processes for contacting safety regulators and the media, and establishing legal professional privilege, according to an employment and safety lawyer.
A major employer has slashed the injury rate in one of its businesses by introducing journey management plans, a safety ownership program and other initiatives, according to its latest sustainability report.
Western Australia has tabled a draft mirror Work Health and Safety Bill, which, despite the State Government's long-term position on fines, includes the same maximum penalties as the model version of the laws.
A national employer reduced the number of provisional improvement notices issued by HSRs at its Victorian sites by 87 per cent, under a program designed to improve the relationship between safety reps and frontline leaders, the annual Safety Psychology Conference has heard.
OHS professionals and other managers can engage workers in safety by using "little bits of detail" about them to get to know them better and gain their trust and respect, says John Holland Group structure superintendent Kerry Brand.
The model WHS Act should be amended to ensure health and safety reps are punished for abusing their powers, but its due diligence provisions should be maintained and broadly applied by employers, according to Ai Group.
Union "abuses" of safety issues would be reduced if each relevant jurisdiction followed Queensland's lead on amending model WHS right-of-entry provisions, according to Master Builders Australia.
