Employer SPC has hit back at claims it failed to consult workers on its mandatory COVID-19 vaccination regime, stressing the mandate is a "business decision" to ensure the health and safety of staff and others.
A commission full bench has upheld a finding that a health and safety representative was not entitled, under WHS laws, to be paid for attending the disciplinary meetings of a colleague, and his illegitimate attempt to claim this payment was an "abuse" of a "vitally important role".
Employers will face fines of up to nearly $300,000 for entering into insurance contracts against workplace health and safety fines, under one of a series of safety amendments introduced in Victoria.
Many Australian workers believe acts of workplace violence are just "part of the job" and choose to "forget" incidents instead of reporting them, making the issue difficult to address, WorkSafe Victoria's safety boss tells OHS Alert.
The World Health Organisation's workplace health and safety guidelines for COVID-19 are "unacceptably complacent" in parts and overlook evidence on workplace outbreaks, according to an occupational health academic, who fills in some of the "gaps".
A new WHS Code of Practice has provided PCBUs with clear guidance on their duties to consult with workers, health and safety representatives and other businesses in a COVID-19 context. Meanwhile, Comcare has produced a "micro-learn" video on using face masks at work in the pandemic.
A company director who falsely claimed a health and safety representative was a poor performer and sacked him, after the HSR complained to a safety regulator, denied other employees the important protections provided by the elected role, the Federal Court has found.