Browsing: Workers' compensation legislation, regulations, standards and codes | Page 12

More than 300 high-risk workplaces will be targeted, work processes will be banned and workers' comp laws could be overhauled, under "unprecedented" silica-dust strategies unveiled in Victoria. Meanwhile, regulators have issued warnings after a series of life-threatening crane incidents and fatalities.

The Federal Government has made new safety and compensation Regulations with at least six important updates, including one pertaining to potential licensees' WHS histories.

• WHS and surveillance changes unlikely after NSW election result;
  
• Four new WHS Codes of Practice coming to ACT; and
  
• Safety laws made in NT and Tas.

The Tasmanian Government has introduced its Australian-first Bill providing presumptive compensation to all public sector workers with PTSD, saying it will consider extending the presumption to more occupational groups, and the laws will reduce the stigma associated with mental health conditions.

Labour-hire companies across four industry sectors will be banned from operating in Australia if they commit serious WHS or workers' comp breaches, or if they can't prove compliance with workplace laws after past breaches, under a proposed registration scheme approved by the Federal Government.

Presumptive workers' compensation for first responders with PTSD and other psychological injuries will be harmonised across all Australian jurisdictions, presuming COAG agrees on recommendations from a national inquiry.

New WHS and workers' comp standards have commenced or been postponed in three jurisdictions, while two jurisdictions have issued confined space alerts after three deaths and an electric shock.

A workplace quad bike victim's injury damages have been increased by 40 per cent on appeal. Meanwhile, a worker has failed to prove his noisy workplace was noisy enough to cause his tinnitus.

• Crane operator breached duty to defy unsafe directions;
  
• Govt pumps funds into ABCC and workplace mental health;
  
• New WHS Regulations for diving work commencing in Tas; and
  
• NSW employers reminded of upcoming RTW requirements.

• Govt improves asbestos hotline and promises tougher laws;
  
• New WHS Code, WHS portal and EWP "shop" for Qld, NSW and WA;
  
• ACT granted workers' comp self-insurance licence;
  
• Harassment inquiry calls for temporary confidentiality waivers;
  
• Evacuation breaches dominate WA retail blitz; and
  
• Pain-reduction plan wins $5k in SWA competition.