Fifth jurisdiction joins harmonised rail safety regime; Victoria ditches crane permit requirements for many roads; New NHVR chief executive appointed; and Graincorp fined for repeat safety breach.
Workers trained in first aid not only save lives, but are more likely to look out for their colleagues and speak up about safety issues, according to Coal Services. Meanwhile, NSW Mine Safety has released a report on its ongoing investigation into a coal mine double fatality.
Paramedics operate in "uncontrollable" workplaces and are far more likely to be killed than other workers, but more could be done to tackle their high fatality and injury rates, according to Australian researchers.
A Queensland supervisor who crashed a 20-tonne crane on a public road while driving it home has been denied damages, with the Supreme Court finding his employer could not have foreseen such "wilfully inappropriate conduct".
The Western Australian Government is unlikely to introduce harmonised WHS laws in the foreseeable future, with its new budget making no reference to the legislation, and the Attorney-General championing the successes of the current OSH Act.
A new workplace health and safety strategy, based on employee input, has helped an employer identify a "phenomenal" amount of hazards and significantly reduce manual handling injuries, according to its workplace health and safety coordinator.
Fifteen-minute "booster breaks" improve worker health and camaraderie, according to researchers, who explain how to get management buy-in for health promotion initiatives.
A new report has found that more than 700 Australians die from mesothelioma and asbestosis every year, and workers continue to be exposed to asbestos fibres. Meanwhile, a union warns the death toll will rise if the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Council is abolished.
A judge has rejected an injured subcontractor's $650,000 damages bid, as well as his claim that he felt compelled to perform an unsafe task for fear of being refused future work.
Employers fined for powerline and notification breaches; Draft manual handling Code released for comment in Victoria; SA Greens reintroduce cancer Bill; Three farm deaths in NSW prompt safety call; and NSW safety awards open.
