> Employer fined for non-causal failures after fatal fall; > COVID-19 work cluster sparks renewed calls for WHS overhaul; and > COVID-19 safety strategies announced in Tas and NT.
> SWA launches COVID-19 hub and home setup guide; > More work-related COVID-19 guides and fatality alerts issued; and > HSEQ manager appointed boss of NT WorkSafe.
> COVID-19 hygiene training mandated for WA work sector; > New worker killed by high-hazard task, PCBU fined; and > Individual fined over powerlines injury, COVID-19 reduces penalty.
> PCBU enters $770k EU after crane failure on 51st floor; > WHS fees waived under NSW's COVID-19 stimulus package; > Fatality and other incident alerts issued in five jurisdictions; and > New ACT WHS Commissioner appointed.
In this latest edition of our long-running quarterly update series, OHS Alert reviews all the key WHS news from the first three months of 2020, including everything you need to know on the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings on Dreamworld's dismal safety systems, caselaw from all jurisdictions, and legislative changes.
More types of workers will have access to workers' compensation, and journey claims will be restored, under a 38-page Amendment Bill that reverses many of the changes made during the major overhaul of the Northern Territory's workers' comp scheme in 2015.
> Mirror WHS Bill debated in WA Lower House, industry concerned; > Two duty holders charged with multiple WHS breaches after fall; and > WHS regulator investigating two falls, one fatal.
A government department that was charged with category 2 WHS breaches after a motorcyclist crashed and died at a road works site, which wasn't set up on accordance with Australian Standards, has been permitted to enter a $1.4 million undertaking in lieu of prosecution.
WHS regulators are increasingly turning to infringement notices to tackle safety breaches, while the number of prosecutions has surged in one jurisdiction following a controversial lull, according to one of four new comparison reports from Safe Work Australia. The agency has also outlined PCBUs' duties involving air pollution.
In this much anticipated report, OHS Alert outlines all the major legislative changes and court decisions on workplace health and safety and workers' comp issues in the final quarter of 2019.
