The injuries sustained by a worker when he fell at a public pool, after receiving medical advice to swim to relieve a work-related back condition, did not arise in the course of his employment, a court has ruled in a novel case.
> New laws protect safety of contractors and gig economy workers; > Safety Regs with WHS clauses released, WorkSafe Vic boss resigns; and > SRC and disability discrimination instruments introduced.
A major employer's anonymous behaviour feedback system allows it to quickly identify unsafe practices and resolve them informally, stopping inappropriate behaviour from escalating and requiring formal disciplinary action, its executive director of people and culture says.
> It's just not cricket: MCC guilty of traffic management breaches; > Employer convicted over pathway debris; and > WHS reviews urged after fatality, regulators issue alerts.
A "contractor" required by an employer to provide "specialised services" that he didn't perform for his own business was an employee of the employer when he was injured, a superior court has found.
A worker breached his employer's bullying and harassment policy by creating and sharing a Hitler video parodying the company's protracted negotiations, a commission has found. Meanwhile, a court has blocked a morbidly obese worker from making a further 15 claims against an employer, and found he "needlessly" compared its conduct with Nazi guards.
Workplace bullies should be starting to get the message that there are serious consequences for their actions, after yet another bully and his company were convicted and fined for breaching safety laws in acting aggressively towards employees.
A worker has been sentenced to nine months' jail and ordered to repay $113,000 for illegally altering certificates of capacity, and other workers' comp breaches.
Western Australia has announced a two-level industrial manslaughter offence, revealed plans to beef up its safety inspectorate and released a draft WHS framework. Meanwhile, Victoria has introduced a new reckless conduct offence with $6.4 million fines for employers.
