A court has recorded a conviction against a company and nearly doubled its fine for failing to reduce or eliminate height risks, while a regulator has called for employers to review their engineering control plans, following a string of electric shock incidents.
Hazelwood Power Corporation Pty Ltd has been fined a total of $1.56 million - or just 12 per cent of the maximum available penalty - for 10 OHS breaches relating to the devastating Hazelwood coal mine fire, after the Victorian Supreme Court found the fire didn't result from the company's safety contraventions.
Safety processes for staff working alone or in remote locations must include strict training regimes and call-in procedures that don't place "unreasonable reliance" on "personal vigilance", a coronial inquiry into a worker's death has shown.
> 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.
> Workers from four sectors targeted in Vic's COVID-19 blitz; > Coronavirus affecting "tolerance to risk", warns NSW regulator; and > SWA and WA issue new COVID-19 guides and warnings.
> 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.
> Step up workplace cleaning for COVID-19 pandemic; > More work-related COVID-19 developments from around the country; and > Employer and director face more dangerous goods charges.
