> Improve WHS by restoring consultation grants, says ACCI; > Safe Rates restoration endorsed by ATA; and > Anti-violence Bill to protect Federal employees.
Employers and safety professionals could be on the verge of having cheaper or even free access to Australian Standards incorporated into work health and safety laws and other legislation, with Standards Australia describing a recent judgment as an "exciting step towards delivering greater value and improving access" to the documents.
> Families contributing to workplace manslaughter reforms; > Missing beeper and beacon constitute OHS breach; and > NSW launches eToolkit to improve young workers' safety.
> Further WHS alignment flagged for heavy vehicle laws; > Work cultures must support fatigue reporting, says aviation report; and > Twelve-hour-shift caps unlikely for rail safety workers.
The Federal Government has provided in-principle support for WHS amendments that could increase maximum fines by more than 90 per cent, and explicitly ban insurance against penalties.
The Federal Government has reconfirmed its commitment to slashing the number of industrial chemicals requiring pre-introduction regulatory scrutiny by more than 70 per cent, but has postponed the start date for the new scheme by another year.
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.
> Manslaughter provisions promised for model WHS Act; > PCBU fined $210k over unloading death; and > WA appoints new WorkSafe Commissioner, releases emergency guide.
> 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.
