Individuals who knowingly or recklessly import asbestos-containing products like building materials can now be imprisoned for up to five years, under new customs laws.
> Infringement notice priorities and alerts issued in Qld; > WHS amendments step up asbestos training rules in ACT; and > UK increases enforcement of carcinogenic welding fumes.
Two employers have been fined a total of $180,000 after a worker died falling 11 metres thorough a skylight, while a company has been handed a second round of fines for asbestos and document-request breaches, just five months after it and its two directors were fined $605,000 under environment laws.
A WHS inspector's belief that an employer had "no system in place" to prevent life-threatening falls was "based on a misconception", the NSW Industrial Relations Commission has ruled in revoking another WHS notice.
Victoria will introduce industrial manslaughter laws, Australia's highest maximum work safety fine of more than $16 million, and special workers' comp benefits for emergency workers, after Labor retained power in Saturday's State election.
> Safety laws aligned with WHS Act in Qld; > Duty holders face "sabotage" risk under NSW asbestos Bill; and > New flexible working rules commence in 10 days.
Decisive leadership and a comprehensive removal strategy are crucial to a major employer's plan to eradicate asbestos from its sites by 2030, with 60,000 square metres of asbestos-containing materials already removed to date, according to its asbestos manager.
Australia's next asbestos management plan will focus on developing a "convincing and comprehensive business case" for the prioritised removal of the deadly substance over in situ management in workplaces and elsewhere, the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency revealed today.
> Work safety breaches kill man on mobility scooter; > Man fined for five asbestos-related WHS contraventions; and > ACTU repeats calls for anti-bullying-style harassment jurisdiction.
