A major international study has identified a significant exposure-response relationship between several types of cancer including brain cancer and the hazardous substance lead, which remains prevalent in Australian workplaces.
"Basic clutter" like stacked boxes and bags on the floor is one of seven significant safety hazards frequently overlooked by employers, according to a global risk management provider.
Stressed workers are at increased risk of suffering dental diseases and losing their teeth, but supportive managers can help prevent this, researchers have found.
More than 500 workers at a NSW council have stopped work due to safety concerns over the ongoing use of weed killer glyphosate, while Australia's agricultural chemicals regulator has proposed banning certain products containing the pesticide chlorpyrifos.
A major study has found that exposure to solvents increases a worker's chances of having a child with autism spectrum disorder, driving home the importance of workplace exposure controls and further research.
Businesses will be forced to review their WHS and vehicle policies under planned "technology-neutral" road laws that significantly extend prohibitions on driver distractions like mobile phones and in-vehicle displays.
The Queensland Government has failed in its appeal against a judgment that purportedly saved a PCBU more than $2.6 million in electrical safety compliance costs, but will look to major legislative changes to address its safety concerns.
New parents face a number of challenges returning to work and shouldn't have to rely on winning "the boss lottery" to receive the support they need, an organisational psychologist specialising in workplace transitions says.
Employers or officers who breach their WHS duties could be prosecuted in the International Criminal Court under an Australian plan to overcome the regulatory challenges of the globalisation of work and teleoperation of machines.
Duty holders that engage in reckless conduct during the manufacture, transport or storage of dangerous goods could be fined $6.4 million or jailed for 10 years, under new Victorian laws. The move comes after firefighters called for tougher penalties and a "pro-charge" policy to crack down on the "stash and burn business model" in the waste industry.
