The Fair Work Commission has rejected three workers' bids for "oppressive" interim stop-bullying orders blocking disciplinary action against them, while a full bench has upheld the reinstatement of a worker sacked for her drunken behaviour at a client's premises.
> Four entities including manager charged over teenager's death; > OHS improvement notices maintained after quad case withdrawn; and > New drug testing rules commencing under RSNL.
A coronial inquest into a double fatality involving methamphetamine, and related proceedings against three companies and six individuals, have sent strong reminders on both the reach of chain-of-responsibility laws in the heavy vehicle sector and the fact that they're being policed.
A victim of workplace racism has been awarded $75,000 under a settlement that allows him to pursue further compensation for a psychiatric injury. Meanwhile, an employment lawyer has examined the impact that softening cannabis laws might have on workplace drug policies.
A coronial inquest into the death of a worker addicted to the opioid oxycodone, prescribed for an ankle injury, has heard the treatment of chronic pain should focus on patients' mental health rather than "numbing" their symptoms.
> More drug tests, phone controls included in heavy vehicle plan; > Health project and survey target high injury rate in drivers; and > PC releases issues paper for national safety review.
Canadian work health experts have joined the growing list of researchers warning that prescribing opioids for work-related injuries can lead to serious harm and protracted claims, and should be avoided.
A major report, prompted by a public health emergency declared by US President Donald Trump, has found a high proportion of injured workers are prescribed opioids, often unnecessarily, exposing them to the risk of addiction within days of use and driving up employers' workers' comp costs.
