PDF Download

This article is available in PDF format.

Whats news in occupational health safety - 22 January 2009.pdf[Adobe Acrobat PDF - 409.83 KB]

What’s News in Occupational Health & Safety?

Latest News 22 January 2009

Amended bill could open way for OHS discrimination

12 January 2009
Under proposed laws, Victorian employees would be able to sue employers who discriminate against them for engaging in occupational health and safety activities. These changes are included in the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (Employee Protection) Bill 2008. This would also cover prospective employees and employers, and the onus of proof will be on the employer. more...

WorkSafe sets sights for 2009

12 January 2009
WORKSAFE Victoria says it will be focusing on the small and medium construction and utilities sector in 2009, after it recorded nearly half of Victoria’s traumatic work-related deaths in 2008. The legal consequences of Complacency, shortcuts, and a lack of understanding or preparation can also be serious. The average fine for a Victorian workplace health and safety case is more than $54,200. more...

Surface mine worker killed by falling plant door

13 January 2009
QUEENSLAND Department of Mines and Energy  says a surface mine worker has been killed after being struck by the right hand hopper door of a mobile crushing plant. According to the department important to develop written instructions for tasks with multiple steps. These instructions should be developed using a risk management process. more...

Post Logistics Australasia fined by the Federal Court

6 January 2009
On 24 December 2008, Justice Flick of the Federal Court declared that Post Logistics Australasia Pty Ltd (Post Logistics) contravened the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 in relation to the death of a contractor engaged by Post Logistics in a forklift accident on 25 May 2006. more...

Publications/Conferences

National review into model occupational health and safety laws : first report to the Workplace Relations Ministers' Council.
Author: Stewart-Crompton, Robin. National Occupational Health and Safety Review Panel (Australia)
Source: [Canberra] The Review, 2008; xxvii: pp15
Subjects: Occupational health and safety; Duty of care; Legislative harmonisation; Committees and inquiries more...

New plant regulations come into force
6 January 2009
Technical amendments to the Safety Standards Regulations along with regulatory changes to the way the Australian Defence Organisation manages its special plant licence came into effect on 19 December 2008. View the updated Occupational Health and Safety (Safety Standards) Regulations 1994 .

Comcare seeks comments on syntheticmineral fibres code
14 January 2009
Employers, employees and other stakeholders in the Comcare scheme are invited to submit comments on proposed changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Code of Practice 2008 - Part 13 Synthetic Mineral Fibres (SMF).The proposed changes aim to bring Part 13 of the OHS Code in line with current scientific knowledge. In particular, the changes mean that glass wool, rock wool and slag wool are no longer considered carcinogenic. The consultation paper, current code, proposed changes and comments form are available on the Proposed Review of Code on Synthetic Mineral Fibres page. The consultation period closes on 12 February 2009.

Cases

Comcare v Post Logistics Australasia Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 1987
Occupational health and safety - civil penalty - failure to take reasonable steps to protect health and safety - death of worker - statement of agreed facts - declaration as to contravention - imposition of pecuniary penalty - principles to be applied.