What's News

PDF Download

Latest News

National uniformity in OHS sector a myth
30 April 2010
Most national employers currently grapple with the costs of a multi-jurisdictional system, characterised by a core OHS Act for each state and territory and 70 industry or hazard-specific acts which regulate OHS. The problem with the harmonised OHS laws is found in their characterisation as “uniform” laws, when in fact, they contain significant jurisdictional differences.   More...

Company fined $130k over workplace death
29 April 2010
A Melbourne heavy haulage company has been fined $130,000 over the death of one of its truck drivers after pleading pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Victorian County Court Judge Michael McInerney said the company’s procedures specified that a winch should be used, but at the time, there was a mixed opinion in the industry about the need to use them.   More...

Fortescue bid to stop trial dismissed
29 April 2010
A bid by Fortescue Metals Group to avoid trial over the deaths of 2 workers in a cyclone in Western Australia’s Pilbara region has been thwarted in the Supreme Court. Fortescue had argued the charges should be dismissed as its safety management procedures came under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act, not the Occupational Health and Safety Act under which it was charged. Magistrate Randazzo had ruled the charges needed redrafting but that was not cause for their dismissal.   More...

The AWU campaigns against BHP Billiton over mine deaths
28 April 2010
The Australian Workers Union has launched an attack on mining giant BHP Billiton over mine deaths. National secretary Paul Howes says politicians need to stand up to BHP Billiton and re-regulate mine safety standards.   More...

Orbit Drilling fined $750,000 for death of 21 year old driver
28 April 2010
A Company and its director found responsible for the death of a 21-year-old truck driver have been fined more than $800,000 in the Victorian County Court. Orbit Drilling was fined $750,000 after becoming the first company to be convicted for reckless endangerment under Victorian occupational health and safety laws, while its director, Martin John Smith, 46, was also convicted of failing to provide a safe workplace and fined $120,000. More...

Safety probe of NBN
28 April 2010
Workplace safety officials will investigate reports of potentially deadly work practices in the NBN rollout in Tasmania. Commonwealth occupational health and safety body Comcare is also involved because national construction giant John Holland is the lead contractor for the project. It is understood Comcare officials from Melbourne will investigate the safety standards of smaller companies sub-contracted by John Holland.   More...

Broadband rollout halted after worker shocked
28 April 2010
The Federal Government’s National Broadband Network has been hit with safety problems, with construction suspended in Tasmania after a worker received an electric shock.   More...

ILO identifies new and emerging risks
28 April 2010
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has identified “new and emerging” workplace health and safety risks, and outlined what employers and regulators can do to prevent them.  While workplace injury and fatality rates in developed countries are declining, work-related cancers, musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular diseases and stress are “becoming an increased concern”.  More... http://www.safetowork.com.au/news/printing-business-fined-for-breaching-workplace-sa

Emerging risks and new patterns of prevention in a changing world of work
Author: ILOIt notes that by 2020, about 20 per cent of all manufactured goods will incorporate nanotechnology, yet the risks associated with the manufacturing and use of nanomaterials are "largely unknown". Other emerging risks include biotechnologies, the "enormous growth" over the last 20 years in the industrial use of allergenic, carcinogenic and mutagenic chemicals and stress.

Nanotechnology - what we don't get told
Safe Work Australia has released three new research reports on nanotechnology. Points of concern to unions and workers are that researchers found that even though it was possible for engineered nanomaterials to be designed and manufactured to be safer, this was not often a consideration.  In terms of the information provided on MSDSs and labels, our suspicions were correct: the majority of the MSDSs investigated contained insufficient information to allow for proper risk assessment and control in workplaces.   More...

Constructing better business seminar
20 April 2010
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is offering full-day seminars (May-June) about management and control of occupational stress and manual tasks risks and is aimed at the people who manage construction areas. Refer to the program outline for further information. More...

Legislation

Commonwealth

Regulations
Occupational Health and Safety (Maritime Industry) (National Standards) Amendment Regulations 2010 (No. 1)

Safe Work Australia (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2010

Queensland

Acts
Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994 No.6G

NSW

Regulations
Marine Safety (General) Amendment (Narrow Channels or Fairways) Regulation 2010

Victoria

Regulations
Electricity Safety (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2010