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what’s news in occupational, health & safety?

latest news 29 may 2008

Hire company fined over worker’s injury

21 May 2008

A labour hire company has been fined $27,500 after a worker’s fingers were crushed in an unguarded machine. Skilled Group pleaded guilty in the Fremantle Magistrate’s Court last week to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace,causing serious harm to a worker. more...

Builder fined $35,000 over worker's death

21 May 2008

A Perth builder has been fined a second time for dangerous tilt-up construction site safety standards. The builder was also fined $35,000 in the Supreme Court over the 2002 death of a building worker crushed by a collapsing tilt-up panel at a Myaree building site. A court had originally dismissed charges against his company but WorkSafe successfully appealed against the decision in the Supreme Court. more...

Work death fine not enough: union

20 May 2008

The Construction Union has echoed a widow's condemnation of a $35,000 fine handed to the builder managing the site where her husband died. more...

ABC breast cancer study goes nationwide

20 May 2008

The ABC has announced a national epidemiological study into the incidence of breast cancer in women working at the ABC's studios between 1 January 1994 and 31 July 2007. The move comes following confirmation of a 17th case of breast cancer linked to the broadcaster’s former Toowong studios in Brisbane. The aim of the study is to determine whether the cancer cluster is isolated to Toowong or whether there are wider systemic factors at work. more... more...

Safety overhaul urged in Tassie mines

22 May 2008

The Australian Workers Union is calling for an immediate overhaul of Tasmania's mine safety laws. A coroner found fundamental deficiencies in state regulations, after investigating 3 deaths at the Renison mine on Tasmania's west coast. Coroner Don Jones recommended that new industry-specific laws replace the existing general workplace safety rules. more...

Men more likely to die at work

20 May 2008

This was the startling news from the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC), which released data on work-related deaths and occupational diseases recorded from 2004 to 2005. The report on work-related fatalities showed 249 people died while working, a further 98 died while commuting to or from work, and another 58 died as a result to being a bystander to work activity. more...

Budget indicates future directions of OHS

21 May 2008

According to the National Safety Council of Australia (NCSA), the 2008 to 2009 Federal Budget is a clear indication of the governments aim to harmonise occupational health and safety (OHS) laws. The Budget papers explicitly claimed national approaches to OHS and workers™ compensation will cut red tape, boost business efficiency and provide greater certainty and
protections for all workplace parties. It also indicated plans to grow the Comcare scheme, and financially, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act of 1988 will be amended.more...

Charges laid over fatal Gladstone explosion

30 April 2008

SafeWork SA has charged a company whose munitions factory exploded in Gladstone 2 years ago, killing 3 workers and injuring 2. The explosion happened at Beetaloo Valley at the Quin Investments explosives factory in May 2006. Court documents allege that Quin Investments failed to provide and maintain a safe working environment and failed to provide and maintain its plant (machinery) in a safe condition.   If convicted the company faces a maximum penalty of $100,000 for each offence, because the incident occurred before SA’s increased penalties came into effect this year. The first hearing on these charges is likely to be heard in June.more...