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what’s news in occupational health & safety?
latest news 10 july 2008
COAG agreement a win for business
4 July 2008
The Council of Australian Governments has
agreed to push ahead with plans to create a "seamless national economy" through
initiatives including harmonisation of occupational health and safety
laws. Other significant reforms for business included new rules allowing
interstate movement of tradespeople, standard business reporting mechanisms
and standardised environmental assessment and approval processes. The
COAG ‘communique’ released yesterday states the "reforms will make
life simpler for businesses and consumers, while continuing to provide
the necessary protections and access for consumers and the community. more...
Australian business fined over treatment of China workers
2 July 2008
A printing business in the southern Australian
city of Melbourne has been fined $US95,000 for forcing 2 Chinese workers
to operate unsafe equipment, causing injury. The company has pleaded
guilty to failing to provide a safe workplace and not supplying the necessary
supervision and training in a language understood by the workers. more...
Conviction and fines for injuring foreign workers
3 July 2008
Lakeside Packaging has been convicted and
fined $100,000 as a result of a prosecution over
their treatment of 2 Chinese workers on Section 457 visas. The case was
brought to court by WorkSafe Victoria ,
and is thought to be Australia’s first prosecution in relation to injuries
to workers while in Australia on the 457 visas. more...
Fair Trading puts sparkies under the spotlight
30 June 2008
Fair Trading Minister, Linda Burney, today
announced a blitz on electricians to check their compliance with electrical
safety laws. The Office of Fair Trading would be issuing formal notices
to 100 electricians randomly selected across NSW, requesting documentation
to prove their compliance with the Consumer Safety Electrical Act, facing
maximum fines of $500,000. more...
Stabbed DOCS case worker wins
27 June 2008
The Public Service Association has won a
case today on behalf of a DOCS child protection worker who was stabbed
with a knife by a client’s mother at work. The case was brought against
the NSW Department of Community Services on the grounds that the department's
Occupational Health and Safety systems failed to protect case workers from
dangerous clients. more...
75% of ambos making mistake due to fatigue
23 June 2008
A new survey by Victoria’s ambulance union
has revealed that 75% of paramedics surveyed say they have been so exhausted
by their workload and long hours they are making errors of judgment. Paramedics
say the findings are further proof of a dangerous culture in Victoria’s
ambulance services, which they want fixed through their enterprise negotiations.
The survey also revealed that paramedics are averaging just 6 hours sleep
a night while rostered on, with 25% saying they are getting 5 hours sleep
or less. Renowned sleep researcher Professor Drew Dawson has found similarities
between the effects of fatigue and alcohol on performance impairment. more...
WHSQ sounds alert on swingstage scaffolding
24 June 2008
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland
(WHSQ) has issued a safety alert on the use of swingstage scaffolding
in the construction industry, asking the industry to adhere to national
standards when using the equipment after 2 workers fell to their deaths
on the Gold Coast. more...
Maryborough nursing home breaches residents' safety
24 June 2008
A Qld Govt-run nursing home in Maryborough
has seriously risked the health of its elderly residents, failing to
meet basic care requirements, including hygiene and nutrition. more...
Construction workers strike over deaths
23 June 2008
Queensland Employment and Industrial Relations
Minister John Mickel said inspectors would investigate allegations that
Queensland was the only state in Australia where it was not mandatory
to have workers anchored to a building. Construction, Forestry, Mining
and Energy Union (CFMEU) Queensland secretary Mr Ravbar said safety standards
had dropped at many sites since workplace safety protections were removed
by the Howard government's Work Choices legislation. more...
National OHS Review - unions preparing submissions
The ACTU, VTHC and affiliates are working on submissions
into the National
review into Model OHS
Laws . Of fundamental importance to unions is that the harmonisation
lead to an improvement in OHS protection for all workers around Australia.
Other crucial matters include the function and powers of elected reps,
duties of employers, consultation requirements, genuine protection of workers
and reps against discrimination and harassment for raising OHS issues,
and more. Submissions are due July 11.
Two fatalities from falls in 1 week
20 June 2008
Two deaths in 2 days resulting from falls
have yet again demonstrated the dangers of working at height. A 60-year-old
man died last week after falling from racking at a Nunawading business
on June 3. The next day a 62-year-old painter fell through a ceiling of
a Templestowe house that was being renovated and later died in hospital.
WorkSafe has called for greater awareness of the dangers in the construction,
retail, manufacturing, and warehousing industries. In the 2006-07 financial
year, 13 Australian construction workers died after falls from height.
4 of those were in Victoria. more...
publications/conferences
ASCC updates hazardous substances info
The Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC)
is about to update the listing of classified hazardous substances on
the Hazardous Substances. Information System (HSIS) online database to
reflect recent legislative changes in Europe. The HSIS online database
is a free, publicly available internet resource on the ASCC website that
allows users to find information on substances classified as hazardous
or that have an exposure standard. more...
VIC: Resources - Update on alert for particulate filters
WorkSafe has issued an update to a safety alert on
some Sundstrom filters originally issued last year. The updated alert
suggests that the filters can used during wet asbestos decontamination
and outlines the responsibilities for ensuring the appropriate use and
maintenance of the devices. more...
QLD: Pre-1992 paper occupational licences QLD: Workplace Health
and Safety Queensland scaffold safety alert
Employers, principal contractors, suppliers, and the
self-employed have an obligation under the Workplace
Health and Safety Act 1995 (PDF, 766 KB) to ensure the safety
of their workers and should ensure appropriate risk assessments and adequate
safe work methods are in place. more... more... more...
no longer valid
New regulations to streamline licensing and training
of Queensland workers who operate plant or perform high risk duties take
effect from 1 July 2008. This includes scaffolders, plant operators,
boiler/ machine operators, crane operators, hoist drivers, doggers and
riggers, engine/engineer drivers and engineers certificate holders. more... more...
cases
Torts - Personal injury - breach of statutory duty
- negligence - Construction Safety Act 1912 - Construction Safety Regulations
1950, Regs 73 and 74 - Painting contractor engaged to measure and quote
- whether “construction work” - whether construction work carried out
by owner - whether owner in charge of construction work - contractor
falls from roof - whether owner negligent.
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