what’s news in occupational health & safety?

latest news 18 september 2008

Heavy load: Nurses, firefighters at risk lifting obese Aussies
12 September 2008
According to their research, our nurses, firefighters, paramedics and funeral workers are now at risk of physical injury as they struggle to lift fatter people, with more than 7 million people in Australia considered obese, a fact which has alarmed the Safety and Compensation Council. more...

Ergon rejects allergic reaction uniforms
9 September 2008
Ergon Energy tells its uniform supplier it won't accept 14,000 items of protective clothing after staff suffered allergic reactions. Ergon Energy has told its uniform supplier it will not accept 14,000 items of protective clothing after 178 staff suffered allergic reactions. Employees reported various symptoms, including rashes and vomiting, after wearing the newly issued uniforms. more...

Ergon recalls uniforms after severe allergicreactions
8 September 2008
Ergon Energy is recalling about 3,000 protective suits issued to staff amid concerns over allergic reactions. The uniforms are used by other essential services such as the fire brigade Christopher Zinn from Choice says while there have been health concerns about several Chinese-made products, there have been no similar problems with protective clothing. more...

Call for construction watchdog powers to be strengthened
10 September 2008
Abolishing the construction industry watchdog would be akin to taking alcohol breath-testing powers away from police, resource sector employers say. more...

GP wins right to sue over sex abuse
10 September 2008
A General practitioner has won the right to sue the Anglican Church and South Australian Government over his sexual abuse at a Brisbane private school, as new evidence shows the headmaster was warned that the now-convicted pedophile teacher had been sacked from another school for improper behaviour. The Queensland Supreme Court yesterday paved the way for the $3.7 million compensation claim. more...

New body to cover work safety and compo
4 September 2008
A new national body to oversee workplace safety and workers' compensation will be set up under a bill introduced into parliament and would help end complex and costly inconsistencies in occupational health and safety and workers' compensation laws across Australia according to Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard. The the new body would develop policies which included model codes of practice, compliance and enforcement rules and ways to harmonise workers' compensation laws. more...

Unions and watchdog ABCC at war
3 September 2008
Hostilities between the building industry watchdog and unions are set to reignite, with a unionist due to face court on charges of assaulting and threatening to kill two construction commission inspectors. more...

legislation

New South Wales

Regulations
Administration of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (SR No 407 of 2008)

Regulations
Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 (Qld) Explanatory Memorandum Date of enactment 29 August 2008. This regulation replaces the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 1997. It commences on 1 September 2008. It amends the following Acts: Building Act 1975 Child Employment Act 2006 Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act 2001 Environmental Protection Act 1994 Explosives Act 1999 Fire and Rescue Service Act 1990 Queensland Building Services Authority Act 1991 State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 Note: Two regulatory impact statements and one explanatory note accompany the subordinate legislation more...

Acts Assented
Mining and Other Legislation (Safety and Health Fee) Amendment Act 2008 (No 43 of 2008)

Commonwealth
Bills introduced to establish national OHS workers comp authority
Bills to establish Safe Work Australia (SWA), an independent Commonwealth OHS and workers compensation authority have been introduced into federal parliament. more...

cases

Brunker v Consolidated Meat Group Pty Ltd [2008] QSC 198
Negligence - breach of duty - breach of statutory duty - causation - damages - where plaintiff was employed as a slicer in a meat works - where plaintiff moved a quantity of meat onto conveyor - where plaintiff suffered injury - whether defendant liable pursuant to s28 of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 - whether defendants breached common law duty of care - whether plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence. more...