what’s news in occupational health & safety?

latest news 2 october 2008

Queensland Swing stage scaffolding to be made safer
25 September 2008
The Queensland government says it will implement the recommendations of an independent group's investigation of swing stage scaffolding after 2 workers fell to their deaths from a Gold Coast high rise in June. Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said the recommendations will now be implemented by the Queensland Government. The reference group, which oversaw preparation of the safety report, included representatives from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ), BLF, CFMEU, Master Builders Association of Queensland and the Scaffolding Association, Queensland. more...

Gold Coast scaffolding fatality report released
25 September 2008
An independent report commissioned by the State Government into suspended scaffold safety following the deaths of 2 workers on the Gold Coast has found companies and workers are not following proper safety standards. more...

New work safety body 'unbalanced'
18 September 2008
The federal government's proposed new body to oversee work safety has too many bureaucrats and 2 few workers, the opposition says. Safe Work Australia would be dominated by state governments and their bureaucrats who already had poor records on cooperation. more...

Elders manager fined over workplace accident
The manager of a Brookton hay baling company has been fined $3,000 over an accident in which a workmate's lower leg was torn off. more...

Mining company fined for negligence causing worker's death
16 September 2008
A Darwin court has imposed the Territory's highest total fine for a workplace death in relation to a death at the Alcan Gove mine, convicting and fining Alcan Gove $432,000 for negligence causing the death of 33-year-old worker. more...

publications/conferences

Recommendations on Improving the Safe Use of Suspended (Swing Cage) Scaffolds
Prepared for Workplace Health and Safety Queensland by Dr Andrew Baigent. Ref No 08079 20 August 2008: full report and recommendations. more...

Proposed review of regulations on confined spaces - comments due 17 October 2008
Comcare is seeking comments from stakeholders on a proposed review of Part 7 – ‘Confined Spaces' of the Occupational Health and Safety (Safety Standards) Regulations 1994. more...

Compliance Codes to provide workplace safety certainty
24 September 2008
Worksafe Victoria has released a set of 8 new Compliance Codes intended to provide practical guidance to employers and occupational health and safety representatives. The Compliance Codes cover confined spaces, workplace amenities and work environment, prevention of falls in general construction, foundries , asbestos management, asbestos removal and communication across language. more...

Case study: anti-slip solution for heavy machinery workshop
25 September 2008
Queensland Anti Slip Solutions says it eliminated the risk of slippery surfaces from a heavy
earth moving machinery workshop owned by a Queensland-based coal mine. Site managers had bee concerned about the work site, but did not want to disrupt normal operations. They required highlighted walkways for demarcating the workshop area, specific colours, as well as a highly slip resistive, environmentally friendly solution. more...

Victoria Worksafe has released for public comment
WorkSafe Position - Employing or engaging a suitably qualified person. This will affect persons working in Victoria and their ongoing recognition to work as an OH&S Service Providers. This WorkSafe Position provides definition around what ‘suitably qualified’ means.

legislation

New South Wales
Bills introduced etc Government
Rail Safety Bill 2008

Regulations
Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Amendment (Fatigue and Speeding) Regulation 2008 (2008430) Road Transport (General) Amendment (Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue and Speeding Compliance) Regulation 2008 (2008-429) Road Transport (General) Amendment Regulation 2008 (2008-432) Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) (Driver Fatigue) Repeal Regulation 2008 (2008431)

Queensland Regulations
Mining and Other Legislation (Safety and Health) Amendment Regulation (No. 1) SL No 317 of 2008 Amends: Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999, Explosives Act 1999 and Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999

Current reprints
Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 No.2E Explosives Act 1999 No.3A Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 No.2D