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 Whats news in occupational health safety - 21 august 2008.pdf[Adobe Acrobat PDF - 539.9 KB]
what’s news in occupational health & safety?
latest news 21 august 2008
Pipeline gas blast warnings ignored
13 August 2008
Western Australia's $2 billion gas pipeline explosion might have been avoided if a key state government department had not ignored constant warnings that Apache Energy was not complying with safety standards at its Varanus Island facility. more...
Charges could be laid against ex-RailCorp workers
13 August 2008
The New South Wales corruption watchdog has found 3 former RailCorp employees engaged in corrupt conduct by stealing millions of dollars and potentially putting lives at risk. more...
Joint study to safeguard lung health of miners
5 July 2008
The State Government and the University of Western Sydney has embarked on a joint investigation into the effects of silica dust on miners. The study will determine how silica dust is being controlled on work sites and what further improvements can be made. more...
Teachers not coping with workplace stress: report
6 August 2008
More than 600 Victorian teachers have been forced off the job because of workplace stress in the past 3 years, with Workcover paying out more than $17 million in compensation and taking 234 Workcover payouts in that time.more...
NSW: 1 dead, 2 hurt when floor under construction collapses
13 August 2008
A structure which collapsed on a building site south of Sydney killing a worker and injuring 2 others, wasn't properly supported, the union says. more...
Big retailers promise action on DC truck queues
5 August 2008
Retailers have vowed to introduce stricter time slotting and slash truck queues under a new agreement. The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) says it has incorporated time slot and queuing principles and standards into the existing Retail Logistics Supply Chain Code of Conduct after winning agreement from signatories. The new principles aim to improve on-time delivery, truck turnaround times and compliance with chain of responsibility and safety requirements. more...
Foster’s receives record fine for fatal safety breaches
6 August 2008
Fosters Australia Limited has received Victoria’s biggest ever fine under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 for serious safety failings which led to the death of a worker at its Abbotsford (Melbourne) brewery in April 2006.Imposing a $1.125-million fine and conviction, Judge Jane Campton said a reasonable employer would have foreseen the danger posed by the unguarded machine and taken steps to make it safer, but Fosters chose not to with tragic consequences. more...
Unions launch harmonised OHS petition
8 August 2008
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has continued the fight to increase the duty of care imposed on employers in the harmonised national occupational health and safety laws. They are opposed to the swapping of OHS and compensation schemes, claiming this will allow employers to avoid their responsibilities and obligations. more...
publications/conferences
Is rescue from a burning building about to become a thing of the past?
Author: Brown, Naomi
Subjects: Proposed changes to the Building Code of Australia (BCA) by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) may signal the end of search and rescue activities in burning buildings and ultimately lead to a greater loss of life in these tragedies. more...
Comcare Safety Alert: exposure to formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds in caravans, mobile homes and demountable buildings
7 August 2008
Comcare has received confirmed reports of employees living in converted shipping containers being adversely affected by elevated levels of formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs).Employees, contractors and individuals living or working in caravans, mobile homes and demountable buildings (including converted shipping containers) face a potential health risk of exposure to formaldehyde and other VOCs. more...
NSW Safety Alert - high-pressure water jetting
WorkCover NSW has release a safety alert following a fatal incident to an operator while he was using a high-pressure water jetting lance to clean the settlement tank of a truck wash bay. more...
Reminder to complete HSMAs
15 August 2008
Under the OHS Act, Health and Safety Management Arrangements (HSMAs) need to be completed by 15 September 2008. HSMAs are one of the main ways in which employers can demonstrate their commitment to meeting their duty of care under the OHS Act. There are mandatory components that must be included in your HSMAs (see section 16 of the OHS Act). HSMAs may also include a range of other arrangements, as determined by the needs of the organisation. more...
Model OHS review consultation complete
The National Review into Model Occupational Health and Safety Laws will take into account the 242 submissions made when making its recommendations. These have been published on the review website at http:// www.nationalohsreview.gov.au. The panel is to make 2 reports to WRMC (in October 2008 and January 2009). The panel will make recommendations on the optimal structure and content of a model OHS Act that can be adopted in all jurisdictions. more...
Victoria Safety Alert - using workboxes to lift personnel - braking and operational requirements for cranes
This Alert informs owners, operators, manufacturers, and hirers of the requirements for a dual braking system where the crane is required to suspend a workbox for the purposes of hoisting personnel. more...
Fatigue prevention in the workplace
This guidanceprovides information on how to identify potential work-related fatigue hazards, determine work-related fatigue risks and how to control work-related fatigue hazards and risks.
Queensland Safety Alert - Safe operation of concrete pumping equipment around overhead powerlines
Following a fatal injury to a concrete pump operator on a construction site in North Queensland, WHSQ is alerting concrete pumping operators to the risks of working around overhead powerlines, and the importance of preventing or minimising these risks. more...
OFSC launches safe design presentations
The Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner (OFSC) is promoting the concept and process of safe design to the building and construction industry and has produced an audiovisual presentation promoting awareness of safe design. more... more...
legislation
Queensland
New Regulations
Workplace Health and Safety (Codes of Practice) Amendment Notice (No. 1) 2008 (SL No 256 of 2008) Amends: Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 Date of enactment*: 08 August 2008 This notice amends the Workplace Health and Safety (Codes of Practice) Notice 2005. It commences on 1 September 2008. more...
cases
Bourk v Power Serve P/L & Anor [2008] QCA 225
Statutes - acts of parliament - enforcement of statutory rights and remedies - breach of statutory duty - causation - where the appellant was unsuccessful in proceedings against his employer, the first respondent, for negligence and breach of statutory duty due to injuries sustained by the appellant in a fall from a power pole when the pole strap attached to his safety harness failed - where the primary judge found that the failure of the pole strap caused the injury - where s 28(1) Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Qld) imposes an obligation on the employer to ensure the workplace health and safety of its workers - where the appellant argued that an employee need only prove that his injury is causally connected with an unsafe act or omission of his employer to establish a breach of s 28 Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Qld) - whether the appellant must further prove that had there been a system of inspections and checks the defect in his pole strap would have been detected before he fell. Employment law - the contract of services and rights, duties and liabilities as between employer and employee - liability of employer for injury to employee at common law - safe system of work - generally - where the appellant was unsuccessful in proceedings against his employer, the first respondent, for negligence and breach of statutory duty due to injuries sustained by the appellant in a fall from a power pole when the pole strap attached to his safety harness failed - where the primary judge found that the failure of the pole strap caused the injury - whether the first respondent had implemented a safe system of work - whether the appellant had established causation. more...
Negligence - mine owner contracted out loading from stockpile - stockpile collapse injuring contractor's worker - use of unsafe method of loading - mine owner's duty of care owed to worker - effect of worker's knowledge that method was unsafe - subsequent injury - causation of worker's present condition - incorrect to ask if mine injury was defining event - whether should be new trial generally or only as to damages.
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