Latest news and cases
Sole trader convicted over scaffolding deficiency, but avoids fine
9 March, 2010A self-employed bricklayer has been convicted for the injuries sustained by a labourer, but the NSW Industrial Relations Commission did not consider the offence so serious as to warrant a financial penalty. Read full article...
Healthy worker strategies: achieving less sedentary, more productive business
9 March, 2010The business of OHS is more often about safety than health. However, the push is now on to increase the focus on health. The Rudd Government’s National Preventive Health Strategy is stepping into the business arena and recommending, among a number of changes, the consideration of laws that promote the uptake of health and wellbeing programs in workplaces. Read full article...
Worker 'probably' ignored safety precautions, fine cut
9 March, 2010A company's OHS fine over a fatality has been slashed, after the Victorian Court of Appeal found the worker 'spontaneously' decided to complete a dangerous task without the required safety precautions. Read full article...
High Court finds particular asbestos–cancer nexus ‘improbable’
9 March, 2010In the absence of any medical certainty, the Full Bench of the High Court has found, on the balance of probabilities, that a worker’s fatal cancer was not caused by asbestos exposure during employment. In reaching this conclusion, the Bench noted that it is not sufficient to attribute legal responsibility on the grounds that one cause is merely possible; instead, the most conclusively probable cause must be determined. Read full article...
Super on unpaid maternity leave: union push
8 March, 2010Some new agreements in the Commonwealth public sector are guaranteeing that women on unpaid maternity leave will continue to receive employer superannuation contributions. Read full article...
Unreasonable punitive action caused psychological symptoms
8 March, 2010A worker is eligible for workers compensation for her psychological symptoms because her employer unreasonably subjected her to ‘punitive’ action even though no formal disciplinary process had been initiated, the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission has found. Read full article...
Legislation briefs, 08/03/10
8 March, 2010(NSW) Workers Compensation Amendment (Commission Members) Bill; (NSW) Workers Compensation Amendment (Latest Index Number) – new reg; (NSW) Marine Safety (General) Amendment — new reg; (Qld)Transport Legislation Amendment Regulation — new reg; (Qld)Transport Legislation Amendment Regulation — new reg; (Qld) Workplace Health and Safety (Codes of Practice) Amendment Notice; (ACT) Workers Compensation (Default Insurance Fund) Amendment Bill. Read full article...
HR unaware of back pain, redundancy fair
8 March, 2010Taking two days off work due to back pain was not the cause of a worker's redundancy, a Federal Magistrate has ruled, in finding his work abilities had been fairly assessed. Read full article...