The Gillard government has announced that the 2012-2013 budget will support jobs, building on an investment in skills, training and assistance. It was claimed that protecting jobs has been “the number one priority of the Gillard government from day one”, with the following measures intended to reflect that commitment. Read more »
The Federal Court has upheld a workers’ compensation claim by a Commonwealth worker whose ‘private activities’ with a ‘male friend’ in a motel room caused a glass light fitting above the bed to fall and strike her on the nose and mouth leaving her with physical and psychological injuries. Read more »
Between 8,000 to 10,000 employees in the mining industry experienced a common mental health illness over a 12 month period, reveals a report released at the recent NSW Minerals Council’s 2012 Occupational Health and Safety Conference in the Hunter. It is estimated that people from across all mining employment categories are affected equally, from managers and professionals through to machinery operators and drivers Read more »
The NSW Business Chamber, in association with Restaurant & Catering Australia, is calling for a new approach to penalty rates in an application lodged with Fair Work Australia. Read more »
In March 2012, a worker was fatally injured by a falling load while erecting a transmission tower west of Dalby in Queensland. A 20-tonne rough terrain mobile crane was being used to lift part of the tower when it appears the auxiliary winch inadvertently went into free fall and the load fell, striking the worker. Following the incident, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) has issued a safety alert to highlight the importance of correctly locking out the free fall controls on mobile cranes fitted with this feature. Read more »
Working within confined spaces poses many risks to health and safety. Each year, many people are seriously injured or killed due to adverse conditions in confined spaces. Although it is not always possible to prevent these incidents, employers have a duty to minimise the health and safety risks associated with working in confined spaces. Read more »
Occupational cancers reportedly claim 600,000 lives a year - one life every 52 seconds. While work-related cancers are not easily identifiable, it is estimated that around 5000 cancers a year in Australia can be attributed to occupational exposure to carcinogens. Read more »
There have been a number of recent unfair dismissal cases involving the termination of the employment of employees because of what employees have said on social media websites. These cases, including the two referred to below, have highlighted that without a clear social media policy, employees may be confused about what they can and cannot write on social media websites. This may lead to employees making comments which results in them losing their jobs and employers facing costly litigation and negative publicity where they seek to take action against these employees. Read more »
Statistics indicate that return to work rates have not improved in Australia over the past five years. In recent years, the focus of research internationally has been in two areas: what workplaces could do to better support people who have been unwell to return to work; and what we can do to empower workers to have more control in the return to work process. Read more »
The recent and unfortunate death of a wheel fitter in New South Wales, Australia, as a result of the explosion of a container handling reach stacker, five-piece split rim wheel assembly, has highlighted the dangers of using pneumatic tyres on mobile equipment. Read more »
WorkCover NSW is urging all businesses and workers to take extreme care while using forklifts following a number of recent serious incidents where workers have had forklift loads fall onto them. Read more »
SuccessFactors has released a white paper titled ‘Workforce Planning Pitfalls’. The paper provides six tips on how to deliver the workforce of the future, and discusses how this workforce can help achieve consistent business success. Read more »
A WorkSafe Victoria project, underway until the end of June, is targeting the safety of delivery drivers, with safety inspectors visiting company offices, distribution centres and places where items are being delivered. Read more »
In keeping with an election campaign commitment, the Equal Opportunity For Women In The Workplace Amendment Bill 2012 was introduced into the House of Representatives on 1 March 2012. Its focus is to improve workplace participation and flexibility, recognising that equal remuneration, and family and carer responsibilities are central to the achievement of gender equality. Importantly, it highlights that these issues are not only for women, but men also. Read more »
A Safety Alert has been released by NSW Trade & Investment after a major plant fire broke out at an above ground mine. Rob Regan, Director of the Department’s Mine Safety Operations Branch, has asked that the alert and knowledge of its contents is distributed to all relevant parties in mining companies. It should also be placed on the mine’s noticeboard. Read more »
Noise-induced hearing damage and industrial deafness are major health and safety issues for employers and employees. In addition, they represent permanent disabilities for the worker, which increases workers compensation premiums and replacement and training costs. Read more »
With the harmonised occupational health and safety laws kicking off in five out of nine Australian jurisdictions, it’s time businesses make sure they are familiar with the relevant new regulations. In the article below, Angus Macinnis, Senior Associate, DibbsBarker, Sydney, provides insights on some key issues that need to be considered in relation to the harmonised laws. Read more »
With low levels of literacy and numeracy in the workplace holding back companies and individuals from reaching their potential, a major report by the Australian Industry Group provides more details on the depth of the problem and considers new and more effective strategies to address it. Read more »
Falls from heights and roofs are the prime cause of death or injury in Australian workplaces and construction sites. All employers have a legal duty to ensure that any worker required to work at heights can do so safely and without risk to their life or health. Every fall is preventable through commitment to following specific controls and the use of innovative and compliant height access and fall prevention systems. Read more »
2012 is shaping up to be a very big year in industrial relations. Employers are waiting in anticipation for a number of developments which will no doubt present various opportunities and challenges for their businesses. This article looks at the top seven developments to watch out for in 2012. Read more »