Industry News
Stronger accountability for employer groups and unions
All registered employer associations and unions will be subject to tougher financial and accountability obligations, and Fair Work Australia will have enhanced investigation powers, under legislation introduced into federal parliament today. [ + ]
Kinnect enters WA
Queensland-established injury prevention and management company Kinnect has opened state headquarters in Perth, Western Australia. The need for enhanced workplace injury prevention and injury support was not only reflected in the size of the WA resources sector, but a future outlook where known and forecast exploration expenditure signified a continuing strong pipeline of new mining and energy projects, says Kinnect’s WA Director and health professional Rebecca Morton-Stephens. [ + ]
Free workplace safety webinar for small businesses
WorkCover NSW will be holding a webinar on 20 June from 10-11 am for small businesses and workers to help them understand the recent changes in work health and safety laws [ + ]
Safe hearing device for telephone users wins collaboration award
Soundshield provides protection from acoustic shriek injury caused by sudden exposure to loud noises, which can result in painful ears, hearing loss, vertigo and even anxiety and depression. The device was developed and commercialised through a collaboration between Polaris Communications, an Australian supplier of headset devices into the contact centre industry, and the HEARing Cooperative Research Centre. [ + ]
Fighting house fires with computer models
Through advanced computer modelling of house fires, mechanical engineers at UNSW are giving firefighters a new suite of tools to investigate and battle dangerous blazes - just in time for the high-risk winter months. [ + ]
Injuries on housing construction sites costing $17m per year
More than 20 Victorian tradies a week were seriously injured on housing constructions sites last year, costing the industry $17 million in medical costs, wages and other expenses, according to WorkSafe Victoria. WorkSafe Inspector Steve Thornely said the figures could be significantly higher as sole traders do not make claims under WorkSafe’s injury insurance scheme. [ + ]
Ai Group: union attempts to restrict casual employment flexibility need to be rejected
The Australian Industry Group has announced its opposition of unions’ attempts to reduce casual employment flexibility, with CEO Innes Willox saying the unions’ claims are “not in Australia’s interests”. [ + ]
2012 WorkCover SafeWork Awards now open for nominations
The 2012 WorkCover NSW SafeWork Awards are open for entries. WorkCover NSW would like to invite you and your organisation to enter. [ + ]
Inclusive workplace champions to be announced
The winners of the 2012 AHRI Diversity Awards will be announced at a Melbourne luncheon this week on 17 May. The awards recognise and celebrate outstanding individuals and organisations, and the contribution they have made to their business and the HR profession in the area of diversity. [ + ]
Flight Centre caught in workplace bullying case
Australian travel agency Flight Centre is at the centre of a case of corporate workplace bullying, with Maurice Blackburn Lawyers filing action against the company in the Federal Court. Employment Law Principal Josh Bornstein said the action was filed under the Fair Work Act’s adverse action provisions - laws which play an important function in protecting whistleblowers from victimisation and retribution. [ + ]
Work-related eye injuries cost Victoria $39 million a year
The Centre for Eye Research Australia has found that more than half of the people presenting to the emergency department for eye damage, caused by metal fragments, were not wearing eye safety glasses at the time of their accident. The injuries were commonly caused by high-velocity impact machining such as metal grinding, welding, repair work and drilling. Work-related eye injuries account for about 3,500 emergency presentations and cost the Victorian community $39 million each year. [ + ]
RCR launches online store for Pro-Val safety products
RCR International has launched a new online store for its Pro-Val range of safety products. To celebrate the launch, the company is offering all customers 15% off all orders placed in the first week (Monday 14 May - Sunday 20 May). [ + ]
Nominations open for National Safety Awards of Excellence
The NSCA is accepting nominations for the National Safety Awards of Excellence. The awards are open to any Australian operating business, organisation, alliance or individual in the public or private sector with a workplace health and safety or environment initiative that complies with one of the seven categories. Nominations close 29 June 2012.
[ + ]New Zealand releases new guidelines to reduce workplace falls
New Zealand has recently launched Best Practice Guidelines for Working at Height. The guidelines give clear, simple advice that will help bring down the death and injury toll from avoidable falls in the construction industry. [ + ]
WorkCover board shake-up
Last week the NSW Minister for Finance and Services Greg Pearce announced a shake-up of the WorkCover Board to address the $4.1 billion deficit and implement a reform agenda following the outcomes of the Parliamentary inquiry. [ + ]