A roof tiling company's failure to install fall protection on a Rowville house resulted in an apprentice falling 2.4 metres to the ground and a fine representing one third of the company's annual profit. [ + ]

In its submission to the review of the Fair Work Act, the ACTU proposes reforms, within the framework of the existing legislation, to improve the rights to collective bargaining and the safety net for insecure workers. Any further changes to workplace laws should improve job security, rights and protections for the millions of people in insecure work, not hand more power to employers. [ + ]

Police and NSW road safety authorities have launched an unprecedented operation on a trucking company following investigations into a fatal crash which claimed three lives in on the Hume Highway at Menangle last month. [ + ]

George Weston Foods - one of Australia’s largest food processors - was convicted and fined $50,000 at the Castlemaine Magistrates’ Court on 17 February after pleading guilty to one count of failing to provide a safe plant, after a worker’s hand was crushed after being caught in a machine. [ + ]

The NSW Mine Safety Advisory Council (MSAC) has appointed John Hannaford as its Chairman. MSAC provides advice to the Minister for Resources and Energy on work health and safety in the NSW mining industry. Hannaford’s appointment as Chair of the Council follows the death of Norman Jennings late last year. Jennings had held the role since 2006. [ + ]

After being identified as one of the state’s highest risk industries, WorkCover NSW has commenced a project to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses and improve injury management in the road freight transport industry. The project is part of WorkCover’s new flagship work health and safety program, 10/5/5, which involves working with the NSW community to improve safety in the state’s 10 highest risk industries. [ + ]

Restoring the ability for employers to engage and negotiate directly with their workforce has underpinned the key recommendations from national resource industry employer group AMMA, in its submission to the Australian Government’s Fair Work Act Review Panel. Representing all areas of the resource and related construction industry, AMMA’s submission examines how the Fair Work Act has failed on its key objectives and puts forth specific reforms that would see a return to mutually rewarding employment relationships in Australian workplaces. [ + ]

Despite a fall in the national unemployment rate, efforts must be made to minimise job losses and big corporations should not sacrifice workers in their hunger for profits, according to the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). [ + ]

On Monday morning in Brisbane, workers engaged in insecure jobs had the chance to tell the Howe Inquiry how the issue impacts on their lives, their families and their budgets. The hearing was the first of two dozen to be held across Australia. [ + ]

A magistrate has given a small building company six years to pay a fine imposed on it after a worker became a paraplegic as a result of a four-metre fall. [ + ]

Honeywell has appointed Jack Boss as President of Honeywell Safety Products, a part of Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions’ Life Safety business. [ + ]

machineSAFE is a comprehensive machinery safety course running during 2012 in Australia and New Zealand. It offers a range of workshops which provide details on how to comprehend and apply the machine safety standard AS4024.1-2006 as well as the Acts and Regulations businesses must follow to ensure compliance. [ + ]

Around 150,000 of Australia’s lowest paid workers will benefit from substantial pay rises of between 23 and 45% as a result of Fair Work Australia’s historic pay equity decision. [ + ]

Wage Connect helps employers to offset their initial training and labour costs and remove barriers that may have stopped them taking on staff in the past. Wage subsidies of around $6000 are paid to employers who take on and retain people as part of the Building Australia’s Future Workforce initiative. [ + ]

A private college has been convicted and fined in the Industrial Court after three people were injured by a falling tree while attending a junior school sports day in 2009. [ + ]