Industry News
Grants for OHS and welfare research
The government has called for innovative research projects to improve workplace safety in South Australia.
[ + ]Safety inspections necessary after Christmas shutdown
WorkSafe Victoria has called on the building industry to lay the foundations for a safe year as most of the state’s building sites opened for business this week.
[ + ]SA Regional Roadshows approaching
The Regional Roadshows tour will be traversing South Australia this year from 31 March to 4 April, displaying the very latest in industrial automation, instrumentation and process technology.
[ + ]New asbestos regulations
WorkCover NSW issued a reminder that as of 1 January 2008, the threshold for the removal, repair and disturbance of bonded asbestos has been reduced to 10 m².
[ + ]Trans-Tasman 'Falls prevention in construction' campaign
Workplace health and safety regulators across Australia and New Zealand are joining forces to target falls prevention in the construction industry, particularly small and medium-sized projects.
[ + ]SA industry safety improvement program
SafeWork SA’s Industry Improvement Program is targeting workplaces in South Australia that are contributing disproportionately to the number of workers compensation claims in the state.
[ + ]Maintenance safety campaign in Mildura
Nearly 5000 people were seriously hurt and nine people died in machinery-related MRISC (maintenance, repair, installation, servicing and cleaning of machines) work in Victoria’s manufacturing industry in the past year.
[ + ]Mine collapse enquiries
The Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Peter Batchelor, recently initiated two government inquiries into the Yallourn mine collapse in November.
[ + ]Amendments to the Comcare permanent impairment guide
The Guide to the Assessment of the Degree of Permanent Impairment is a legislative instrument that Comcare may vary or revoke under section 28 of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act) — subject to the approval of the Minister. The guide is used in the assessment of entitlements under sections 24 to 27 of the SRC Act.
[ + ]Accident compensation legislation to be updated
Victoria’s Accident Compensation Act will be updated to enhance support for injured workers. The Minister for Finance, WorkCover and the Transport Accident Commission, Tim Holding said: “The Accident Compensation Act 1985 has been in operation for over 20 years and is the basis of a workers compensation scheme that has provided support to hundreds of thousands of injured workers. While the underlying principles of the Act remain sound, incremental changes over the years have made it unwieldy and unnecessarily complex.”
[ + ]Updating the accident compensation legislation
Victoria's Accident Compensation Act will be updated to enhance support for injured workers, announced the Minister for Finance, WorkCover and the Transport Accident Commission, Tim Holding.
[ + ]A moratorium on companies joining Comcare
The Rudd government has placed a moratorium, effective immediately, on new applications from private sector corporations wanting to move to the Comcare workers compensation scheme.
[ + ]Jeminex acquires Worksense
The Jeminex Group, an Australian provider of industrial components to the resources sector, has recently acquired workwear clothing supply business Worksense for an undisclosed sum.
[ + ]Parent reports TAFE to WorkSafe
Gordon Institute of TAFE has been placed on a two-year good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to workplace health and safety charges.
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