Outcome of Fair Work appeal could change onsite drug testing
19 April, 2012The outcome of an appeal against a controversial Fair Work Australia (FWA) ruling could determine whether employers in Australia’s resource industry will be restricted in their ability to administer appropriate on-site drug and alcohol testing procedures, according to national employer group AMMA.
Innovation needed to drive down MSD incidence rate for construction
19 April, 2012Innovation is essential to drive down musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) incidence rates for the construction industry, said John Darcy, OHS Manager, Master Builders Association, on the sidelines of trade show Safety in Action. MSD incidence rates are on the rise and more workers are ringing us about compensation claims, he added.
Safety in Action 2012 kicks off today
17 April, 2012 | Supplied by: Australian Exhibitions & Conferences Pty LtdThe action-packed, three-day Safety in Action trade show kicks off today at Melbourne Exhibition Centre. The event, to continue until 19 April, will provide safety managers and supervisors a great opportunity to keep track of safety innovation and industry developments.
WorkSafe experiment delivers shocking results
16 April, 2012A mock worksite setup on a busy Melbourne street, in which two actors posing as workers asked passers-by to hand over a ‘live’ cable from one to the other, has delivered shocking results.
The social media conundrum: why organisations need a clear policy
12 April, 2012 by Brett Felthan and Cameron Nichol, PwC AustraliaThere 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.
2012 National Forklift Safety Week to be held in June
12 April, 2012The President of the Australian Industrial Truck Association (AITA), Steve Stewart, has announced that the forklift industry body will sponsor its second annual National Forklift Safety Week from 4-8 June 2012.
WorkSafe Victoria kicks off inspector recruitment campaign
11 April, 2012 | Supplied by: WorkSafe VictoriaWorkSafe Victoria has kicked off its inspector recruitment campaign and is encouraging those who want to help keep Victoria the safest place to work in Australia to apply. Roles are available across Melbourne and regional Victoria and applications close 15 April at 5 pm.
High-noise communication devices win prestigious award
11 April, 2012A project developed at The University of Western Australia has won spin-out company Sensear the prestigious Frost & Sullivan 2012 Product Differentiation Excellence Award for its ‘high-noise communication’ devices, including earplugs and earmuffs for industrial settings.
Forum helps young people explore workplace safety
11 April, 2012Keeping young people safe from workplace injuries was the focus of a WorkCover NSW sponsored forum held at Parliament House today.
Academics to research unpaid work practices
10 April, 2012The Fair Work Ombudsman is teaming with two leading academics to identify opportunities for increasing public awareness about laws relating to unpaid work.
Company fined $50,000 over electric shock incident
10 April, 2012Mulgrave sign installation company Southern Ultimate Sign Installations (Southern USI) has been convicted and fined $50,000, and ordered to pay almost $6000 in legal costs, over an incident that left a worker with severe burns to his body after he suffered an electric shock.
Return to work: building on the world’s best research to improve knowledge
10 April, 2012 by Professor Niki Ellis*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.
Ai Group lodges appeal against Workpac decision - meaning of ‘service’ under the Fair Work Act
05 April, 2012The Australian Industry Group has filed an appeal against the decision of Commissioner McDonald of Fair Work Australia in the case Bambach v WorkPac. The appeal concerns the meaning of ‘service’ and ‘continuous service’ under the Fair Work Act.
Farm safety under microscope after woman run over by truck
04 April, 2012Farm safety has been put in the spotlight following the conviction and $80,000 fine of Werribee vegetable grower J & K Zausa after a woman was run over by a truck reversing from a machinery shed.
Public comment period for Work Health and Safety Codes of Practice closes 22 June
03 April, 2012Interested Australians are encouraged to have their say on five new work health and safety model Codes of Practice that have been released for a 12-week public comment period.
