In the media
'He said he knew what he was doing': Man died
after moving coffee machine, inquest hears
A coronial inquest has heard a 56-year-old man who was
killed when he was electrocuted at his workplace was trying to move
cafe equipment before he died (23 September 2019).
More...
Australia ramps up tailings dam safety focus
Australia's minerals industry has committed to the
safe and responsible management of tailings storage facilities
through the release of the Australian Mining Tailings Communique
(23 September 2019).
More...
Safe Work dust exposure limit proposal backed by
QLD
Queensland is committed to matching Safe Work
Australia's recommended standards for dust exposure, due for
release before the year ends (23 September 2019).
More...
Prohibition notice issued to Maules Creek open cut coal
mine
The inspectors considered the nature and prevalence of
these breaches constituted a serious risk to the health and safety
of workers and consequently a notice under section 195 of the
Work Health Safety Act was served on the mine operator (18
September 2019).
More...
Government finalises new code in battle against
silicosis
Queensland will introduce Australia's first Code of
Practice for the stone benchtop industry, Industrial Relations
Minister Grace Grace announced (18 September 2019).
More...
Court exposes 'contrived' safety claim: CFMMEU
and official penalised $34,500
The Federal Court has handed down penalties totalling
$34,500 against the CFMMEU and its former official Brendan Murphy
after Mr Murphy was found to have intentionally hindered and
obstructed construction work at the Geelong Grammar school in
December 2014 (16 September 2019).
More...
Published – articles, papers, reports
Safe Work Australia fatality statistics
As at 12 September, there have been 111 Australian workers
killed at work in 2019. The numbers and industries
may vary from one report to the next, as Safe Work receives more
detailed information.
More...
In practice and courts
ARPANSA new Radiation Incident Site Preservation
guide
The document provides guidance for licence holders, on and
off-site first responders, local authorities, and others who may
have a role in the event of a radiation or work health and safety
incident. The guide outlines expectations for incident management
to ensure safe, secure, effective and efficient operations where
radiation exposure or contamination is known or suspected to be
present (25 September 2019).
More...
Safe Work Australia: Managing risk in construction:
Prefabricated concrete
This guide will help PCBUs, particularly principal
contractors in charge of construction projects, to manage risk when
working with prefabricated concrete elements. It outlines relevant
duties under WHS laws and provides best practice information on how
to work safely with prefabricated concrete elements (17 September
2019).
More...
NSW
Safework NSW: Have your say on the NSW draft formwork
code of practice
The NSW Government is seeking feedback on a draft formwork
code of practice, which aims to provide practical guidance for
workers and businesses when working with formwork and falsework.
For more information and to submit feedback visit
open consultations on the SafeWork website or view the
consultation the NSW Government's Have
Your Say. Submissions closed on 30 September 2019.
Victoria
ESV: Regulatory Impact Statement released for proposed
Electricity Safety (General) Regulations
ESV has released a Regulatory Impact Statement in relation
to the proposed Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019.
Comments and submissions are sought from interested parties on the
regulatory impact statement and proposed Regulations including any
proposed fees. Submissions close on 8 October 2019 (06 September
2019).
More...
ESV: Regulations consultation papers
ESV is calling for submissions in relation to the
following proposed regulations:
Electricity Safety (Management) Regulations – explaining key
features and changes to the regulations
Electricity Safety (Cathodic Protection) Regulations –
explaining key features and changes to the regulations
Submissions closed on 26 September 2019 (05 September 2019).
More...
WorkSafe Victoria Safety Alert: Apprentice jockey
fatally injured after fall from horse
An alert about hazards and risk controls associated with
working within a stable and horse training facility, following the
death of an apprentice jockey (19 September 2019).
More...
WorkSafe Victoria: Safety Soapbox 2019
News for the construction and utilities industries.
More...
Cases
SafeWork NSW v MGK Constructions Pty Ltd
[2019] NSWDC 518
CRIME – prosecution – work health and safety
– duty of persons undertaking business – duty of
employers – risk of serious injury – worker injured
– SENTENCING – objective seriousness – deterrence
– mitigating factors – no record of previous
convictions – good prospects of rehabilitation –
remorse – plea of guilty – restoration order –
WORK HEALTH and SAFETY – obvious risk – known to the
offender – inadequate instructions – risk control
measures available at low cost.
Victorian Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable
Undertakings
Stephen Reidy Geelong
Magistrates' Court Occupational Health and Safety
Act 2004 Section 21(1) & 21(2)(a)
Outcome 24 Sep 2019
Caps and Closures Pty Ltd
Dandenong Magistrates' Court Occupational Health
and Safety Act 2004 Section 21(1) & (2)(a)
Outcome 19 Sep 2019
Farm Pride Foods Limited
Dandenong Magistrates' Court Occupational Health
and Safety Act 2004 Section21(1) & 21(2)(a)
Outcome 19 Sep 2019
Robert Edward Phillips
Ringwood Magistrates' Court Occupational Health
and Safety Act 2004 Section 26
Outcome 17 Sep 2019
Legislation
Regulation
Work
Health and Safety Exemption (Construction Induction Training Card -
Workers) 2019
18/09/2019 - This instrument exempts workers on overseas
construction work within the responsibility of the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade from the requirement to keep a general
construction induction training card available for inspection.
Queensland
Subordinate legislation as made
No 190
Work Health and Safety (Codes of Practice) (Stone Benchtop
Industry) Amendment Notice 2019
20 September 2019
No 192
Electrical Safety (Codes of Practice) and Other Legislation (Solar
Farms) Amendment Notice (No. 2) 2019
27 September 2019
This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.