In the media
Working too hard for bully boy boss
Workers who believe they have been driven too hard by the boss
could mount a claim of bullying under radical changes to workplace
laws. Unions NSW is pressing for an expansion of listed risk
factors for workplace bullying to include "work overload,
systems changes, exposure to violence and fatigue and bad safety
practice" (13 July 2012)
More...
Tumut concrete company fined $80,000 after man almost
dies
A concrete manufacturing business that provides premix concrete
and materials to construction sites throughout NSW has been fined
$80,000 and ordered to pay WorkCover's legal costs after a 29
year old man almost died when he inhaled toxic fumes (09 July 2012)
More...
Parliamentary inquiry revisits year-old workplace
bullying law
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has pressed for
harsher penalties on convicted workplace bullies and clearer
definitions of the crime in their recent submission to an ongoing
House of Representatives (12 July 2012)
More...
Maritime Union calls for safety checks on all pearling
vessels following diver's death
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has called for the immediate
formation of an occupational health and safety audit squad to
inspect all pearling vessels operating across northern Australia
(12 July 2012)
More...
Bones and brawn: musculoskeletal injuries remain
national focus in 2012
The launch of WorkSafe Victoria's campaign to reduce the
occurrence of musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace coincides
with the target end date of a similar project initiated by the NSW
Government (05 July 2012)
More...
Tatura company fined for placing worker at
risk
A Tatura company that placed an apprentice at risk of injury by
allowing them to crawl along two aluminium planks over a suspended
ceiling in the dark while trying to remove a live bird has been
ordered to pay $20,000. Despite Tatura Milk Industries knowing the
task was being carried out, it failed to undertake a risk
assessment for the job, which would have required fall protection
(02 July 2912)
More...
Safety reminder after spate of incidents
Workcover has issued a reminder to businesses across New South
Wales to be vigilant about workplace safety following a spate of
incidents in the past week. General Manager of WorkCover's Work
Health and Safety Division said it follows two fatalities involving
forklifts, the death of a grain farmer and two serious falls where
both workers remain critically injured (04 July 2012)
More...
New restrictions in place for arsenic-treated
timber
New restrictions on the use of copper chrome arsenate (CCA) for
treating timber have begun as of 1 July 2012. CCA has been used to
preserve wood in a variety of situations such as for telegraph
poles, decking and fencing. It was also used for children's
playground equipment (03 July 2012)
More...
In practice and courts
NSW Safety alert: operating a mobile plant near power
lines
WorkCover NSW has released a safety alert to remind businesses and
workers of the dangers involved in operating mobile plant near
overhead power lines (05 July 2012)
More...
VIC: New workplace guidelines for Victorian construction
industry
The guidelines will require tenderers for public sector work in
Victoria to commit to compliance with the law, productivity, safety
and freedom of association, including detailed plans which identify
their approach to various matters including workplace safety (03
July 2012)
New workplace guidelines in force for Victorian construction
industry
Cases
Inspector Batty v Intercoast Refrigerated Transport Pty
Ltd [2012] NSWIRComm 55
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - Corporate defendant - breach of s
8(1) and s 8(2) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 -
judgment as to liability - roadside repair of B double truck -
repair performed by another corporation's mechanic but employee
driver of defendant corporation assists - engine left on and brakes
left off to inflate airbags - chocks placed on wheels too small -
truck rolls forward - unsafe system of work and exposure to risk
from movement of B Double - employee and another - plea of not
guilty - failure by corporate defendant to have in place safe
system of work for repair of vehicle - failure to properly instruct
employee driver not to take part in repair and to stand clear of
vehicle while under repair - s 8(2) charge proven - other
particulars relied upon by prosecutor re drug use and fatigue and
management of fatigue policy dismissed.
Individual defendant - Director - charges under s 8(1) and s 8(2)
against director of corporation brought under s 26(1) deeming
provision of OHS Act - similar particulars relied upon against
director - director failed to provide safe system of work for
repair of vehicle - employee of corporate defendant placed at risk
- director guilty of charge under s 8(1) - defendant not guilty of
charge under s 8(2) More...
Inspector Barber v Tegra Australia Pty Ltd [2012]
NSWIRComm 67
The defendant is fined an amount of $80,000 with a moiety to the
prosecutor. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - Prosecution under s
8(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 - Worker
suffered serious injury when working at a concrete batching plant -
Uncontrolled release of cement powder during batching operations -
Lack of breathing masks - Large quantity of cement dust inhaled by
worker - Plea of guilty - Sentencing - Objective and subjective
considerations - Penalty imposed – Costs More...
Inspector Michael Kent v All Spa Deliveries Pty Ltd
[2012] NSWIRComm 59
Corporate defendant guilty of a breach of s 8(2) of the
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 - corporate defendant is
fined in the sum of $15,000 with a moiety to the WorkCover
Authority.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - breach by corporate defendant of ss 8(2) and 86(1)(b) - breach by individual defendant of s 8(2) by virtue of deeming provision in s 26 - amended applications for order - guilty pleas - corporate defendant operated spa bath delivery business - contractor injured in delivery of spa bath - failed to provide safe system of work for person not employee - no mechanical aid to lift spa - no proper risk assessment undertaken - each delivery site would have particular risks - foreseeability - specific and general deterrence relevant - gravity of risk - serious breach - corporate defendant obliged to ensure notification of incident - unintended oversight - early pleas - corporate defendant and individual defendant of limited financial means - discount on penalty - individual and corporate defendants good corporate citizens - principle of totality not applicable - penalty to reflect objective seriousness of offence - penalty - moiety to prosecutor – costs More...
Inspector Batty v Autopool Pty Ltd [2012] NSWIRComm
56
The defendant is fined in the sum of $220,000 with a moiety to
WorkCover Authority of New South Wales.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - breach of s 8(1) of the
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 - early plea of guilty -
defendant sent employee to inspect and repair the airbag suspension
on a heavy combination vehicle - truck left with engine on and
brakes disengaged - chocks in form of blocks of wood failed to
prevent the vehicle from moving - driver of vehicle fatally injured
- employee of corporate defendant placed at risk of injury -
failure to implement safe system of work - failure to supply
employee with purpose-manufactured wheel chocks - defendant aware
of risk of a rig rolling away - lack of risk assessment of task -
lack of formally documented work practices - simple measures
available to avoid risk of injury - defendant now fully aware of
its obligations - foreseeable element - general and specific
deterrence an element of penalty - remorse and contrition
demonstrated - good corporate citizen - small allowance made for
contribution to the risk by third party - penalty – costs
More...
Inspector Hutchinson v Tankworld Australia Pty Ltd
[2012] NSWIRComm 66
The defendant is fined the sum of $110,000 with half that amount
to be paid to the prosecutor by way of moiety;
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT 2000 - s 8(1), s 26(1) - use of
highly inflammable substance in cleaning steel tanks - confined
space - fumes ignited by electric buffer - pleas of guilty entered
- substantial failure of safety system - serious breach established
- general and specific deterrence considered - subjective factors -
first offences - early pleas entered -penalties imposed More...
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
