In the media
Health and safety at work: Companies shift
attitude
Companies are shifting from a reactive attitude to a conscious
management of operational issues, a prelude to the development of a
real corporate culture of occupational health & safety,
according to the findings of an international survey (27 February
2014).
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Melbourne Water fined over death of worker at sewerage
plant
Melbourne Water has been fined $400,000 over the death of a worker
at a sewerage plant. The Victorian County Court heard the company
was aware of loose grates on the walkways for three years, but did
not investigate it properly and pleaded guilty to failing to keep a
safe workplace (27 February 2014).
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Sultan building site in Hobart CBD closed over safety
flaws
Workplace inspectors closed a construction site in Hobart's
CBD after concerns were raised about dangerous working conditions.
WorkSafe Tasmania said inspectors discovered electrical safety
regulations had been breached (26 February 2014).
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Discussion paper for the review of the Federal Safety
Commissioner released
A discussion paper informing the review to modernise the Office of
the Federal Safety Commissioner and the Australian Government
Building and Construction OHS Accreditation Scheme is now available
on the Department of Employment website (24 February 2014).
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Companies in court over fatal workplace
accident
Two companies have appeared in court over a workplace accident
that saw a man fatally pinned to a hopper behind the Evatt shops in
2009. Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker, set down the matter for
early April before the newly-created Industrial Magistrates Court,
and ordered that pleas and the agreed facts of the case be
submitted in writing by early March (17 February 2014).
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Cootes Transport charged with 300 offences in NSW local court Cootes Transport has been charged with more than 300 offences by New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).RMS safety and compliance manager Peter Wells says 86 of the charges are for safety breaches (19 February 2014). More...
Truck accidents: Overnight trips most risky, study
finds
Truck drivers who work overnight for more than three hours in a
row are as much at risk of an accident as mid-range drink-drivers,
a major study of the relationship between sleepiness and truck
crashes shows (researchers at Monash University) (17 February
2014).
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Project to prevent house construction deaths and
injuries launched
WorkCover NSW today launched a project to improve safety in the
State's house construction industry. The Focus On Industry -
House Construction Project will involve industry working
collaboratively with WorkCover (18 February 2014).
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Published – articles, papers, reports
November 2013 Notifiable Fatalities Monthly Report now
available
There were 20 work-related notifiable fatalities during November
2013 — 16 male and 2 female workers and 2 female bystanders
(21 February 2014).
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eSAFE Rural January 2014 edition
The latest edition of eSAFE Rural, a quarterly enewsletter
providing information to subscribers on activities in the
agriculture, forestry and fishing sector (released 14 February
2014).
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In practice and courts
National Directory for Radiation Protection (NDRP)
February 2014
The current Directory includes amendments up to and including
amendment 6, agreed by the RHC November 2012 and endorsed by the
Standing Committee on Health out of session in December 2013. More...
QuadWatch: Quad bike fatalities
As of 20 February 2014, four people have been killed this year in
quad bike related incidents. Three of these deaths were the result
of a roll over.
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Victoria: Safety Alert for Mobile plant
overturns
Information for employers about risks associated with mobile plant
(such as dump trucks) overturning at mines or quarries (February
2014).
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Cases
Inspector Walker v Earthquake Promotions Pty Ltd (No
2) [2014] NSWIRComm 5 The defendant is fined an
amount of $40,000 with a moiety to the prosecutor.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - Amusement Rides and Devices
Industry - Persons on ride injured when gondola of ferris wheel
detached and fell 3-4 metres to the ground - Prosecution under
section 8(2) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 - Plea
of guilty to amended charge - Sentencing principles - Fine imposed.
More...
Legislation
Queensland
Subordinate Legislation as made
No 17 Work Health and Safety (Codes of Practice) Amendment Notice (No. 1) 2014 – 21 February 2014. Amendment of sch 1 (Codes of practice) and Amendment of sch 2 (Revoked codes of practice) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
Victoria
Bill Progress
Transport (Safety Schemes Compliance and Enforcement)
Bill 2014
Legislative Assembly 18/2/2014 introduced and read a first
time.
This Bill is for an Act to provide a scheme for the enforcement of
transport system safety legislation by re-enacting, with
modifications, provisions of the scheme under the Transport
(Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983.
See Victorian legislation online www.legislation.vic.gov.au
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.