In the media
Zero-tolerance for unsafe practices
Queensland's Mines Inspectorate has and will continue
to take action against mineral mine and quarry operators that fail
to put the safety of their workers first (21 November 2019).
More...
Hazelwood Power guilty after devastating mine fire
The operator of Hazelwood Mine has been convicted for
exposing workers and the public to dangerous conditions during a
major fire that burned for several weeks in 2014 (20 November
2019).
More...
SafeWork updates legislation for NSW workers
SafeWork New South Wales has made amendments to the Work
Health and Safety Regulation 2017, or WHS Regulation, which came
into effect on November 15. The WHS Regulation updated legislation
regarding penalties, accommodation for rural workers, explosives
and dangerous goods (19 November 2019).
More...
Surveyors fined $35K for approving fire-unsafe
buildings
A building surveying company and its two directors have
been fined $35,000 for negligence after approving three buildings
that failed to comply with fire safety requirements. Resolve Group,
Scott Michael Roberts and Kieran James Hunt were fined $15,000,
$12,500 and $7500 respectively at Western Australia's State
Administrative Tribunal (18 November 2019).
More...
DV perpetrator training for Queensland workplaces
Businesses and community organisations from all across
Queensland will learn what to do about DV perpetrators in the
workplace when the second in a series of lunchbox sessions on
perpetrators of violence in the workplace gets underway on 21
November (18 November 2019).
More...
New licences boost safety for Queenslanders
Queensland hospitals, aged care homes and shopping centres
will receive a boost to safety standards as the Palaszczuk
Government updates Queensland's mechanical services industry,
which are set to take effect in the New Year (16 November 2019).
More...
Linfox fined $200,000 after worker crushed by armoured
vehicle
Linfox has been convicted and fined $200,000 by the
Brisbane Magistrates Court over an incident in which a worker at a
Brisbane Army barracks was severely injured. The penalty against
Linfox Australia follows an investigation by federal work health
and safety regulator Comcare (14 November 2019).
More...
Queensland updates concrete pumping code of
practice
Those in Queensland with a duty of care relating to
construction work involving concrete pumping will soon be subject
to an updated code of practice, according to Workplace Health and
Safety Queensland (13 November 2019).
More...
Company fined $650,000 after deadly fall
A construction company has been convicted and fined
$650,000 after a labourer fell to his death during the building of
a Melbourne high rise (13 November 2019).
More...
Where is WHS falling down in emergency
preparedness/management planning?
When it comes to emergency preparedness/management
planning, about 70 per cent of organisations take their WHS
obligations seriously and actively promote a culture of
preparedness within their workplace. Emergency management requires
both parties (client and provider) to ensure that the best practice
is always adapted, and he said there must be a shift away from the
"baseline" compliance mindset (12 November 2019).
More...
Drones give mining a third eye in the sky
Mining companies are turning to drones to monitor
difficult to reach areas, allowing for decreased interaction with
hazardous activity (11 November 2019).
More...
Coal miners warned of fire safety after Yallourn
breach
Earth Resources Regulation has warned coal mine operators
about fire safety ahead of the high summer danger period. The
warning comes as Energy Australia's Yallourn coal mine in the
Latrobe Valley of Victoria was issued with a notice to comply with
its approved work plan to minimise fire risks (11 November 2019).
More...
Published – articles, papers, reports
Safe Work Australia fatality statistics
As at 7 November, there have been 138 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 (to check for updates and more details on
fatalities since 2003, go to the Safe Work Australia Work-related
fatalities
webpage.
In practice and courts
Safe Work Australia: New resources for storing pool
chemicals
Learn about the risks of storing swimming pool chemicals
(18 November 2019). More...
Safe Work Australia: Work-related fatalities continue to
decline but more work needed
Safe Work Australia has released the Work-related
Traumatic Injury Fatalities Australia 2018 report, which provides
the latest detailed national statistics on all workers and
bystanders fatally injured through work-related activity (18
November 2019). More...
NSW
Amendments to the Work Health and Safety
Regulation
SafeWork public notice: 18 November 2019
Amendments to theWork Health and Safety Regulation 2017 came
into effect on 15 November 2019.
More...
Building Information Modelling (BIM) for WHS
management
What is the best practice and implications of using BIM in
WHS management?
Timeline of project: Project commenced: August 2019; Project
completion: Mid 2021.
More...
Queensland
WorkCover Queensland reminder: Concrete pumping Code of
Practice 2019
The Concrete pumping Code of Practice 2019 was
approved by the Minister for Education and Minster for Industrial
Relations and commences on 2 December 2019. A
comparison table outlines the updates made. The
Concrete pumping Code of Practice 2019 will apply to anyone who
has a duty of care in relation to the carrying out of construction
work involving concrete pumping on or from 2 December 2019.
More...
WorkCover Queensland: Safety Alerts
Electrical Licensing committee diciplinary outcomes
14 November 2019
Disciplinary outcomes - During September 2019, the Electrical
Licensing Committee held disciplinary hearings against five licence
holders: The committee's actions were in addition to fines and
notices already issued by the Electrical Safety Office.
Elastic spring-back in wear plates on excavator buckets
Updated 30 October 2019
The purpose of this safety alert is to highlight the risk of
elastic energy being released when wear plates on excavator buckets
or similar parts on other equipment are being removed or
repaired.
Lifting clutch failure
Updated 30 October 2019
The purpose of this health and safety alert is to inform workers,
employers, builders and designers of the risk of failure of lifting
clutches associated with tilt-up and pre-cast concrete
erection.
Victoria
Worksafe Victoria Safety Alert: Failed rock bolt falls
in ventilation shaft during construction
WorkSafe is issuing a reminder about the risks associated
with falling objects after a failed rock bolt section fell on to a
working platform (12 November 2019).
More...
Worksafe Victoria: Safety Soap Box
Issued 20 November 209 -
Safety Soapbox November 2019
Cases
SafeWork NSW v B & J Benchtops Pty
Ltd [2019] NSWDC
674
CRIME – prosecution – work health and safety
– duty of persons undertaking business – duty of
employers – risk of serious injury – worker
injured–SENTENCING – objective seriousness –
deterrence – aggravation factors – mitigating
factors
Victorian Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable
Undertakings
Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Holdings Limited
Warrnambool Magistrates' Court - Occupational Health
and Safety Act 2004 Section 21(1) & 21(2)(e); Outcome 15 Nov
2019
Western Scaffold Pty Ltd
Melbourne Magistrates' Court - Occupational Health and
Safety Act 2004 Section 23(1); Outcome 13 Nov 2019
Legislation
Commonwealth
Regulations
Work
Health and Safety Amendment (Public Authorities) Regulations
2019
19/11/2019 - These regulations amend the Work Health and
Safety Regulations 2011 to remove ASC Shipbuilding Pty Ltd from the
list of prescribed public authorities for the purpose of the Work
Health and Safety Act 2011.
Poisons
Standard December 2019
18/11/2019 – This instrument makes a new Poisons
Standard and repeals the Poisons Standard October 2019.
NSW
Bills introduced Government – 15 November
2019
Work Health and Safety Amendment (Review) Bill 2019
Regulations and other miscellaneous instruments
Work
Health and Safety Amendment (Miscellaneous) Regulation 2019
(2019-545) — published LW 15 November 2019
Queensland
Subordinate legislation as made – 22 November
2019
No 232
Coal Mining Safety and Health (Use of Particular Electrical
Equipment in Sealed Underground Mines) Amendment Regulation
2019
Victoria
Tabled Documents 15 November 2019
New Bills
Energy Safety Legislation Amendment (Victorian Energy Safety
Commission and Other Matters) Bill 2019
Workplace Safety Legislation Amendment (Workplace Manslaughter and
Other Matters) Bill 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.