In the Media
CFMMEU officials accused of disrupting major freeway
project - striking health and safety manager
The ABCC is taking court action against the CFMMEU and
three officials after they allegedly directed workers to stop work,
prevented concrete pours, abused health and safety officers and
struck a health and safety manager at the Mordialloc Freeway
project site in 2020 (17 November 2021). More...
End of Hazard 2020 confirms significant problems with
scaffolding but improvements in mobile plant safety
The aim of Hazard 2020 was to better understand the causes
of mobile plant and scaffolding audit non-compliance and incident
occurrence and to drive improved safety performance in these areas.
There was improved compliance with the Work Health and Safety
Scheme's mobile plant and worsening compliance with
requirements for scaffolding safety (15 November 2021). More...
Research: FIFO shift workers at high risk of sleep loss,
fatigue
An Australian study has shown that the fly-in fly-out
roster design has led to shift workers experiencing serious sleep
loss and being at high risk of developing sleep disorders (15
November 2021). More...
Licence scheme to protect engineered stone workers
Businesses working with engineered stone will require a
licence by 15 November 2022 under new regulations to help protect
workers from exposure to deadly silica dust (15 November 2021).
More...
Victorian regulators emphasise compliance across the
building sector
Four Victorian regulators will join forces next week to
ensure construction and demolition operators across the state meet
safety, environmental, building and plumbing compliance obligations
(15 November 2021). More...
New amendments to NSW Work Health and Safety (Mines and
Petroleum Sites) laws
New amendments to the Work Health and Safety (Mines and
Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2014 are now in effect, including in
relation to the exposure standard for carbon dioxide in underground
coal mines (15 November 2021). More...
RSHQ recommends risk assessment after incident
Resources Safety and Health Queensland
(RSHQ) recommends repetitive and routine tasks are
the subject of comprehensive risk assessments after a coal mine
worker was crushed (15 November 2021). More...
Your workplace rights to paid or unpaid leave and free
counselling to escape domestic violence
More Australian employers are implementing policies to
fight domestic and family violence, recognising it's a
workplace health and safety issue (12 November 2021). More...
Company fined after trench collapse tragedy
A civil construction company has been convicted and fined
$550,000 following the death of two workers after a trench collapse
at Ballarat in 2018. Pipecon Pty Ltd was sentenced in the Ballarat
County Court after earlier pleading guilty to a single charge of
failing to provide workers with necessary supervision (12 November
2021). More...
Fallen tree branch sparks safety warning
WorkSafe Victoria is reminding all campsite and holiday
park operators to check their green areas to control the risk of
falling trees and branches ahead of the holiday season. Signs to
deter people from camping under potentially dangerous trees should
not be relied upon as the only means of reducing the risks
associated with falling trees or branches (11 November 2021).
More...
Harvest safety on farms
WorkSafe Victoria, Agriculture Victoria, the Labour Hire
Authority and the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions have
all teamed up to help farmers stay safe this harvest season (11
November 2021). More...
WorkSafe Victoria launches Mental Health Strategy
WorkSafe Victoria has launched its 'Mental Health
Strategy 2021-2024', to build capacity for mentally healthy
workplaces and prevent mental injury. WorkSafe CEO Colin Radford
said mental injury claims were expected to grow to a third of all
claims in the next decade. (10 November 2021). More...
Work safety to enter building information
modelling
Workplace health and safety will be considered far earlier
in the planning process with the NSW Government's Centre for
Work Health and Safety researching ways of integrating WHS risk
management into Building Information Modelling. For more
information or to access the guidelines, visit centreforwhs.nsw.gov.au (08 November
2021). More...
Hidden asbestos danger sparking a warning
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is to use Asbestos
Awareness Week later this month (22-28 November) to show
householders and tradespeople where they can find asbestos in homes
and what they should do to stay safe (08 November 2021). More...
Comcare issues new guide for homeworkers
Comcare has released new guidance for people living alone
and working from home to help them manage the mental health
challenges associated with isolation (08 November 2021). More...
Published - articles, papers, reports
Work-related fatalities in 2020 report
14 November 2021 - Safe Work Australia has published
the Work-related Traumatic Injury Fatalities Australia
2020 report, which provides the latest detailed national
statistics on all workers and bystanders fatally injured at work.
While the rate of work-related fatalities has decreased 25 per cent
over the last decade and 50 per cent since 2007, any workplace
death is unacceptable.
In practice and courts
OFSC: New scaffold checklist now available
The Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner has
developed a new Scaffold Checklist to help principal contractors
manage risk when commissioning scaffolding work. This new checklist
has three distinct sections that can be used independently of each
other or progressively to keep a record for each scaffold
erected (09 November 2021). More...
ABCC: Fair Work Commission introduces stop sexual
harassment orders
As of 11 November the Fair Work Commission now has the
power to make stop sexual harassment orders. The legislation
enacted several changes based on recommendations from the
Respect@Work report prepared by the Australian Human Rights
Commission following its inquiry into sexual harassment in
Australian workplaces, outlined here (12 November 2021). More...
NSW
Mine Safety News
11/11/2021 - Mine Safety News
Queensland
Pressurised steering accumulators sent off-site |
Resources Safety & Health Queensland
10 November 2021 | 401
Pressurised steering accumulators sent off-site.
Exploration; Coal mines: Above ground; Coal mines: Below ground;
Mineral mines: Above ground; Mineral mines: Below ground; Quarries;
Petroleum and gas: Upstream; Petroleum and gas: Midstream Pressure
storage or release. More...
WorkSafe Qld safety alert: Worker seriously injured by
wood chipper disk
Safety issues - although the design of individual wood
chippers may vary, they all use a rotating disc or drum fitted with
hardened steel blades to chip the wood.
All wood chippers require access to the cutting disc or drum for
maintenance, operation and cleaning purposes. View the Safe Work
Australia - Guide to Managing Risks of Tree Trimming and
Removal Work.
Taking steps to manage risks is a condition of doing business in
Queensland. This responsibility is covered by your primary duty of
care in the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (11
November 2021).
Victoria
WorkSafe Victoria Newsletters
Safety Soapbox November 2021 - 17
November 2021
First Aid in the Workplace, edition 1, November
2021
The guidance is not mandatory, however, employers that
comply with the Code will be considered to have complied with their
duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. The Code offers two
options for compliance, the risk assessment approach or the
prescribed approach. WorkSafe's 40-page Code can be accessed at
this WorkSafe link.
WorkSafe Victoria: Traffic management worker killed,
another seriously injured
WorkSafe is issuing an alert about the hazards and risks
associated with traffic management set-ups and the need to keep
traffic management workers safe (12 November 2021). More...
Communicating OHS across languages compliance code
WorkSafe Victoria in collaboration with key stakeholders
is undertaking the review of the proposed Communicating
occupational health and safety (OHS) across
languages compliance code on behalf of the Victorian Government.
Help improve workplace safety by completing a submission before 6
December 2021. More...
Cases
Lipman Pty Ltd v SafeWork
NSW [2021] NSWIRComm
1088
WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY - improvement Notice issued by inspector
following an alleged contravention of the Work Health and Safety
Act - application for external review of decision made on internal
review - whether there is a reasonable belief that a contravention
has occurred in circumstances that make it likely that the
contravention will continue or be repeated - external review
upheld.
SafeWork NSW v Saunders Civilbuild Pty
Ltd [2021] NSWDC 605
CRIME - prosecution - work health and safety - duty of persons
undertaking business - duty of employers - risk of death or serious
injury - death of worker.
Prosecution Result Summaries and
Enforceable Undertakings
Information about the most recent prosecution and Enforceable
Undertaking outcomes
Greenham Gippsland Pty Ltd - Latrobe Valley
Magistrates' Court
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 Section21(1) &
21(2)(a) Outcome11 Nov 2021
Next Generation Constructions Pty Ltd - Melbourne
Magistrates' Court
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 Section21(1) & 21(2)(a)
Outcome10 Nov 2021
Legislation
NSW
Regulations and other miscellaneous instruments
Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites)
Amendment (Carbon Dioxide Exposure Standards) Regulation
2021 (2021-662) - published LW 12 November 2021
The object of this Regulation is to amend the Work Health and
Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2014 for the
following purposes - to prescribe carbon dioxide exposure standards
for underground coal mines to ensure the standards and are not
exceeded, (b) to make minor amendments in the nature of statute law
revision.
Victoria
Statutory Rules - 09 November 2021
No 137 Occupational Health and Safety Amendment
(Crystalline Silica) Regulations 2021
Victorian legislation can be accessed here.
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.