COVID-19 updates
Coronavirus impacts on absenteeism and
presenteeism
Absenteeism is costly to Australian businesses and the
economy at $44 billion per year and costs another $34 billion per
year for presenteeism; employees not being able to fully function
at work due to illness, according to Dr. Scott Allison, Director,
Workplace Medicine Australia (01 June 2020).
More...
Victorian employers must keep workers at home, or risk
$10,000 fines
New
Stay Safe Directions and
Restricted Activity Directions took effect in Victoria on
Monday, replacing the 'five reasons to leave home' with a
broader directive that Victorians can leave home for any reason,
subject to certain restrictions (02 June 2020).
More...
Businesses pushed to prepare for 'second wave'
of COVID-19
With state governments winding back coronavirus
restrictions, many businesses, including mining companies, are
being advised to implement screening measures to avoid a
second-wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (29 May 2020).
More...
Risks of Legionnaires' disease in reopening
buildings
As businesses across Australia prepare to reopen following
coronavirus (COVID-19) shutdowns, NSW Health and industry bodies
and experts are reminding building owners and occupiers of their
legal obligation to ensure air-conditioning cooling towers are
properly maintained, to reduce the risk of Legionnaires'
disease (27 May 2020).
More...
Federal Safety Commissioner COVID-19: WHS Accreditation
Scheme Auditing Update
The commencing on 8 June 2020, the FSC will expand current
auditing arrangements to include all accreditation applicants (not
just those in time-critical tenders) and a monthly quota of
low-risk accredited companies selected based on a range of factors
including length of time that has passed since their last audit and
reported safety incidents (29 May 2020).
More...
Safe Work Australia: COVID-19 workplace guidance
The
Safe Work Australia website is continually being updated to
provide a central hub of work health and safety guidance and tools
to help Australian workplaces manage the health and safety risks
posed by COVID-19. Hospitality industry information has also been
updated, with additional guidance on
Physical distancing and
Hygiene for dine-in services.
Gyms and fitness centres – new industry added
Heating, Venting and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems –
information about restarting HVAC systems
Guidance on end of trip facilities in the
COVID-19 guidance for Offices (Updated 04 June 2020).
SafeWork Australia fact sheet: Incident notification -
COVID-19
This fact sheet provides information for persons
conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs)
on the approach to COVID-19 incident notification laws in each
jurisdiction, including details on how to notify when required (26
May 2020).
Icare: Top 3 areas to help employees feel COVID-safe
coming back to work
Icare have recently developed an employer toolkit,
offering practical steps to identify operational needs and
protective strategies NSW workplaces can use during COVID-19
recovery. The employer toolkit identifies the top three areas
employers can focus on to help their employees feel safe in coming
back to work. See the
COVID-19 Recovery Employer Toolkit (25 May 2020).
More...
In the media
Reducing the risks of working with lead
Employers at workplaces where lead processes are carried
out are being urged to follow updated guidance as a new lead
exposure standard and monitoring requirements come into force
tomorrow. The amended regulations commence on 5 June 2020 (04 June
2020).
More...
Business fined after fatal workplace incident
A building company and its subcontractors were fined a
total of $620,000 for breaches of the Work Health and Safety Act
2011 after a brick wall fell on two men, killing one and injuring
another at a building site in Carlingford (01 June 2020).
More...
Fine increased on appeal
A Mount Waverly developer has been convicted and fined
$25,000 following an incident in which a sub-contractor fell six
metres through a stair void (27 May 2020).
More...
"Grossly deficient" record keeping, coroner
finds
Coroner David O'Connell delivered the findings on 22
May, which included a recommendation that the Department of Natural
Resources, Mines and Energy consider possible legal action against
an individual manager at the mine. Coroner O'Connell also found
that the mine's record keeping was "grossly
deficient" (27 May 2020).
More...
Mining executives face 20 years' jail under new
laws
Mining executives are now facing up to 20 years' jail
if Queensland mine and quarry workers die because of their criminal
negligence, following the passing of tougher mine safety laws by
the Queensland Parliament on 20 May (26 May 2020).
More...
Qld passes industrial manslaughter laws
The Queensland Parliament has passed expanded industrial
manslaughter laws. The new laws will create a criminal offence
where negligence contributes to the death of a mineworker, and
bring mining into line with other industries where individual
executives and managers face jail time (27 May 2020).
More...
Fines follow young workers' burns in biofuel
explosion
O2 Motorsports — a South Nowra, NSW motor vehicle
repair shop — has been fined $135,000 for breaching the Work
Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) after two young workers were
injured while making biofuel. The company's director, Nathan
Weissel, was also fined $22,500 following prosecution by SafeWork
NSW (26 May 2020).
More...
Brisbane contractor fined $85,000 for not protecting
workers against electric shock
In sentencing, Magistrate Robbie Davies indicated the
defendant had attempted to make the site electrically safe through
an enquiry prior to construction and using marker flags. However,
his Honour deemed the defendant company had not done anything
further or made a risk assessment of the powerlines as construction
progressed (26 May 2020).
More...
Published – articles, papers, reports
Safe Work Australia fatality statistics
As at 21 May, there have been 76 Australian workers killed
at work in 2020. 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
Safework NSW: Traffic control work
Information on the changes to the Work Health and Safety
(Traffic Control Training) Regulation was made on 20 December 2019,
with the the Traffic Control Training scheme transitioning from
Transport for NSW to SafeWork NSW. The new regulatory scheme will
commence from 1 July 2020.
More...
Queensland
eSAFE Rural Newsletter
May 2020 edition of eSAFE Rural Newsletter, 28 May 2020.
More...
Uncontrolled Release of Energy - Polyethylene Pipe |
Business Queensland
28 May 2020: Explosives safety alert 374
Uncontrolled Release of Energy from Polyethylene Pipe.
More...
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland
From 1 July 2020 in Queensland, the workplace exposure
standard for respirable crystalline silica will be halved from a
time-weighted average airborne concentration of 0.1 milligram per
cubic metre (mg/m3) to 0.05 mg/m3.
You should review current work practices — you may need to
improve dust control measures to meet the new standard. Visit our
website to find out more and for practical controls for workplaces.
More...
Victoria
ESV: Type 27 LPG cylinder valve and revision of AS/NZS
5601.1 and AS/NZS 5601.2
Standards Australia has published two public comment
drafts relating to AS/NZS 5601.1 and AS/NZS 5601.2.
In addition to the references to the new LPG
cylinder valve connection, the revision includes the following
proposed changes outlined here. The public comment period closes on
16 June 2020. The draft standards can be
downloaded and public comment can be submitted via
Standards Australia (21 May 2020).
ESV Continuing professional development for builders and
plumbers
DELWP has prepared a Consultation Paper outlining three
high-level options for introducing CPD requirements in Victoria,
with a particular focus on the possible CPD training content that
could form part of the scheme.
The Consultation Paper is available on the
Engage Victoria website. The public consultation period will
close 24 July 2020.
WorkSafe Victoria: Side-by-side vehicle safety
Safety Alert 02 June 2020
Due to serious incidents, including fatalities, over the past 12
months, WorkSafe is issuing a reminder about the importance of
managing the risks of operating side-by-side vehicles.
More...
Two fatal falls in construction within a seven day
period
Safety Alert 12 May 2020
WorkSafe is issuing a reminder about the potentially deadly risks
associated with working from heights without adequate fall
protection, after two construction employees have died in separate
incidents.
More...
WorkSafe Victoria: Employee crushed by stone slabs in
shipping container
Safety Alert 11 May 2020
WorkSafe is issuing a reminder about the dangers associated with
unloading objects from shipping containers, following a recent
incident where an employee was crushed and killed unloading stone
slabs.
More...
Legislation
NSW
Regulations and other miscellaneous instruments
Work
Health and Safety Amendment (Silica) Regulation 2020 (2020-244)
— published LW 5 June 2020
Road
Transport Legislation Amendment (Light Vehicle Standards Rules)
Regulation 2020 (2020-229) — published LW 29 May 2020
Queensland
Bills
Transport and Other Legislation (Road Safety, Technology and Other
Matters) Amendment Bill 2020
Introduced by: Hon M Bailey MP on 17/03/2020
Stage reached: 2nd reading to be moved on 29/05/2020
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.