COVID-19 updates
How to clean and disinfect your workplace -
COVID-19
Safe Work Australia: 27 August 2020
This document provides guidance on routine cleaning, and cleaning
and disinfection following a case or suspected case of COVID-19 in
a non-healthcare workplace.
More...
In the media
Australian leaders join forces as champions of change to
end sexual harassment in workplace
A coalition of more than 270 CEO and Board-level leaders
have released a new report aimed at ending sexual harassment in the
workplace (10 September 2020).
More...
$40,000 fine over workplace amputation in
Crestmead
A sheet metal fabrication business and a company director
have both appeared before Beenleigh Magistrates Court this week
over a workplace incident in which a young work experience student
had the tip of his finger amputated. Both pleaded guilty to
breaching the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 over the incident (10
September 2020).
More...
WHS Act charge over Sydney Metro incident
Construction company John Holland has been charged with
breaching federal work health and safety laws over an incident that
severely injured a worker on the Sydney Metro rail project (08
September 2020).
More...
Blitz on unlicensed electrical work and bogus
advertising
The Queensland Government is stepping up its blitz on
unlicensed operators advertising through online marketplaces
like AirTasker to do home electrical tasks illegally. The
compliance blitz came ahead of Electrical Safety Week, which begins
7 September 2020 (07 September 2020). More...
ESV to introduce licensing for lineworkers
Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) will increase
safety for Victorian lineworkers with the introduction of a
licensing regime from 1 January 2021. Licensing increases ESV's
visibility and oversight of lineworkers, ensuring safety and
professional standards are maintained (07 September 2020).
More...
WorkSafe ACT teams up with Access Canberra to crack down
on dodgy operators
Within hours of setting up Operation Safe Prospect —
a WorkSafe ACT project to make residential construction sites safer
— three sites in Denman Prospect were shut down (02 September
2020).
More...
ABCC alleges CFMMEU official breached right of entry
laws and OHS requirements on Perth site
The ABCC has filed Federal Court proceedings against the
CFMMEU and one of its officials, Stephen Parker, for alleged
breaches of right of entry laws in the Fair Work Act 2009 at the
NEXT DC P2 Project in Perth in December 2019. (02 September 2020).
More...
Resources to support the transition to GHS 7
Safe Work Australia has published new guidance to help
businesses navigate the transition to GHS 7. Australia will begin a
two-year transition to the Globally Harmonized System of
Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Revision 7 (GHS 7) on 1
January 2021 (31 August 2020).
More...
Published – articles, papers, reports
Safe Work Australia fatality statistics
Safe Work has not updated its fatality statistics since
our last journal when, as of August 27, there had been 109 worker
fatalities notified to the national body. 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
New Australian Standards
AS/NZS 1891.1:2020
Personal equipment for work at height - Manufacturing requirements
for full body combination and lower body harnesses Standards
Australia
AS 1891.5:2020
Personal equipment for work at height - Manufacturing requirements
for lanyard assemblies and pole straps
Standards Australia
NTC: Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods
by Road and Rail (Edition 7.7)
The Code can be used from 1 October 2020 and is compulsory
from 1 October 2021. Until then, either the Code edition 7.6 or the
Code edition 7.7 can be used. The Code is an important technical
resource to help Australia's transport and logistics industry
to operate safely when carrying dangerous goods.
More...
NSW
NSW Safe Work: Help to improve mental
health at work
The NSW Government is seeking feedback on proposed
guidelines to promote mentally healthy workplaces in NSW. The draft
SafeWork NSW Code of Practice for managing the risks to
psychological health is being developed to provide simple and
practical guidance for workplaces to promote improved mental
health.
Individuals and organisations are invited to comment on the
consultation paper. Submissions can be made
here.
An explanatory paper released with the draft Code, states that
fewer than nine per cent of NSW workplaces report having a
systematic, integrated and sustained approach to dealing with
mental health issues. Go to
this page to access the draft Code and the explanatory paper.
Comments are due by October 31 (07 September 2020).
NSW Resources Regulator: Four mining compliance
priorities
The Resources Regulator has published its
July - December 2020 Compliance priorities document which sets
out the key compliance priorities for the next six months.
Publishing this document serves to increase transparency, community
and industry confidence in regulatory activities and increase
levels of voluntary compliance.
Between July and December this year the Regulator aims to complete
four compliance priorities targeting: Respirable dust (revision to
the exposure standards); Progressive rehabilitation; Subsidence
management and Non-reporting of incidents.
Queensland
WorkCover Qld: ESO warns rogues in electricity industry
– no licence, no work
The Electrical Safety Office is warning rogue operators
against performing electrical work without an appropriate licence.
When choosing a contractor, always look for their electrical
contractor licence number in any advertisement and confirm they
have a current licence before agreeing to any work. Check the
status of the electrical contractor licence number through our licence search
facilities. For more information on safe electrical work, visit
Electrical
Safety Queensland (08 September 2020).
Mobile plant contacting energised overhead powerlines |
Business Queensland
08 September 2020 | Mines safety bulletin 188
Six recently reported incidents at mines and quarries have involved
mobile plant contacting energised overhead powerlines. Subject
Electrical equipment.
More...
WorkSafe Qld: Electrical safety awareness sessions in
regional Queensland
Ahead of Electricity Safety Week (7-11 September), a
series of electrical safety awareness sessions have been scheduled
around regional Queensland to coincide with local home shows (12
August 2020).
More...
Victoria
WorkSafe Victoria Alert: Worker critically injured after
slipping off roof and falling through guardrails
WorkSafe is issuing a safety alert following an incident
where a worker slipped off a roof and fell through the guardrail
system on a catch platform at a housing construction site (10
September 2020).
More...
WorkSafe Victoria Alert: Rock fragments from a quarry
blast impact an active worksite in the neighbouring property
Worksafe is issuing a reminder to businesses in the mining
and quarries sector about the importance of managing the risks
associated with fly rock generated when undertaking shot firing
activities (08 September 2020).
More...
WorkSafe Victoria Alert: Wind warning for construction
sites
Victorian employers must ensure their work sites were
secured as potentially damaging winds moved across the state. This
was particularly the case on construction sites. It is not unusual
for there to be very strong winds in Spring and as we will no doubt
see again over the coming weeks.
More...
Business Victoria: Construction sector guidance
Sector guidance for construction business under
Melbourne's Stage 4 restrictions.
Includes: Stage 4 restrictions; Permitted Work Premises; Business
Operating Reductions – Construction; Application (page
updated 04 September 2020).
More...
Cases
Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable
Undertakings
Katrina Mannix-Bennett
Ballarat Magistrates' Court - Workplace Injury
Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013
Section 581(1)Outcome 04 September 2020
Legislation
NSW
Regulations
Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Amendment (Miscellaneous) Regulation 2020 (2020-543) — published LW 11 September 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.