In the media
Landmark study into firefighters' mental
health
The University of Adelaide is conducting the first study of its
kind into the mental health of professional firefighters at South
Australia's Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS). This project will
provide valuable information about the current fitness of
firefighters and assist in developing strategies to maintain
longevity of service, as well as assisting those with any emerging
impairment (12 February 2015).
More...
'No consistent evidence' of wind farm health
effects: NHMRC
The council has concluded there is no direct evidence that
exposure to noise from wind farms affects physical or mental
health. However, there was consistent, but poor quality direct
evidence, that noise was associated with annoyance and even less
linking it to sleep disturbance (12 February 2015).
More...
Veteran health and wellbeing projects get funding
boost
Forty projects that benefit the veteran and defence communities
have received a $681,368 funding boost under the Australian
Government's Veteran and Community Grants program (12 February
2015).
More...
Busy grape harvest season prompts call for
caution
Farms and vineyards are being advised to review their safety
systems and machine guarding as the busy grape harvesting season
throughout regional Victoria intensifies (12 February 2015).
More...
Bulga Coal face fines for 2010 employee
injury
Bulga Coal has been found guilty of safety breaches for the 2010
injury of an underground worker (12 February 2015).
More...
Fall Prevention Techniques: Most states in Australia are
governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011
The Act gives a Primary Duty of Care to a PCBU (Person Conducting
a Business or Undertaking) to ensure the health, safety and welfare
of workers and others. This duty can be held by more than one
person at the same time. It also states that if you have a Primary
Duty of Care under that Act that you cannot transfer that duty to
anyone else (12 February 2015).
More...
Wharf and port sector to face RSRT
scrutiny
Australia's major ports will soon come under scrutiny, after
the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) announced an inquiry
into the wharf and port sector of the trucking industry. The Road
Safety Remuneration Tribunal will investigate the container
operations at Australia's five main ports (11 February 2015).
More...
Employers warned to be vigilant for workmate bullying
online
Tasmanian Businesses are being warned to look out for a disturbing
trend — workmate bullying on social media. Under Commonwealth
legislation introduced in 2014, the Fair Work Commission has a
range of measures to deal with the workplace bullying (11 February
2015).
More...
Victorian roads minister seeks innovative proposals for
funding business case
New roads minister Luke Donnellan calls on the heavy vehicle,
freight and intelligent transport systems (ITS) industries to
provide "innovative approaches" to using ITS and
associated technology to improve road freight productivity and
safety (10 February 2015).
More...
Australian workplaces world leaders in addressing
domestic violence
More than two million people are covered by workplace provisions
on domestic violence, with advocates saying Australian employers
are world leaders in recognising that abuse in the home is no
longer a private matter (10 February 2015).
More...
Ambulance officers under attack
Despite tougher prison penalties introduced by the NSW government
to improve protection of paramedics, a Fairfax Media investigation
has found that serious attacks leapt by almost a quarter last year
to 174, resulting in a record 87 criminal charges being laid by
police (08 February 2015).
More...
Cancer Council of Victoria: Carcinogen exposure stalks
our workplaces
There is an urgent need for a fairer and evidence-based
compensation system for those who have developed a work-related
cancer (06 February 2015).
More...
Victorian Government to review WorkSafe and
TAC
The Victorian Labor Government announces a review into WorkSafe
and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) in order to identify
opportunities to optimise the effectiveness, efficiency and value
of these organisations to the Victorian community (02 February
2015). More...
More...
Published – articles, papers, reports
Safe Work Australia: Australia-wide
fatalities
As of February 3, there had been 11 fatalities notified to Safe
Work Australia. The fatalities so far this year have been in the
following industries: three in Agriculture, forestry and fishing;
two in Transport, postal and warehousing; one each in Construction,
Mining, Arts & Recreation services, and Manufacturing; and two
in 'other services'.
More...
Exposure to multiple hazards among Australian workers
report
SafeWork Australia: 10 February 2015
A total of 4500 workers participated in the NHEWS survey. The
report focuses on the prevalence of self-reported exposure to
multiple hazards and examines different types of multiple exposures
such as the average number of hazards workers reported exposure to
and co-exposure to noise and vibration.
More...
In practice and courts
2015 quad bike fatalities as at 9
February
See updated statistics from SafeWork Australia.
More...
Product recalls
GM Holden Ltd—EM Malibu Sedan - 11th February 2015.
Chrysler Australia Pty Ltd—2002-2003 Jeep Liberty & 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee - 10th February 2015.
Toyota- FJ Cruiser - Steering Intermediate Shaft Assembly - 9th February 2015.
Chrysler Australia Pty Ltd trading as Fiat Chrysler Group—Chrysler LE 300 MY2005-2007 - 6th February 2015.
Myer Pty Ltd—Sprout Dungaree & Top Set and Sprout Stripe Tee & Overall Set - 6th February 2015.
GM Holden Ltd—MJ Barina Spark with manual transmission - 5th February 2015.
Renault Australia—Kangoo II - 4th February 2015.
Kmart Australia Limited—Richmond Airbag Compatible Car Seat Cover - 4th February 2015.
SafeWork Australia: Engineered Nanomaterials - an update
on the Toxicology and Work Health Hazards
This updates the previous review of the toxicology and health
hazards and provides specific information about the health hazards
of: Carbon nanotubes; Titanium dioxide; Zinc oxide; Cerium oxide;
and Silver. It provides suggestions for workplace exposure
standards for carbon nanotubes and nanoscale silver and titanium
dioxide (30 January 2015).
More....
NSW: BPB Complying development: fire safety
resources
New resources are available to help certifiers meet their
obligations in relation to fire safety requirements for complying
development to existing buildings (11 February 2915).
More...
VIC: VicRoads and Transport Certification Australia: e
proposals to trial ITS
The Victorian Government is asking the heavy vehicle, freight and
ITS industries to come forward with innovative proposals to trial
ITS and technologies that can make the freight and logistics sector
safer and more reliable, Interested parties are encouraged to
submit their proposal before April 8.
More...
Worksafe Victoria: Safety Soapbox - 04 February
2015
Attached to the newsletter is the list of incidents notified to
WorkSafe since the last edition – a huge list with many
serious or serious "near misses" This edition of Safety
Soapbox also lists relevant Victorian prosecutions, as well as a
large number of news items from other jurisdictions and from around
the world.
More...
Queensland Mines Safety Alert 313 - Fatal accident
following rib failure in an underground coal mine
A fatal accident occurred in an underground coal mine when a
worker was struck by a large piece of rib material. Mine site
senior executives should" ensure mine roadways are supported
as a minimum in accordance with the support rules determined by the
underground mine manager (03 February 2015).
More...
Queensland Explosives Safety Alert 87 – Catch
point hazards on equipment working around loaded blast
holes
04 February 2015.
More...
VWA Prosecutions
Freeney Fabrications Pty Ltd
142 642 180 29/01/2015 - Crush injuries; Failure to provide a safe
system of work; Failure to provide information, instruction,
training or supervision; Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.
More...
FSANZ: Consultation on proposed approach to next stage
of a review on micro limits
FSANZ has released a consultation paper on the proposed approach
to the next phase of a review of microbiological limits in the
Food Standards Code. The aim of the review was to ensure the
limits are practical and clear for both industry and enforcement
agencies and consistent with contemporary practices. The closing
date for submissions is 27 February 2015 (January 2015).
More...
Weekly Update - Independent Investigation into
Loose-Fill Asbestos
A licensed asbestos assessor can advise on whether living spaces
are well sealed and asbestos hazards are appropriately controlled.
More...
More...
Cases
Comcare v Linfox Australia Pty Ltd [2015] FCA
61
INDUSTRIAL LAW – failure to take reasonably practicable
steps to ensure safety of employee – quantification of
penalty to be imposed. PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – agreed
statement of facts – power to make a declaration –
power to quantify penalty - Respondent is to pay the Commonwealth a
pecuniary penalty of $90,000. Occupational Health and Safety
Act 1991 (Cth). More...
Di Paolo v Salta Constructions Pty Ltd &
Ors [2015] VSC 31
CHOICE OF LAW – Worker injured in Western Australia –
Victoria was the worker's home State – Worker sued
employer and non-employers in Victoria – Applicable
limitation period – Questions for determination on agreed or
assumed facts – Uniform cross-border compensation legislation
– Accident Compensation Act 1985 (Vic) ss 80, 129MA,
129MB – Workers' Compensation and Injury Management
Act 1981 (WA) ss 20, 93AA, 93AB. More...
Legislation
Commonwealth
Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Instrument
No. 4 (MRL Standard) Amendment Instrument 2015 (No.
1)
06/02/2015 - This instrument amends the Agricultural and
Veterinary Chemicals Code Instrument No. 4 (MRL Standard) 2012 to
set new and varied MRL's and make other changes to the Tables
with respect to certain residue definitions, commodities and
substances. More...
Poisons Standard 2015
10/02/2015 - This standard substitutes the Poisons Standard 2014, and consists of the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons No.6 (THE SUSMP 6), as set out in Schedule 1 of this standard. More...
New South Wales
Regulations and other miscellaneous instruments
Liquor Amendment (RSA) Regulation 2015 (2015-60) — published LW 13 February 2015.
Work Health and Safety Amendment (Miscellaneous) Regulation 2015 (2015-61) — published LW 13 February 2015.
Victoria
Wrongs Amendment (Asbestos Related Claims) Bill
2014
A Bill for an Act to amend part VBA of the Wrongs Act 1958 in
relation to claims for the recovery of damages for non-economic
loss in respect of asbestos-related conditions. 11/02/2015
Assembly: Second reading moved.
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.
