In the media

Wingfield chemical waste operators Transpacific Industries taken to court for alleged negligence over 2013 fire
Operators of the Wingfield chemical waste plant near Port Adelaide are facing charges of breaching workplace safety laws over a fire in 2013 (29 July 2015).  More...

Have your say on the future of explosives regulation
The public comment period on explosives regulation in Australia is now open and Safe Work Australia is encouraging Australians to have their say through the Explosives Regulation in Australia: Discussion Paper and Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (30 July 2015).  More...

New research reports to inform work health and safety policy and practice
Safe Work Australia has published four new research reports to help inform the development of Australian work health and safety policy and practice. The research provides great insight into the extent to which Australian employers and workers are consciously aware of health and safety in their workplace and actively try to manage risks (29 July 2015).  More...

Farm safety push pays dividends in productivity and profits
In any week, across Australia the average amount of time lost reported from workplace injuries in agriculture and fishing adds up to almost 1,000 weeks. Consultant says people underestimate low probability risks, and quality and safety are connected (30 July 2015).  More...

'No evidence' found to support CEO bullying claims: Far West Local Health District chair
The chief executive of the Far West Local Health District has been cleared of allegations, according to the LHD's board chairman (30 July 2015).  More...

Companies charged over Adelaide workplace accidents
Federal workplace health and safety regulator Comcare has filed legal proceedings against two national employers over separate workplace incidents in Adelaide. Comcare has filed complaints and summonses in the Adelaide Magistrates Court against waste management company Transpacific Industries Pty Ltd and construction company John Holland Pty Ltd (29 July 2015).  More...

Providing more autonomy is a key to managing happy, productive staff
Managers who design jobs with a high level of autonomy promote a stronger sense of control among workers, new research based on Australian data has found (28 July 2015).  More...

New figures show quad bikes are a farmer's enemy
The latest statistics from Farmsafe Australia show quad bikes are at the top of the danger list for farmers (24 July 2015).  More...

No new permit for CFMEU's Michael Myles
The Fair Work Commission has refused to grant CFMEU official Michael Myles a new Federal Right of Entry permit, saying Mr Myles has "disrespect and disregard for the rights of occupiers of building sites and the legislative scheme regarding right of entry" (21 July 2015).  More...

Farm safety audits deliver tough new penalties for farmers not prioritising the safety of themselves and their workers
Western Australian farmers are being told to lift their game when it comes to farm safety as Worksafe cracks down on broadacre properties. With more backpacker labour and young people returning to the land following the mining downturn, farmers are being warned to make safety a priority (20 July 2015).   More...

Published – articles, papers, reports

Safe Work Australia:  Australia-wide fatalities – July 2015

There has been no update since July 14, at which time 83 fatalities had been reported to Safe Work Australia.   More...

Safe Work Australia: monthly fatality report - April  2015

There were nine work-related deaths reported to state and territory OHS regulators – fewer than the thirteen reported in March. All nine fatalities were male workers: three were caused by crushing, and two involved vehicle incidents away from public roads. One worker drowned, one was electrocuted, one was killed in an explosion and one was fatally struck by an unattended vehicle on a public road.  More...

In practice and courts

Explosives Regulation in Australia: Discussion Paper and Consultation Regulation Impact Statement: Public Submissions
 Safe Work Australia is inviting businesses, industries, workers and the wider community to comment on how explosives are regulated across Australia and the issues this regulation may raise for people involved in the explosives industry. The public comment period is open from 30 July 2015 until 10 September 2015. Submissions close 10 September 2015.  More...

SWA: Virtual Seminars planned for Health and Safety Week
Safe Work Australia has announced that it will once again run its virtual seminar series throughout October, where they plan to showcase the latest thinking, innovation, research and development in work health and safety.  More...

ASEA: 2nd International Asbestos Conference 2015
Reminder that the Early Bird registration is now open for the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA) second International Conference on Asbestos Awareness and Management, which will be held during National Asbestos Awareness Month, from the 22 to the 24 of November. The conference will this year be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in South Brisbane.  More...

Sources of work health and safety information in Australian workplaces report released
Learn about how Australian workplaces find out about work health and safety in the Sources of work health and safety information in Australian workplaces report available now.  According to this report, the media continues to be an important source of work health and safety information for Australian employers, sole traders and workers (20 July 2015).   More...

Mindfulness of work health and safety in the workplace report released
Learn about the extent to which employers, sole traders and workers are aware of work health and safety risks and controls in their workplace, in the Mindfulness of work health and safety in the workplace report. The study indicates how aware employers, sole traders (operators of non-employing businesses) and workers are of factors that may influence work health and safety in their workplaces (22 July 2015).  More...

Safety standards released

AS 3999:2015
Standards Australia
Bulk thermal insulation – Installation.

AS/NZS 3004.2:2014/Amdt 1:2015
Standards Australia
Electrical installations - Marinas and boats - Boat installations.

VIC: Safety Soapbox – 23 July 2015

The latest edition features Steve Darnley from the construction team on the incident notification requirements under the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act. Subscribers may have noticed that WorkSafe has recently successfully prosecuted a large number of employers for failing to notify the Authority following incidents.  More...

ACT: New Codes of Practice
Subsequent to the Safe Work Australia's approval and release of a number of Codes of Practice earlier this year, the ACT Government adopted and notified them on the ACT Legislation Register (July 2015).

Cases

Victoria OHS Enforcements

Modeland Pty Ltd 006 848 362 16/07/2015
Failure to notify VWA of a notifiable incident; Failure to preserve incident site Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 38(1); 38(3); 39(1) ; Magistrates' Court.  More...

Legislation

Queensland

Reminder: submissions on Workers' Compensation Amendment Bills
The Queensland Parliament referred the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 and the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation (Protecting Firefighters) Amendment Bill 2015 to the Finance and Administration Committee. The Committee is required to report back to the Parliament by Friday 4 Septembers 2015.  More...

Victoria

Statutory Rules

No. 89: Court Security Regulations 2015
Commencement: 25/07/2015: reg. 3
Not yet in operation: Regs 1-5: on 25/07/2015: reg. 3 Sunset Date: 14/07/2025.

No 91:  Dangerous Goods (Transport by Road or Rail) Amendment Regulations 2015
 Gazette S 212, 28 July 2015, p 1 Commencement 1/09/2015 These Regulations come into operation on 1 September 2015: r 3 The objectives of these Regulations are to amend the Dangerous Goods (Transport by Road or Rail) Regulations 2008 to reflect changes made to the National Transport Commission (Model Legislation – Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road or Rail) Regulations 2007 of the Commonwealth and to make consequential amendments to the Dangerous Goods (Explosives) Regulations 2011 and the Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2012.   More...

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