Model Work Health and Safety laws will not commence on 1 January 2012 in Tasmania. On 2 December 2011, Tasmania’s Legislative Council amended the start date of the Work Health and Safety Bill 2011 to 1 January 2013. The Bill will be returned to the House of Assembly for consideration of the change when Parliament [...]
In the second half of 2011, in keeping with the ACT’s commitment to the national harmonisation of health and safety laws, the Legislative Assembly passed a new Work Health and Safety Act 2011. The new Act replaces the previous Work Safety Act 2008 on 1 January 2012. The Work Safety Act 2008 therefore ceases to [...]
Western Australia is one of four jurisdictions (including Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia) which will not be adopting the WHS laws from 1 January 2012. The Commonwealth has not provided sufficient time for all Western Australian businesses to come up to speed with the new requirements. The model WHS regulations are still minus the mining [...]
South Australian Parliament voted to adjourn debate on the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Bill until 14 February 2012. Accordingly the new WHS legislation will not begin in SA on 1 January 2012 as previously planned. SA Government has every confidence that the nationally harmonised legislation will be approved by Parliament when it resumes in [...]
There are a number of changes to Queensland’s Codes of Practice. 1. There are 11 new codes of practice adopted by Queensland through the national harmonisation process. 2. The Recreational Diving, Recreational Technical Diving and Snorkelling Code of Practice 2010 will be remade under the Safety in Recreational Water Activities Act 2011. 3. There are [...]
Introduction There is little doubt from reading the myriad of comments made on various sites that workplace bullying and harassment continues to fuel discussion. In fact, I have just finished reading a number of comments made by some obviously very traumatised workers from the public and private sector. There are some common threads relating to: [...]
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is investigating a fatal incident that occurred on Monday 31 October 2011 at a construction site within the University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane. A worker was killed while a formwork shutter was being raised to about one metre above the ground by crane. Lengths of timber were being [...]
Fatally unsafe stacking system costs Fonterra Australia $300,000 fine and a conviction. Unsafe storage has resulted in an industry-wide warning from WorkSafe after dairy products manufacturer, Fonterra Australia Pty Ltd was today convicted and fined $300,000 in the Melbourne County Court. WorkSafe’s General Manager for Operations, Lisa Sturzenegger, said all businesses had to ensure they [...]
Gordon Harris is an auditor and contract investigator for the Plumbing Industry Commission. He has worked in the air conditioning installation industry for 46 years as a refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic, trainer, engineer and most recently, contract investigator. Here Gordon writes of his experience and recommendations for the safe installation of air conditioning units: [...]
This alert highlights the importance of inspection and maintenance to reduce the risk of fire in vehicles and other mobile plant. Background In the first half of 2011, NT WorkSafe received in excess of 20 notifications of fires in vehicles and other mobile plant. The incidents have occurred throughout the Territory, with the bulk of [...]
