Workplace Health & Safety
Specific tasks require risk assessments
The New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission has responded to a workplace fatality by urging employers to ensure that they have undertaken risk assessments for specific work tasks. Read more...
Company officers must exercise safety due diligence
The incoming Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (New Act) will bring with it increased duties for company officers from 1 January 2012. The Act has been passed as part of the national harmonisation of health and safety laws in Australia. Read more...
Tribunal rules on common sense in safety-related dismissal
A production worker who had his employment terminated after climbing into a carpet compactor has had his unfair dismissal claim dismissed by Fair Work Australia (FWA). Read more...
Being busy not an excuse for safety breaches
Fair Work Australia recently upheld the dismissal of a butcher who breached safe operating procedures claiming he was busy and under pressure. Read more...
Health and safety harmonisation
The Queensland Parliament passed the Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011 (New Act) on 27 May 2011 as part of its commitment to participate in the harmonisation of workplace health and safety laws across Australia. The New Act will take effect from 1 January 2012. Read more...
Workplace Safety at Heights an Issue
Working safely at heights has always been an issue for the construction industry. Numerous accidents happen every year on building sites and employers don’t always understand the ramifications of not enforcing safety procedures until it’s too late. Read more...
Workplace Health & Safety is serious business
We continue to be surprised by the low level of awareness employers have regarding their workplace health and safety (WH&S) obligations. Read more...
The importance of a quality workplace, health & safety system
It’s vital employers understand the importance of workplace health and safety (WH&S) and their WH&S obligations. The legal ramifications for not doing so involve prosecution and if found guilty having a criminal record - not to mention the possibility of being sent to jail or being fined a substantial amount of money. Read more...
Protecting Lone Workers
It’s often the case with small businesses that only one employee is required to attend work at given times of the day or week. What’s frequently forgotten, is the obligation to ensure that these ‘lone workers’ are safe, not only with respect to workplace equipment and systems but also from ‘outsiders.’ This is especially important where the workplace is a shopfront. Read more...
