05:06 pm, Thursday 7 March, 2013

Information sessions will be conducted by SafeWork SA representatives to the Mount Gambier community. The information session aims to discuss the new work health and safety legislation and the important role of health and safety representatives.

Two sessions will be conducted at the Main corner complex, 1 Bay Road, on Wednesday, 13 March. One session will happen from 12 to 1.30pm, and the other will be from 5.30 to 7.30pm.

SafeWork SA Executive Director, Bryan Russell said the information session is a good opportunity for people to learn about the changes to workplace health and safety laws.

“This is a great opportunity for those living in regional South Australia to hear firsthand about workplace safety reform,” said Mr Russell.

“Nearly 1,000 people registered for the 12 sessions held in Adelaide in December and January, and we want to offer access to the same information to the Mount Gambier community.

“These sessions are for people working in any sector who want to find out how the work health and safety laws will affect them. We will be able to answer your questionsabout work health and safety in the timber industry, the health sector, agriculture, small business or volunteering.”

SafeWorkSA officers will also be manning a booth at the South East Field Days at Lucindale on 15-16 March and will answer questions on the new laws as well as other topics like asbestos in the home and agricultural safety.

This month, SafeWork SA representatives will visit four regional centres to discuss the workplace safety laws. The sessions will also provide support to health and safety representatives by offering advice and information about their duties and entitlements.

More information about the information sessions is available at the SafeWork SA website.

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04:25 pm, Thursday 14 February, 2013

Minister John Rau
Photo: SA Government website

Minister for Industrial Relations John Rau has introduced this month a Bill into the SA Parliament which will provide clarity to Work Health and Safety laws.

The Work Health and Safety (Self-Incrimination) Amendment Bill 2013 amends section 172 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012.

“During last year’s debate on Work Health and Safety laws, the Liberals in the Legislative Council moved an amendment regarding self incrimination protection – the right to silence,” said Mr Rau.

“This amendment may have had the consequences of extending this protection beyond individuals to also include companies. This is a manifestly absurd outcome.

“Corporations at common law do not enjoy the protection against self-incrimination that individuals do.

“If corporations were to be granted the privilege against self-incrimination, it could seriously compromise future investigations into workplace fatalities and serious incidents.”

“This Bill is a minor technical amendment which will provide certainty so that only individuals may be protected from self incrimination,” said Mr Rau.

For more information, visit the SafeWork SA website.

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04:48 pm, Tuesday 1 January, 2013

New workplace safety legislation has taken effect in South Australia today, 1 January 2013. The Work Health and Safety Act 2012 replaces the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act 1986.

“The new laws are consistent with the old, familiar laws but provide a new approach that clarifies everyone’s roles in workplace safety – from the employers, to the health and safety representatives, to the employee,” said A/Executive Director of SafeWork SA, Robin Scott.

“South Australia already has a strong safety record. In 2012 we were the only state to meet the national target for reducing work-related injuries.

“The new laws will help to further reduce workplace injury and will create avenues for solving safety issues, while ensuring that the same high standards of workplace safety will apply in all states and territories.”

SafeWork SA said the new Act will reduce red tape and will provide interstate workers the same protections and safety standards while also recognising their licensing and training nationally.

Victoria and Western Australia are the only states which have not yet introduced the harmonised laws.

New requirements in the new laws will have transitional periods to give workers and businesses time to comply.

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12:46 pm, Tuesday 18 December, 2012

Certain transitional provisions for new work health and safety laws will be extended as the government works to address concerns raised by industry. This is a according to a news release by the Office of Fair and Safe Work Queensland.

OFSWQ Acting Deputy Director-General Dr Simon Blackwood said the government conducted a roundtable discussion of stakeholders from 18 employer associations and unions to tackles the impact of the model WHS laws on business.

“The Queensland Government heard views on whether there were any aspects of the legislation that were unworkable or had compliance or cost burdens,” said Dr Blackwood.

“A substantial body of work is now underway to address these issues in consultation with stake holders.

“While this happens, certain provisions that were due to start at the end of this year have been delayed until 1 January 2014.

“In order to provide certainty and to avoid a situation where business is required to adapt to one change followed by another, we have extended transitional provisions for a number of requirements.

“This will allow time for the government to implement any proposed changes to the laws arising from the feedback received at the round table,” he said.

Delayed provisions in the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 until 1 January 2014 include requirements for:

• Audiometric testing
• Protective structures on earthmoving equipment
• Remote and isolated work
• Asbestos registers and asbestos management plants in relation to buildings built from 1 January 1990 and up to 31 December 2003
• Design registration of concrete booms and prefabricated form work

More information can be found at the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland website.

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02:10 pm, Tuesday 27 November, 2012

The WorkCover Safety Bus is expected to tour the central west within the week to provide work health and safety advice and assistance to local workers and businesses.

The Safety Bus will be visiting Oberon and Blayney to provide practical advice on new work health and safety laws, changes to high-risk work licences and WorkCover’s Small Business Rebate Program.

WorkCover’s Orange District Coordinator, David Young, encouraged local businesses and workers to take advantage of the opportunity to learn more from WorkCover’s health and safety experts.

“There are a number of changes to NSW work health and safety laws and licensing currently underway,” said Mr Young.

“This includes the start of harmonised national work health and safety laws on 1 January 2012 and the requirement to review and, if necessary, renew all high-risk work licences by 1 January 2013 as part of a national approach to uniform licensing.

“The tour is part of WorkCover’s comprehensive efforts to support NSW business and will provide an opportunity for local businesses and workers to ask questions and learn more.

“I encourage anyone wanting to learn more about work health and safety to approach our staff when the bus visits next week.”

Oberon Council General Manager, Alan Cairney said the Council is committed to ensuring the safety of workers. He also said the visit reinforces their culture of health and safety compliance and risk awareness.

“Workplace safety is the role of all employees, the community and individuals to ensure that our colleagues, friends and the general public are prevented from being injured and arrive home safe every day,” advised Blayney Shire Council General Manager, Mr Glenn Wilcox.

“No one wants to see another person injured, suffer long term disabilities or worse where an incident can be prevented.

“Council is very supportive of the Workcover Bus and the WorkCover representatives coming to the Blayney Shire community to advise on the planning for injury prevention in our workplaces or on the farm.”

WorkCover Safety Bus Dates and Locations

1pm to 2pm, Wednesday, 28 November, 137 Oberon Street, Oberon (outside Council chambers)

1pm to 2pm, Thursday, 29 November, 91 Adelaide Street, Blayney

For more information, visit the WorkCover NSW website.

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11:18 am, Tuesday 27 November, 2012

WorkCover NSW will conduct two information sessions this week for local builders on the new work health and safety laws.

According to WorkCover’s Port Macquarie District Coordinator, Col West, local construction workers and employers would receive work health and safety advice from health and safety experts and will be given information on the responsibilities of principal contractors.

“There are a number of changes to NSW work health and safety laws and licensing currently underway that affect the local construction industry,” said Mr West.

“This includes the start of harmonised national work health and safety laws on 1 January 2012 and the requirement to review and, if necessary, renew all high-risk work licences by 1 January 2013 as part of a national approach to uniform licensing.

“These information sessions are part of WorkCover’s comprehensive efforts to support mid-north coast businesses and will provide an opportunity for local builders to ask questions and learn more.”

Mr West also said that the sessions would also tackle return to work plans for injured workers.

“Getting back to work quickly is the best outcome for an injured worker,” said Mr West.

“This week’s sessions will cover return-to-work requirements for injured workers and WorkCover’s range of vocational rehabilitation programs to help workers return to suitable employment.”

Further information on the information sessions and new laws is available through the WorkCover NSW website.

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12:51 pm, Wednesday 17 October, 2012

South Australian unions welcome new safety laws saying workers will be better protected when these laws pass through State Parliament.

SA Unions State Secretary, Janet Giles says working people are happy that the Greens and Independent John Darley have decided to support the Government’s Work Health and Safety Bill.

“This has been sitting in the Legislative Council since April 2011 – and was the subject of three years of consultation before that,” says Ms Giles.

“We are grateful that the Bill will now get through Parliament and become law.”

“We have been working on better work safety laws for years, and we have continued to push for them because people continue to die or be seriously injured at work.”

“It is a tragedy when someone leaves home to go to work and simply never returns to their loved ones.”

The Work Health and Safety Bill includes much tougher penalties for safety breaches and gives working people the right to ask their union representatives to conduct random safety checks.

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02:36 pm, Friday 17 August, 2012

Public comment on the costs and benefits of the proposed national Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulations as they apply to Western Australian workplaces is being sought by the State Government.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch said today the public comment period was an opportunity for businesses, industry and workers to express their opinions on the model Work Health and Safety Regulations package.

“Harmonised work health and safety laws will affect all Western Australian workplaces in varying degrees, and it is important that we all provide input during this consultation process to gauge the impact of the new laws on all WA workplaces,” Mr McCulloch said.

“An Australia-wide consultation process took place late in 2010, but the current public comment period is specific to WA and aims to give participants in all WA workplaces the opportunity to provide their views on the proposed new laws.”

An Information and Issues Paper which offers easy to understand details regarding the changes which would take place with the adoption of the model WHS Regulations was prepared by WorkSafe. Letters and emails will also be sent to subscription lists and industry associations. Press and radio advertisements will also be utilised to increase awareness of the public comment period.

Public forums will also be conducted in regional WA to make sure that regional communities are aware of the new laws.

The Information and Issues Paper and additional information on submissions can be accessed through the WorkSafe website.

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05:43 pm, Tuesday 7 August, 2012

Safe Work Australia has released answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) to clarify whether and if so how the new work health and safety (WHS) laws apply to strata title bodies corporate.

The new harmonised WHS laws have already been implemented in New South Wales, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and Commonwealth jurisdictions since 1 January 2012 and will take effect in Tasmania from 1 January 2013.

According to Safe Work Australia, there is a misconception that the WHS laws apply in relation to wholly residential units if a maintenance person, gardener or plumber is engaged to carry out odd jobs at the complex. There is also a misconception that volunteer committee members of strata title bodies corporate can be prosecuted as ‘officers’ for breaches under the new WHS laws.

Below are the facts about how the new work health and safety (WHS) laws apply to strata title bodies corporate:

• The WHS laws do not apply to strata title bodies corporate responsible for wholly residential complexes unless they are also employers
• Strata title bodies corporate that are employers are covered by the WHS in the same way as any other employers
• The WHS laws apply to strata title bodies corporate that are responsible for commercial premises (for example a cafe or restaurant) in the same way as any other business, and
• Volunteer committee members cannot be prosecuted under the new WHS laws as officers.

Obligations under the WHS laws will not change the obligations that already apply under general law and strata management laws.

For more information, visit the Safe Work Australia website.

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01:13 pm, Monday 30 July, 2012

WorkCover has recently developed a Bullying Prevention Kit which aims to help employers identify bullying and learn ways to manage it.

According to the Minister for Finance and Services Greg Pearce, there have been 4,746 workers compensation claims for bullying and harassment at a cost of almost $100 million in the last three financial years.

“This is having a major impact on the state’s productivity and is one of the reasons why the Bullying Prevention Kit was developed,” said Mr Pearce.

“The kit uses a simple green, amber and red traffic light concept, to help business develop bullying prevention systems and follows a rise in requests for information and assistance about workplace bullying.”

He also said that under the state’s work health and safety law, businesses were required to make sure that bullying prevention strategies are in place.

“Bullying is repeated unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or group of workers that creates a risk to health and safety,” said Mr Pearce.

“Investigation, regular monitoring, and reviews of bullying are important so workers know it is taken seriously and that procedures to control the risk of bullying are effective.

“By reducing bullying in the workplace, businesses benefit from reduced absenteeism and improved morale among their workers which in the long term, improves productivity and profitability.

“Everyone in the workplace has the right to be treated with dignity and respect,” he said.

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