Browsing: Authority/inspectorate (National) | Page 1

The Federal Government has committed millions of dollars to enforcing the impending WHS ban on engineered stone at the border, and conducting a comprehensive review of the Commonwealth jurisdiction's workers' compensation laws, under a "safer workplaces" package in its 2024-25 budget.

Safe Work Australia's deemed diseases list has been amended to add two cancer and job exposure pairs, and to remove COVID-19, on the basis that the virus "has become so widespread in the community that infection in a particular occupational setting cannot be confidently assumed to have been due to that occupation".

Australia's WHS and workers' compensation ministers have agreed to: work towards a major asbestos-removal plan targeting commercial buildings; implement WHS provisions to further crack down on silica risks; and reinstate the push for a national approach to protecting the psychological safety of first responders.

A union and an offical who successfully appealed against a ruling on a WHS requirement at a worksite have been handed higher right-of-entry fines, by a full Federal Court, than the ones they received before they appealed.

• Significant WHS reforms to come with third-phase asbestos plan;
  
• Phased commencement announced for Qld's WHS amendments;
  
• Business charged over customer's mobile-plant death; and
  
• Safety and RTW awards open in Vic.

A Safe Work Australia-commissioned research project has identified four early intervention approaches to work-related injury claims that appear to be "particularly helpful".

• Workplace safety prosecution follows Gumtree death;
  
• Major workers' comp report examines evolving schemes; and
  
• Quarterly report released.

A study of a relatively young worker with a 10-year history of forgetfulness and decreasing mental functions has highlighted the significant risks posed by a common workplace substance, the need to closely monitor the health of staff, and the immediate benefits of compliant safety controls.

• Major fire attracts Commonwealth WHS charges;
  
• Director charged over apprentice's 30km toolbox ride;
  
• Local council sentenced for failing to forward injury claim;
  
• Noise duties highlighted for WHS blitz in SA; and
  
• WHS Codes of Practice updated in ACT.

• WHS ministers agree to harmonised exposure limits;
  
• Access to dust damages improved in WA;
  
• RTW body officially established in Vic; and
  
• Workers to be protected by new slow-down rules in SA.