Browsing: Drugs and alcohol | Page 3

A worker's numerous and exaggerated reports on his co-workers' conduct, including unfounded suggestions that some were impaired by drugs, alcohol or mental illness, created psychosocial safety risks and justified his dismissal, a commission has found.

An injured worker who was assessed as being at "high risk" of relapsing into alcohol misuse has won a reinstatement order, with a commission finding her 18-month abstinence suggested she was fit for employment.

Elected health and safety representatives will be specially trained to apply and enforce the new WHS regulations on psychosocial hazards like bullying and poor organisational justice, under the Federal budget's $27.4 million package for improving the "safety and fairness" of workplaces.

The Fair Work Commission has upheld the dismissal of a financial adviser who refused to take a drug and alcohol test after turning up to work showing signs of intoxication.

The Fair Work Commission has upheld the dismissal of a worker who was sacked for failing to disclose his drug-related criminal charges, which undermined his employer's confidence that he could deliver its safety and anti-drug and alcohol messages to staff.

An injured worker has lost his appeal for additional lump sum compensation payments, with a tribunal rejecting his claim he had a whole person impairment of 50 per cent from his work-related depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol abuse.

A ruling that a worker's knife-attack injuries weren't compensable, because of a possible drug-dealing connection, has been revoked for misapplying the "course of employment" test and considering "irrelevant matters".

A supervisor's conduct in allowing a crew to drink alcohol at a lunch was "much worse" than that of the team members who drank, a commission has found in upholding his summary dismissal.

• Workers resorting to alcohol in time of widespread stress;
  
• WHS projects tackle language barriers and burnout in NSW; and
  
• New WHS prosecutor appointed in Qld.

One of two company directors charged with failing to exercise due diligence, in relation to a fatal helicopter crash possibly linked to the pilot's alcohol consumption, has entered a WHS undertaking in lieu of prosecution.