Holidaying carers guilty of $64K WorkSafe fraud; Research finds no trace of mobile phone/tumour link, says industry body; SA Unions call for fairer workers' comp scheme; and WorkCover NSW investigating Orica spill and finger amputations.
In an important ruling for Victorian employers, a law firm that is being sued for damages by an injured former partner has won its High Court bid to challenge the opinion of a WorkCover Authority medical panel.
A Victorian employer has been ordered to pay WorkCover more than $1.76 million in premiums and penalties, after the Court of Appeal found it had been paying workers' comp premiums under the wrong industry classification.
In a decision that sends a warning to employers on the risks of under-staffing, a Victorian trainee who broke his wrist in a violent scuffle has been awarded workers' compensation.
Workers' comp fraudster jailed for at least 12 months; Comcare prosecuting Defence Force, again; WorkSafe WA to target mobile plant and conduct safety forums; and Tasmanian mine safety Code revoked.
A Victorian worker who believed her employer contacted her too often while she was on sick leave has been awarded compensation for a stress injury, even though her employment was just one of "multiple factors" that contributed to her condition.
A Victorian employer could have eliminated a host of "self-evident" manual handling risks through the introduction of cheap and convenient alternative processes, the Supreme Court has found in awarding an injured worker nearly $1.4 million in damages.
A Victorian worker should not have been permitted to perform heavy manual-handling work alone and without mechanical assistance, the Supreme Court has found, in awarding him more than $1,000,000 in damages.
