Browsing: Workers' comp - research & reports | Page 6

Workplace concussions, including seemingly mild head injuries, can involve drawn out recovery times for workers, according to US researchers, who recommend mental health screening to identify risk factors for complications.

• Two states step up workplace COVID compliance activities;
  
• Unionists accused of breaching site's COVID and WHS rules; and
  
• Did you miss our latest major WHS and COVID review?

• New WHS Code on psych risks to increase regulatory action, says lawyer; and
  
• Employer survey to inform national RTW framework.

A leading safety and ergonomics expert is urging employers to ensure their musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) prevention programs incorporate worker participation. She says neglecting to do so is one of four significant evidence-to-practice gaps holding back improvement in MSD rates.

In this major report, OHS Alert examines all the key safety developments from the second quarter of 2021, including the move towards mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for workers, the jailing of a company director, inquests into four work deaths, including a murder, important cases, and significant legislative changes.

Safe Work Australia's sixth annual national statement on psychosocial health and safety and bullying in Australian workplaces shows the rate of mental stress claims is increasing, while the median direct cost of bullying-related claims has reached nearly $35,000.

• COVID compliance checks of employers stepping up in Vic;
  
• Comcare reveals COVID strategies in 2020 review; and
  
• Royal Mint faces up to $3.5m in fines under three WHS charges.

A study of 16 years of workers' comp data has foreshadowed that as Australia moves out of a recession triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic there will be a surge of workplace injuries, highlighting the importance of resilient safety strategies.

Safe Work Australia's latest "snapshot" of COVID-19-related workers' compensation claims shows that while a quarter of all COVID claims are for psychological issues, nearly all of the claims in one industry involve mental health.

A key role of safety professionals, managers and officers is acquiring and keeping up-to-date knowledge of health and safety issues. In this report, OHS Alert examines all the need-to-know work safety, workers' compensation and COVID-19 developments from the first three months of 2021.