A Central Queensland mine worker has been diagnosed with measles, prompting a statewide alert. Queensland Health's communicable diseases unit acting senior director Stephen Lambert said the Moranbah worker had contact with mine camp colleagues and others in the past fortnight, triggering concerns he may have infected others. He said many of the mine workers had returned to homes throughout Queensland. Dr Lambert said measles was a serious infection, particularly in children too young to … [Read more...]
What’s New in the WHS Act?
May 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Does the new legislation have just a bit of new jargon for me to learn or are there real and significant changes? How might things have changed for my business under the new legislation and am I more or less liable than I was under the old. In fact, who is really responsible for my health and the health and safety and everyone else at work. For a lot of people the shock is that most people are now ‘workers’. No more soft touches like ‘employee’, ‘staff’ under this legislation. … [Read more...]
OHS:Subcontractors To Be Hit by Compensation Scheme Changes
May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Subcontractors are among those expected to lose access to the state's workers' compensation scheme under changes due to be introduced into Parliament this week. Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said the Government was moving to change the definition of a worker under the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act. "We've come up with a plan to do what they did at the federal level and have the definition of worker the same as the Australian Tax Office and PAYG definition," Mr Bleijie … [Read more...]
Construction Safety: Union Delivers List of Demands Follow Worker Death
May 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment
THE CFMEU has delivered a list of demands to the employers of a Canadian backpacker killed in an accident on a Sydney construction site earlier this month. Mathieu Lopez-Linares, 22, suffered fatal head and chest injuries when he was hit by metal beams during the demolition of a building in Camperdown, in inner Sydney, on April 13. The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union said Lopez-Linares was on a temporary working visa and was not paid any superannuation during the two weeks he … [Read more...]
Unions to Submit Asbestos Report on Telstra Site
May 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Workplace safety watchdog Comcare verified reports that it is looking into various issues at the Telstra pits. Federal Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, and companies heading the $37.4 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) out of Tasmania are poised to receive a report on asbestos issues related to the construction project . Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) official David Mier recalled that approximately 85 per-cent of contractors working in asbestos … [Read more...]
OHS:Comcare Fronts Meditation Bill for Former Worker
May 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The federal government workers' compensation fund has been ordered to pay for philosophy and mindfulness classes for a former Canberra public servant who has not worked for 14 years. Eleanor Rope was injured in a car crash in 1987 when she was a federal public servant. She had another fall at work and left on invalidity grounds in 1999. Mrs Rope has suffered chronic pain and depression and received taxpayer-funded compensation for medical care, including travel to Townsville to receive … [Read more...]
Are you a bullying bystander?
May 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Is bullying a bit like background noise in your organisation? Bullying can be like something you notice in the work place and just get used to and accept as part of the work environment. That is, of course, unless it is happening to you. For others it may be a bit like loud noise, some airborne pollutants – a bit irritating but not causing any immediate problem. Much less an immediate illness or injury, which is the way most health and safety risks present themselves to workers and … [Read more...]
OHS: Falling Gate Kills Worker
May 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment
A 32-year-old man was killed when a steel gate pinned him between it and a vehicle. The industrial accident occured at Bayswater North earlier last week. A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the incident occurred just after 7pm at an automotive engineering factory in Clipsal Drive. It is believed three men were working on a large steel gate at the factory when the heavy object suddenly fell from its track. The gate then landed on one of the men and pinned him between the gate and a … [Read more...]
NBN Roll Out Work Stopped Amid Asbestos Concerns
May 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Calls for a work stoppage on Tasmania's NBN roll-0ut have emerged amid asbestos exposure concerns. The Electrical Trades Union's David Mier reported having visited approximately 13 sites around Hobart, with some next to asbestos pits. He alleged that only a small number of subcontractors at the sites had received mandatory asbestos training. "Not only are they exposing themselves to the potential of asbestos fibres, but the general public as well," he said. "Clearly I'd be … [Read more...]
OHS:Rural Death Causes Plea For Safety
May 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The WorkSafe commissioner says the agriculture industry must undergo a cultural change to prevent any more fatal accidents. A 65-year-old man was killed on Tuesday at a potato farm near Pemberton while trying to stop a truck that was rolling down a hill. It is the sixth death in the sector this financial year. Lex McCulloch says while the industry only accounts for 3 per cent of the workforce Australia-wide, it accounts for 35 per cent of workplace deaths. "We're moving to a very … [Read more...]
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