Australia’s national association for workplace health and safety professionals has called on national leaders to provide better guidance to businesses to keep workers safe and healthy, and for the Federal Government to provide access to Rapid Antigen Testing for workers. AIHS CEO David Clarke said “Over the last 12 months commentary and policy related toRead more
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New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimates that 5 million women (53 per cent) and 2.2 million men (25 per cent) aged 18 years and over have experienced at least one incident of sexual harassment in their lifetime. The ACTU said the numbers emphasise the critical need for the federal government toRead more
WA businesses that breach workplace safety, workers’ compensation, employment, or environmental laws can now be banned from tendering for government projects, or have current contracts cancelled, under new procurement reforms introduced by the state government. The new regulations, which will commence on 1 January 2022, represent Australia’s first debarment regime and aim to improve businessRead more
Workers have little recourse when raising safety issues linked to heat, and the government must enact greater oversight of the WHS duty to provide resources for workers exposed to heat, according to a new study. The University of Technology Sydney study of around 800 workers across industries such as home care, manufacturing, education, agriculture, health,Read more
In recognition that employers have a responsibility to protect both the physical and psychosocial health of their staff, the world’s first International Standard for protecting workers’ psychological health has been released. ISO 45003, Occupational health and safety management – Psychological health and safety at work – Guidelines for managing psychosocial risks, gives guidance on managing psychological health and safetyRead more
The Federal Government has introduced a Bill that strengthens national laws to better prevent and respond to sexual harassment and discrimination in Australian workplaces. The Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Bill 2021 will implement the Government’s response to a number of recommendations in the Sex Discrimination Commissioner’s Respect@Work Report. It isRead more
Employers in Victoria could be fined nearly $300,000 for entering into insurance contracts against workplace health and safety fines – just one of a series of safety amendments introduced to parliament this week. The state government introduced the Occupational Health and Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 to “expand worker rights and protections, boost employerRead more
Australia’s WHS ministers have agreed to amend the model WHS Regulations to prescribe control measures for psychological risks, and significantly increase safety penalties. However, proposed industrial manslaughter laws did not receive the required majority vote. The ministers had convened to discuss a range of important issues impacting the work health and safety of Australians, andRead more
The UK government has begun consultation that is set to create safe use rules for automated vehicles on British roads. Automated vehicle technology is set to play a major role in the transport revolution happening across the UK, helping to improve transport by making journeys safer, more flexible, and more reliable. The Safe Use RulesRead more
A number of prominent mental health advocates, unions, and academics have released a joint statement calling on WHS ministers to agree to amend the national model WHS Regulations to prescribe control measures for psychosocial risks. State, territory, and federal WHS ministers are set to meet on May 20 to discuss key reforms recommended in bothRead more
