Industry News
High-noise communication devices win prestigious award
A project developed at The University of Western Australia has won spin-out company Sensear the prestigious Frost & Sullivan 2012 Product Differentiation Excellence Award for its ‘high-noise communication’ devices, including earplugs and earmuffs for industrial settings. [ + ]
Company fined $50,000 over electric shock incident
Mulgrave sign installation company Southern Ultimate Sign Installations (Southern USI) has been convicted and fined $50,000, and ordered to pay almost $6000 in legal costs, over an incident that left a worker with severe burns to his body after he suffered an electric shock. [ + ]
Academics to research unpaid work practices
The Fair Work Ombudsman is teaming with two leading academics to identify opportunities for increasing public awareness about laws relating to unpaid work. [ + ]
Ai Group lodges appeal against Workpac decision - meaning of ‘service’ under the Fair Work Act
The Australian Industry Group has filed an appeal against the decision of Commissioner McDonald of Fair Work Australia in the case Bambach v WorkPac. The appeal concerns the meaning of ‘service’ and ‘continuous service’ under the Fair Work Act. [ + ]
Farm safety under microscope after woman run over by truck
Farm safety has been put in the spotlight following the conviction and $80,000 fine of Werribee vegetable grower J & K Zausa after a woman was run over by a truck reversing from a machinery shed. [ + ]
Public comment period for Work Health and Safety Codes of Practice closes 22 June
Interested Australians are encouraged to have their say on five new work health and safety model Codes of Practice that have been released for a 12-week public comment period. [ + ]
Incidents and prosecutions show construction sector can do better
Heavy fines have been imposed in a series of WorkSafe prosecutions after serious incidents for construction industry safety failings. [ + ]
Workplace fatality fine nearly doubled after appeal
Forestry company Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts Australia, now part of BSG Holdings, had its fine for workplace safety breaches nearly doubled on appeal in the County Court recently. [ + ]
Truck company owner fined $13,000 over sham contracting, underpayment
The owner-operator of a Sydney truck company has been fined $13,024 for sham contracting activity and underpaying an employee, following a prosecution by the Fair Work Ombudsman. [ + ]
Have your say on work health and safety for the next decade
The framework for work health and safety in the nation for the next decade, the ‘Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022’, was released yesterday for an eight-week public comment period. [ + ]
Healthy Snacks Australia fined $60,000 after worker loses finger
An Australian food manufacturer has been fined $60,000 over an incident that left a worker with a severed finger after it was caught in a machine. [ + ]
Occupational skin diseases found to cost over $33 million annually
Safe Work Australia Chair, Tom Phillips AM, has announced the release of two research reports on occupational skin disease - the second most common work-related disease presented to general practitioners in Australia. [ + ]
Free health checks
WorkHealth will be offering free, quick and confidential WorkHealth checks on all three days of Safety in Action - a health and safety trade show to be held in Melbourne from 17-19 April, 2012. [ + ]
Using emotions to create personalised footwear
Runners’ own emotions are now being used to develop the next-generation personalised running shoe. The project is a joint venture between RMIT University and the giant Japanese Mizuno Corporation. [ + ]
Free webinars on new work health and safety laws
WorkCover NSW is holding a number of free webinars this month as part of its program to support NSW business, industry and workers adjust to new work health and safety laws. The webinars will cover the topics of electrical safety, construction, plant and structures, and hazardous chemicals. [ + ]
