On 12 April 2010, the electronic media (video report available) reported a fatality at a BHP Billiton mine in Western Australia where “a truck plunged 18 metres down a shaft at the Perseverance nickel mine near Leinster.” Newspapers on 13 April 2010 have provided further details. The 45-year old man, Wayne Ross, was operating a … Continue reading “BHP Billiton has another mining fatality at Leinster mine”
In December 2009, SafetyAtWorkBlog reported the comments by the English Conservative leader, David Cameron, on some concerns he had about the direction of occupational health and safety in England and how the newspapers were reporting OHS. On 15 March 2010, The Independent published an article by the CEO of the Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH), Rob Strange. [IOSH says it is … Continue reading “The OHS profession in Australia needs a saviour. Has anyone got one spare?”
Earlier in February 2010, the recently appointed leader of the conservative Opposition, Tony Abbott, said in Parliament that the Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett could have been charged with industrial manslaughter over the deaths of four insulation installers funded indirectly by the Government. It was all oratorical bluster with little legal credibility. However, it did … Continue reading “Industrial Manslaughter mentioned in Australia’s Parliament”
On 12 February 2010, the Greens parliamentarian, Mark Parnell, accused WorkCover Corporation of failing injured workers in South Australia. In response to the release of the Parliament’s Statutory Authorities Review Committee (SARC) inquiry into WorkCover, he said “The Greens have been saying for a number of years now that the outsourcing of WorkCover’s claims management is a … Continue reading “Workers’ Compensation becomes an election issue in South Australia”
A reader has advised that there has been an increase in calls to WorkCover NSW concerning workplace bullying, following the sentencing of four men earlier this week in Victoria. WorkSafe Victoria has confirmed that its advisory service is receiving 30 calls a day on the issue where the regular rate was 10. WorkSafe also says … Continue reading “Workplace bullying awareness increases in Australia”
Recently the Victorian Premier, John Brumby reshuffled his Cabinet and created a new portfolio the “Respect Agenda”. The Minister with responsibility for the portfolio is ex-footballer Justin Madden. Very little has been revealed about the agenda, which has been launched after a major international kerfuffle over serious racist attacks against Indian students. It is likely … Continue reading ““Respect Agenda” – seriously?”
The future of Australian OHS legislation relies on tripatism, discussion and, hopefully, consensus. In early December 2009, the most recent Liberal Party leader, Tony Abbott, appointed Eric Abetz to the opposition portfolio of workplace relations. According to a media statement released on 8 December 2009, “Employment is a vital social and economic portfolio area. Balancing … Continue reading “Tripartism and new/old politics”