One of the most significant motivators for changes in safety leadership in the executive circles in Australia has been the obligation to apply due diligence to occupational health and safety (OHS) matters. The obligation has existed for several years now but is still dominated by legal interpretations rather than managerial ones. To support the legal … Continue reading “Beyond auditing for due diligence”
“If it can’t be measured, it can’t be managed”* has been a mantra of business for decades but all measurement can be corrupted. One of the most contentious elements of occupational health and safety (OHS) is the measurement of safety performance and a recent prosecution in the United States provides an important lesson for OHS managers … Continue reading “Six years jail for injury reporting fraud”
Conference organisers IQPC started its two-day Safety in Design, Engineering and Construction conference on 16 August 2011. The most prominent speaker on day one was Barry Sherriff of law firm, Norton Rose. Sherriff spoke about OHS harmonisation‘s impact on the Australian construction industry. Over time Australian labour lawyers generally have moved from saying that Victorian companies … Continue reading “Concerns increase as Australia’s OHS law changes loom”
Several submissions to Australia’s OHS harmonisation process were very critical of the lack of attention provided to the occupational diving industry. It seems that the Queensland Government has been listening as it has introduced into Parliament a Safety in Recreational Water Activities Bill 2011 alongside its State-version of the model Work Health and Safety Bill … Continue reading “Queensland’s Work Health Safety Bill in Parliament”
Comcare is often seen as a minor player in OHS regulation in Australia because, although it has national coverage, it limits its OHS and workers’ compensation activities to specific industrial and public service sectors. Although it is limited, it has a monopoly in those sectors and is powerful. Its role in Australia’s harmonisation program seems to be just another … Continue reading “Comcare at Senate Estimates – enforcement performance indicators”
The legal commentaries have begun to appear following the release of Australia’s draft Work Health & Safety Act. One of the first, as usual, is a response from law firm Deacons. It should be noted before discussing the suggestions that in the last couple of months Australia’s OHS legal brains are now concentrated in this … Continue reading “Legal advice and safety management”
Safe Work Australia has released a couple more of its annual statistical reports about workplace injuries and fatalities. The report that covers 2006/07 ( Work-Related Traumatic Injury Fatalities, Australia 2006-07) included this information in the Summary of Findings “[In 2006–07]…a total of 453 work-related traumatic injury fatalities in Australia during 2006–07. In 2006–07, just … Continue reading “Australian OHS statistics just released”