Dr Mary Wyatt is an expert on the return-to-work sector in Australia. She was one of several expert speakers at the harmonisation conference in Melbourne at the end of March 2010. Her presentation is available online. Dr Wyatt spoke from a national perspective and has said: “The data we have tells us compensation system (sic) … Continue reading “Insider’s perspective on workers’ compensation harmony process”
On 25 March 2010, at the first of ten workplace bullying information seminars, WorkSafe Victoria, claimed to have a world-class approach to combating workplace bullying. The Europeans may dispute the claim but there is no doubt that WorkSafe is on the right path in responding to the unprecedented community interest in the issue. In a packed hall in the City of … Continue reading “Unprecedented interest in workplace bullying”
On 15 March 2010, the Australian Government congratulated the winners of, and participants in, the 2009–10 National Work–Life Balance Awards. According to a media release from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: “The Awards…. recognise family friendly practices like flexible working hours, options for working from home, paid parental leave, job sharing, onsite carer’s … Continue reading “OHS awards consider work/life balance but not vice versa”
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?”
On 16 February 2010, I was interviewed by Channel 7 television in Melbourne over 20 minutes of footage they had received that showed unacceptable work practices at a domestic site in Cranbourne. Emails from friends told me that my words and face were used in promotional ads by the TV program. At the time of writing this, … Continue reading “Television exposé of children at risk on roof insulation worksite”
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”
The New Zealand Department of Labour has released a media statement about the prosecution reported on yesterday but “The Department will not name either the parties or the specific charges until the charges reach court.” This may be an indication of the political sensitivities of the prosecution. A representative of the Orewa College Board of Trustees, Phil Pickford,was interviewed by New Zealand … Continue reading “Orewa College explosion update”