Easy OHS

An Echuca construction company and its directors have been fined over the death of a worker four years ago. Peter Miller died at a construction site in Apollo Bay, when a partially built floor he was working on collapsed after more than 10 tonnes of building blocks was placed on it. Read Full Article

The Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court heard basic safety procedures were not adhered to.  Australian Goldfields' company, Redmond Drilling, will be sentenced next month over the death of a worker three years ago. Read Full Article

Calls have been made for the New South Wales Government to review all prosecutions over workplace deaths after a High Court ruling last week. Read Full Article

A County Court judge has convicted and fined what he called “a small business in
difficult times” $80,000 after it failed to provide safety information about its products to
its customers. Read Full Article

WorkSafe has warned companies and workers about the dangers of working in confined
spaces after a tank cleaning company was convicted and fined $500,000 last week after
a worker died. Read Full Article

Warning - New Safety Laws on Track
Set out below is an extract from the Model Work Health and Safety Bill prepared by the Parliamentary Counsel Committee and approved by the Workplace Relations Ministers' Council on the 11th December 2009.  A full copy of the model can be found here - Model Work Health and Safety Bill. We will be bringing you regular updates and reviews of various sections of the proposed harmonisation laws.

Employers should be on notice, that the fines for non compliance in any of the nominated compliance areas (if enacted) are very substantial.  For example, for reckless conduct regarding workplace safety the offences and penalties include 5 years imprisonment and fines of up three million dollars. Read Full Article