The Workers Compensation Independent Review Service (WCIRS) commenced operation on 30 April 2020. The establishment of the WCIRS by WorkSafe Victoria (WorkSafe) was in response to the recommendation made by the Victorian Ombudsman following a review of how complex claims are being managed and decided by WorkSafe’s appointed authorised agents (Agents).
The new Workplace Manslaughter Offences (Manslaughter Law) will soon commence in Victoria.
Under the Manslaughter Law companies and its officers may be guilty of workplace manslaughter if their ‘conduct’ causes a workplace death. The maximum penalty under the Manslaughter Law is $16.5mil for body corporate and 20 years imprisonment for a natural person.
Volunteers are excluded from the Manslaughter Law.
COVID-19 has dramatically changed the workplace landscape and its impact will continue to be felt for years to come. As Australian businesses try to cope with the effect of COVID-19, we provide you an update on the Government’s initiative to assist businesses to continue to operate and secure job loss.
Mental health issues are also on the rise and employers need to be equipped and have the tools to combat this
An employee who intentionally makes dishonest representations in their CV which leads to a breakdown in the employment relationship and a loss of trust, may cause the employer to dismiss the employee, depending on the seriousness of the misrepresentation.
Victoria’s new Dangerous Goods (Transport by Road and Rail) Regulations came into effect on 25 October 2018.
A recent High Court judgment in an anti-discrimination case does not bar the determination of an interstate worker’s injury claim, a tribunal has ruled.
An appeals court has confirmed that a principal contractor is 40 per cent liable for a worker’s fall through a roof, in a long-running case involving multiple safety prosecutions and damages claims.
In a recent Victorian County Court decision, a worker who nearly drowned in 2012 has been declared seriously injured suffering post-traumatic stress
From the first full pay period on or after 1 August 2018, employers are required to provide eligible employees unpaid domestic violence leave.
In a recent Federal Court decision, a union and officials who attempted to “leverage safety” for industrial objectives have been fined nearly $140,000, while a company and its director have been fined $111,000 for their actions against WHS permit holders, inspectors and police.
On 1 October 2018, the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) will be amended to provide that every party in the heavy vehicle transport supply chain has a duty to ensure the safety of their transport activities.
Obesity has been one of Australia’s most prominent social issues for quite some time now. Today, employers are obliged to ensure that the physical health and body weight of their employees does not pose a health or safety risk to the worker, and the entirety of their business.