A recent NSW Supreme Court case relating to a worker’s death has seen an employer ordered to pay both death benefits and permanent impairment compensation, which is likely to result in a payout amounting to more than $1 million.
The New South Wales Supreme Court has found that casual health workers who convert to permanent employment are entitled to accumulate long service leave during their continuous casual employment.
A contract worker killed in an explosion resulted in the owner of a New Zealand oil recycling company being fined NZ$25,000 (AU$22,587) and 4.5 months of home detention for breaching the country’s work health and safety and hazardous substance laws
In a major decision affecting OHS considerations, two employers have been ordered to pay a total of $1.55 million after being convicted of OHS breaches which led to the death of a worker.
The South Australian Supreme Court has disallowed a regulator to exclude an injured worker from the workers’ compensation scheme via a deeming provision.
As silly season rolls around, reasons to go for a post-work drink or two become increasingly apparent.
Work Christmas parties can be great examples of healthy team bonding and a healthy means of giving back to your employees. However, as attempts to maximise the provision of free alcohol can arise and turn dangerous, it is important to ensure correct management procedures are in place.
In light of a recent parliamentary inquiry, Queensland’s maximum mine safety fines for corporations have the potential to increase to nearly $3.8 million, almost 15-fold the original.
The company director of Oil Tech International Pty Ltd could be fined $600,000 or jailed for five years after a worker was engulfed in flames and killed.
This 2009 case concerns a labour hire company, host employer, and employee engaged as a labourer. Mr Christopher Papadopoulos (Worker) sustained an injury to his lower back during the course of his employment with labour hire company, MC Labour Hire Service Pty Ltd (Employer). The Worker took time off work for surgery and recovery. His Employer did not follow proper procedures in reporting the injury, however, and chose not to refer his Workcover claim to the Insurer despite requirements to do so, pursuant to the provisions of the Accident Compensation Act 1985 (Vic).
The Fair Work Commission has stressed the importance of obtaining proper medical information when determining a worker’s capacity for work in its recent decision in an unfair dismissal claim.
Assuming that compliance equals bureaucracy is just one of the five main mistakes employers are making when it comes to workplace safety, says Occupational Health and Safety Services lawyer Alena Titterton, Clyde & Co Partner.
Drugs and alcohol in the workplace present a complex issue for employers. Recent cases reinforce the importance of setting appropriate workplace policies and procedures when dealing with the subject, and also reflect the inherent difficulties in enforcing the standards that employers set.