Blog

New rules regarding requests for flexible work arrangements in all modern awards are set to be introduced on 1 December 2018 following a ruling from the Australian Fair Work Commission earlier this year. The changes will require employers to make a genuine attempt to reach an agreement on flexible work arrangements and provide detailed reasonsRead more

Incomplete initiatives aimed at improving employer reporting of injuries are some of the key management and performance challenges facing OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), according to a new report. The Department of Labor Office of Inspector General recently released a report that recommended how OSHA and the MSHA could best use their resourcesRead more

A new report has found the five-year survival rate of mesothelioma in Australia has not improved in 30 years, with two Australians diagnosed with the disease every day. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) report found Australia has one of the highest incidence rates of mesothelioma in the world. It is generally acceptedRead more

The U.K.’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published new guidance on workplace mental health, as some of Britain’s top companies pressure the Government for legislative change. The guidance included advice for companies on managing workplace mental health in ways appropriate for their business. This includes providing training for managers and employees, employing occupational healthRead more

On October 17 Canada became the second country to fully legalise recreational cannabis, with adults now able to purchase and consume the drug from federally licensed retailers across the country. The social normalization and increased access of cannabis, however, has left many employers wandering what repercussions it will have on workplace safety and productivity. ARead more

As part of a state-wide crackdown on waste regulation, the NSW Government has introduced an Amendment Bill that will double the the penalty for unlawfully transporting or depositing waste where any quantity of asbestos is involved. The Protection of the Environment Operations Amendment (Asbestos Waste) Bill 2018 doubles the maximum fine for waste offences involving asbestos from $1Read more

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration has released its list of the top 10 violations seen by the agency in fiscal year 2018, with Fall Protection and Hazard Communication taking out spots 1 and 2 respectively. Interestingly, the list includes two categories that have not previously made the top 10. OSHA Deputy Director Patrick KapustRead more

New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is “ramping up” its chemical reassessment programme and taking action on various workplace chemicals to ensure risks to people and the environment are being managed effectively. Working with international counterparts, the EPA has identified a priority chemicals list of around 40 chemicals that require review and scrutiny. This will involve reviewingRead more

The European Council and MEPs have agreed on a new deal to better protect workers from exposure to carcinogenic and mutagenic substances. Under the new agreement, diesel fumes will be added to the list of harmful substances. The exposure limit will be set at 0.05 mg/m³ of elemental carbon from all diesel engines, without distinguishingRead more

The Australian Federal Government and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) are investing in new field trials to test driver fatigue monitoring technologies which can enhance heavy vehicle safety outcomes. At the NHVR Fatigue Safety Forum recently held in Sydney, Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Minister Michael McCormack underlined the AustralianRead more