New Era Safety News (March 2024)
Jamie Mallinder
I help organisations understand and improve safety culture, leadership, systems and workplaces using psychology, neuroscience and technology | Multiple award-winning chartered safety leader, consultant and speaker
Welcome to New Era Safety News - a curation of the latest workplace safety news and views from Australia and across the world. I'm Jamie Mallinder - your trusted voice in #Safety #wellbeing and #leadership. If you have any content you'd like featured send me a DM.
Industrial manslaughter commencing in South Australia from 1 July 2024
South Australia will introduce industrial manslaughter laws on 1 July 2024, imposing max penalties of 20 years imprisonment for company officers' and $18 million in fines for severe workplace negligence. This move aims to strengthen workplace safety and accountability across the state, as Tasmania are set to become the last jurisdiction in Australia to formally introduce industrial manslaughter provisions in WHS laws.
Importantly, SA's act further highlights the increased focus of on mentally healthy workplaces, considering these are expected to be the first industrial manslaughter laws that will explicitly cover grossly negligent conduct that causes a person to be injured or develop a mental illness, that later causes the death of a person (e.g. anxiety. depression, suicide).
For more information visit SafeWork SA 's website: https://www.safework.sa.gov.au/enforcement/industrial-manslaughter
New guidelines on performance evaluation available in ISO 45004:2024
The ISO - International Organization for Standardization has launched new guidelines, ISO 45004:2024, to enhance workplace health and safety performance evaluation, urging a balanced use of proactive and lag indicators to avoid focusing solely on past incidents. This approach, intended for all types of organizations, aims to foster continual improvement and aligns with the ISO 45001:2018 standards, addressing a need for updated performance measurement in global safety practices.
The outdated Australian Standard AS 1885.1:1990 for measuring occupational health and safety performance has not been updated since its expiration decades ago, highlighting a gap in standardized safety evaluation in Australia.
To purchase a copy of the standard visit:
Queensland are closing the industrial manslaughter loopholes as amendments bill passes
Queensland has passed a significant work health and safety bill, introducing amendments to potentially expand industrial manslaughter laws to include bystander fatalities and allowing for multiple duty holders to be charged in the event of a death.
The proposed bill seeks to close a loophole that could let a negligent entity avoid prosecution by arguing the deceased worker was not performing tasks for them at the time of death.
The bill also bars insurance coverage for workplace health and safety (WHS) fines, grants safety representatives the freedom to select their training providers, clarifies their power to halt unsafe work, boosts worker consultations on WHS issues, and introduces a streamlined process for unresolved workplace safety disputes.
To read the passed bill WorkSafe Q. visit:
领英推荐
Risk assessments not relayed to contractors, highlighting a critical communication gap
In December 2019, the Whakaari volcanic eruption resulted in 22 fatalities. A court found the Institute of Geological Nuclear Sciences Ltd (GNS) failed to share critical risk assessments with its helicopter contractors, highlighting a significant safety communication gap. Despite conducting qualitative risk assessments (QRAs) for trips to the island, GNS did not formally relay these outcomes, leading to systemic failures in contractor safety awareness. This incident underscores the importance of comprehensive risk communication between principal contractors and their subcontractors to ensure safety for all involved.
This case highlights the critical importance of clear communication and shared responsibility among multiple duty holders, including principal companies and labour hire firms. It underscores the necessity for all involved parties to rigorously exchange information regarding risks, especially in environments with significant hazards. For companies and labour hire organizations, this mandates a more structured and formalized approach to risk management and information sharing, ensuring that all workers, regardless of their employment status, receive the same level of protection and information about potential dangers.
To read more visit WorkSafe New Zealand or click here:
WorkSafe New Zealand v Institute of Geological Nuclear Sciences Limited [2024] NZDC 4149 (1 March 2024) (nzlii.org)
Western Australia modernized workers' compensation and injury management laws set to commence July 2024
The Western Australian Legislative Council's approval of the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Bill 2023 marks a pivotal modernization of workers' compensation laws. Stemming from comprehensive review and feedback, this legislation updates the outdated 1981 Act, enhancing clarity and certainty for all stakeholders. The new Act, incorporating suggestions from WorkCover WA 's 2014 review, is set to commence on 1 July 2024, following the establishment of necessary regulations and administrative adjustments, signaling a significant step forward in worker protection and injury management.
The Workers Compensation and Injury Management Bill 2023 introduces significant improvements, including increased financial support and extended coverage for catastrophic injuries, a fairer calculation of weekly income, clarified exclusions for stress-related claims, extended deadlines for claim processing, and a structured regulatory framework with increased penalties for non-compliance. These reforms aim to provide better support for injured workers and streamline the compensation process, set to commence on 1st July 2024.
Tango.us offers a digital platform designed to streamline the creation of interactive guides, simplifying the documentation of processes into step-by-step walkthroughs.
Visit the link below and click on the 'Guide me' button to test an example I have made:
This tool can be particularly beneficial for Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) teams by making it easier to create, share, and follow safety processes, ultimately aiding in the better retention of safety procedures and compliance practices.
With features like automatic documentation, interactive guidance, and integration with various tools, Tango can significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of safety training and compliance in the workplace. For more details, visit Tango.us.
I have personally been using this tool at COLLAR? to create and embed real-time work instructions for common tasks powered by our technology partner SafetyCulture into our intranet page.
Wrap up
As we anticipate a significant shift in workplace health and safety laws across Australia, next month promises to bring crucial developments to the forefront.
Stay tuned as we continue to navigate these changes, fostering safer work environments for all.