Browsing: Coronavirus, COVID-19

A five-member Fair Work Commission bench has detailed activities that do and do not constitute consultation with the meaning of the model WHS laws, in finding BHP failed to properly consult its workers before imposing a COVID-19 vaccination mandate at one of its NSW sites.

• Defibrillators installed in 100 work vehicles, Tas updates COVID WHS tips;
  
• Site controller charged over customer's car wash death; and
  
• Entire supply chain targeted in vehicle safety campaign.

• COVID vaccines mandated for multiple Qld sectors, visiting workers;
  
• Lightning-related WHS duties outlined after fatality; and
  
• WHS activities affected by COVID: major SWA report.

In a timely development, given Australia's easing pandemic restrictions, a study of more than 20,000 workers has found that deficient workplace COVID-19 control measures reduce individuals' infection prevention behaviours, increasing the spread of the disease.

Australian workers are suffering significant stress from enforcing COVID-19 rules for customers, and their managers must adopt a zero-tolerance approach to customer abuse with the busy Christmas period approaching, new research has highlighted.

A Bill that scraps presumptive compensation for workers with COVID-19, and passed the NSW Lower House yesterday, will make it "next to impossible" for coronavirus victims to obtain benefits, the Greens have warned. But industry groups claim there are "multiple tools" to help claimants establish a work-COVID link.

Australian researchers have found pandemic-era working arrangements are helping workers manage the work impacts of a serious health condition that affects many women and costs billions of dollars in lost productivity.

• Presumptive COVID provision to be axed from work injury Act; and
  
• Silica Regulations commence, licences mandatory in 12 months.

A commission has rejected a union's bid to block a BHP COVID-19 vaccine mandate pending a ruling on whether the company met its WHS consultation requirements. Meanwhile, the NSW Supreme Court has dismissed claims that vaccine orders for workers defy a United Nations covenant.

COVID-driven telework arrangements, which are likely to become permanent practices, are creating new psychosocial risks arising from "intense virtual team collaboration", and must be managed, according to a major study by Europe's peak work safety body.