Victorian news
Infringement notice legislation now in force
In line with a Victorian Government 2018 election promise the Andrews Labor Government has introduced on the spot fines which should provide an immediate alternative to prosecution, for those employers who do the wrong thing.
The Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (Infringements and Miscellaneous Matters) Regulations 2021 (Infringement Regulations) have now been made and list 54 prescribed offences. For a summary of the new provisions, and to get more information on what the 54 offences are, go to this page on the website: Part 7B - Enforcement.
August is Tradie Health Month
WorkSafe Victoria is this month providing tradespeople with free access to the right tools and resources to build physically and mentally safe work sites.
The WorkWell Toolkit is a free online tool that uses a step by step approach to promote mental health and prevent mental injury by offering support and information to small and medium-size businesses.
The OHS Essentials program is a free workplace safety consultation service for small employers where an independent occupational health and safety (OHS) expert can deliver personalised advice to manage safety.
Sign up to receive access to these free online tools at WorkWell Toolkit and OHS Essentials program. Read more: WorkSafe website.
National News
National Fatality Statistics
Safe Work Australia has not updated its statistics on fatalities since July 22, at which time it had been notified that 60 Australian workers had been killed at work this year. The total numbers of fatalities have been in the following sectors:
- 24 in Transport, postal & warehousing
- 9 in Construction
- 6 in Manufacturing
- 5 in Agriculture, forestry & fishing
- 4 in Arts & recreation services
- 2 in Mining
- 2 in Other Services
- 2 in Electricity, gas, water & waste services
- 2 in Public administration & safety
- 1 in Wholesale trade
- 1 in Accommodation & food services
- 1 in Education & training
- 1 'unknown'
These figures are based mainly on initial media reports and provide a preliminary estimate of the number of people killed while working. Once the appropriate authority has investigated the death, more accurate information becomes available from which Safe Work Australia updates details of the incident, consequently sometimes the numbers of deaths in each sector change. Updated information is used to publish Safe Work Australia’s annual Work-related Traumatic Injury Fatalities report which includes finalised work-related fatalities from 2003 onwards. Note that the figures are based on preliminary reports, and so at times will change. To check for updates, and for more details on fatalities since 2003, go to the Safe Work Australia Work-related fatalities webpage.
