AUSTRALIA Workplace Safety and Workers Comp

Independent Agency to Regulate Workplace Safety and Workers’ Comp Arrangements

Australia remains on track to have an independent, national agency regulating workplace health and safety and workers’ compensation arrangements beginning in November 2009, following recent passage of legislation and a meeting where the Safe Work Australia Council forwarded harmonized rules for approval and public comments. In November, the council becomes Safe Work Australia, the new agency’s name.

“We have reached a key milestone proving Safe Work Australia is on track to deliver national OHS laws by December 2011,” said Tom Phillips, a former executive in Australia’s automotive industry who is SWA’s chairman.

The documents include a draft of the model OHS Act. Phillips said he hopes Australian businesses and the public actively participate in the development of the new legislation. “I believe harmonizing OHS laws will benefit workers across all industries by better protecting the lives and health of Australians. This regulatory reform will not come at the expense of the safety of Australian workers,” Phillips noted.

To date, 41 organizations are acting as Safety Partners for Safe Work Australia Week, to be held October 25 to 31. The Safety Partners join 16 Safety Ambassadors to promote safety during the week.

In other initiatives: SWA also is working on a nationally consistent approach for compensating victims of asbestos-related diseases. (workersxzcompxzkit)

The Australian Mesothelioma Register, which may be maintained by a state or territorial agency or research organization, will resume collecting data in 2010.

Author Robert Elliott,executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: [email protected] or 860-786-8286.

We are accepting short articles* (300-800 words) on WC cost containment. Contact us at: [email protected]. *Non-compensable.