Katherine Morris

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Increased regulation and a potential ban on engineered stone

Photo of Katherine MorrisPhoto of Melissa CarnellBy Katherine Morris and Melissa Carnell on Posted in Australia
The status of silica regulation across Australia This article was co-authored by Hattie Wilson In recent years, Australia has seen a significant increase in the number of cases of silicosis and other crystalline silica (silica) related diseases in the workplace.  Silica is a naturally occurring mineral which is used in many products such as asphalt, … Continue reading

Managing the risks of concussions in contact sports: a Senate inquiry

Photo of Katherine MorrisPhoto of Melissa CarnellBy Katherine Morris and Melissa Carnell on Posted in Australia
This article was co-authored by Hattie Wilson In recent years, evidence of the link between concussions and repeated head trauma sustained in contact sports, and the short and long-term impacts of such injuries on an individual’s health, has gained increasing awareness and concern, both in Australia and internationally. Consequently, on 1 December 2022, the Senate … Continue reading

New WHS legal duties to manage psychosocial hazards in the workplace

Photo of Katherine MorrisPhoto of Annika MartzBy Katherine Morris and Annika Martz on Posted in Australia, General
Legal obligations requiring persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) to manage psychosocial hazards in accordance with work health and safety (WHS) laws are continuing to come into effect across the country. Psychosocial hazards are hazards that may cause psychological and/or physical harm arising from, or in relation to, the design or management of work, … Continue reading

SafeWork NSW approves Code of Practice on managing psychosocial hazards

Photo of Katherine MorrisPhoto of Melissa CarnellPhoto of Brittany TyneBy Katherine Morris, Melissa Carnell and Brittany Tyne on Posted in Asia Pacific, Australia, General
SafeWork NSW has approved Australia’s first Work Health and Safety (WHS) Code of Practice on managing psychosocial hazards at work (the Code). The Code took effect on 28 May 2021. The WHS Act provides that an approved code of practice is admissible in Court proceedings as evidence of whether or not a duty or obligation … Continue reading

Western Australia set for WHS Reform

Photo of Katherine MorrisPhoto of Annika MartzPhoto of Shannon WalkerBy Katherine Morris, Annika Martz and Shannon Walker on Posted in Australia
The Work Health and Safety Bill 2019 (WA) received assent on 10 November 2020 (WHS Act). The WHS Act introduces the offence of industrial manslaughter and will harmonise WA’s work health and safety (WHS) laws with most other Australian states and territories. This harmonisation is long overdue in WA with the other states and territories … Continue reading

WHS regulators issue guides and codes of practice on psychological health and managing sexual harassment claims

Photo of Katherine MorrisPhoto of Annika MartzPhoto of Brittany TyneBy Katherine Morris, Annika Martz and Brittany Tyne on Posted in Australia
Earlier this year, the Respect@Work – National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces, conducted by the Australian Human Rights Commission made key recommendations addressing psychological health and sexual harassment in Australian workplaces. Specifically the inquiry recommended: the model WHS Regulations should be amended to address psychological health by identifying and appropriately controlling work-related psychosocial … Continue reading

Australia – Things to look out for in WHS law in 2020

Photo of Katherine MorrisPhoto of Annika MartzBy Katherine Morris and Annika Martz on Posted in Asia Pacific, Australia, General
This blog identifies developments in WHS law to watch in 2020: Industrial Manslaughter Offences The number of Australian jurisdictions with industrial manslaughter offences in operation will expand this year. Currently, the ACT and Queensland are the only states with such legislation in operation. The Victorian law, the Workplace Safety Legislation Amendment (Workplace Manslaughter and other … Continue reading

Industrial manslaughter progresses in the Northern Territory and Western Australia

Photo of Katherine MorrisPhoto of Melissa CarnellBy Katherine Morris and Melissa Carnell on Posted in Australia
Following our recent updates regarding the introduction of workplace manslaughter laws in Victoria (see our blog article here) and proposed legislative changes in New South Wales (see our blog article here), there have now been further developments, with industrial manslaughter laws being passed in the Northern Territory (NT) and proposed in Western Australia as part … Continue reading

New South Wales responds to Marie Boland Review recommendations

Photo of Katherine MorrisPhoto of Melissa CarnellBy Katherine Morris and Melissa Carnell on Posted in Asia Pacific, Australia, General
New South Wales has introduced a WHS Amendment Bill (Bill) in response to the recommendations of the Marie Boland report issued in February 2019 (see our blog article here regarding the Marie Boland review). The changes, if passed, will commence on the day they receive royal assent. The Bill proposes to: increase maximum penalties (with … Continue reading

Shining the spotlight on dust lung disease in Queensland: a regulatory response for the resources industry

Photo of Katherine MorrisPhoto of Peta WilloughbyPhoto of Matt WichlinskiBy Katherine Morris, Peta Willoughby and Matt Wichlinski on Posted in Asia Pacific, Australia, General
Since 2015, Queensland’s resources industry has been shaken by the re-emergence of dust lung diseases, largely among the State’s large coal mining workforce.  So far, more than 130 workers have been diagnosed with incurable forms of lung disease across Australia, resulting in 6 Queensland deaths in the past 12 months.[1] The State Government has responded … Continue reading

Queensland director’s ‘flagrant disregard’ for safety methods leads to custodial sentence following reckless conduct conviction

Photo of Katherine MorrisPhoto of Brittany TyneBy Katherine Morris and Brittany Tyne on Posted in Asia Pacific, Australia
Earlier this year Gary Lavin and his company Multi-Run Roofing Pty Ltd (Multi-Run Roofing) were found guilty by a jury of reckless conduct under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) (the Act), following the death of a worker in July 2014. Mr Lavin was sentenced to 12 months in prison (suspended after 4); … Continue reading

Marie Boland’s Review of the model Work Health and Safety laws – industrial manslaughter, enhancing the Category 1 offence, and what it might mean for statutory safety duty holders

Photo of Katherine MorrisBy Katherine Morris on Posted in Australia, General
Since the start of this year, two directors have been sentenced to custodial terms for safety offences in relation to separate fatal incidents. In February this year,  Marie Boland’s Review of the model Work Health and Safety laws – Final report (Report) was released  which recommends including a new offence of industrial manslaughter in the … Continue reading

Changes to the Heavy Vehicle National Law coming in mid-2018

Photo of Katherine MorrisPhoto of Annika MartzBy Katherine Morris and Annika Martz on Posted in Asia Pacific, Australia
Australia’s Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) is changing in mid-2018.  The changes are not only relevant to businesses that drive or operate heavy vehicles.  They will also apply to any businesses that consign, pack, load or receive goods by heavy vehicles. Background to Chain of Responsibility Amendments As a result of concerns expressed by industry … Continue reading

Queensland introduces chain of responsibility legislation for non-conforming building products

Photo of Katherine MorrisBy Katherine Morris on Posted in Asia Pacific, Australia
The Queensland Government proposes to introduce comprehensive changes to its building and construction laws through the amendments to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (QBCC Act) proposed by the Building and Construction Legislation (Nonconforming Building Products – Chain of Responsibility and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2017 (Amendments), introduced in to Parliament on 26 … Continue reading
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