Published on May 18, 2020
A 30% spike in mental illness; a 25% spike in the suicide rate: these are some of the dire predictions mental health experts are making about the pandemic aftermath. They're urging the government to take action now to improve Australia's "dysfunctional" public mental health syst...
Published on May 18, 2020
Physical distancing is often impossible in manufacturing and construction workplaces. Now, blue collar workers in the UK are saying they're being pressured to return to work, putting them at greater risk of contracting COVID-19. ...
Published on May 18, 2020
Research conducted at the Australian National University has shown that 60% of healthcare workers go to work when they have the flu - and ALL (99%) go to work if the flu symptoms seem minor (e.g. a sore throat and mild cough). The RACGP wants health workers (and the rest of us) ...
Published on May 04, 2020
A Victorian train driver has struggled to secure compensation for work-related injuries to her chest and breast that she says developed due to riding a rough line. She says other female drivers suffer the same painful symptoms she did, but are too embarrassed to speak out in the...
Published on May 04, 2020
Really specific! The SWA website now allows you to drill down by industry, business size and topic (e.g. workers' compensation). They've promised to update the website regularly, with new guidance and information as the situation evolves. ...
Published on May 04, 2020
You know, the ones where you go, "They disputed whaaaaat?" In 2018 a child protection worker was trapped in a bathroom for two hours awaiting police assistance, whilst teenagers threatened to kill her and the child she was protecting. Afterwards, the Department of Child Protecti...
Published on Apr 21, 2020
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Published on Apr 21, 2020
Close to 200 Australians have lodged workers' compensation claims or notifications related to COVID-19, with NSW accounting for the vast majority. Dr Stacey Jenkins of the school of management and marketing at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga said “Workers&rsq...
Published on Apr 21, 2020
Exercise, eat healthfully, engage with colleagues and don't forget about the EAP (employee assistance program) are the four Es of workplace wellness, according to John Hilton in Human Resources Director. ...
Published on Apr 15, 2020
With many people temporarily working from home due to COVID-19, some organisations will see a mass RTW when the need for social distancing ends. But the "old normal" is unlikely to return, and employers should start planning the necessary changes now. "Different layouts; stagger...
Published on Mar 31, 2020
Safe Work Australia have made a clear call: they want employers to let people work from home if possible. If that's not possible, they've assembled other resources including template signs, an infographic on what to do if there is a suspected case of coronavirus at work, as well...
Published on Mar 24, 2020
For many small businesses, profit margins are slim at the best of times and the business has no chance of coping with a sharp, unexpected drop in revenue that could last months or longer. In the Sydney Morning Herald, Tony Featherstone is urging us to start thinking now about th...
Published on Mar 17, 2020
Employers have the ultimate responsibility for ensuring a safe work environment, wherever that work is carried out. ...
Published on Mar 17, 2020
Sing happy birthday twice, TWICE!, whilst comprehensively covering every inch of skin on your hands with soap. And don't touch the tap! ...
Published on Mar 09, 2020
Women make twice as many workers' compensation claims for harassment, bullying and workplace violence as do men, and rates have been trending upwards for the last five years, according to new data from Safe Work Australia. Australian Council of Trade Unions assistant se...
Published on Mar 09, 2020
Probably not, according to lawyers from Cooper Grace Ward...unless I drive a minibus full of infected tourists to and from the airport, or (less likely) I attended a non-negotiable work meeting in a contagion hot-spot. In fact: "Given the low numbers of infections and, just a...
Published on Mar 09, 2020
Women working full-time trail their male colleagues on two-thirds of the indicators that contribute to a thriving workplace, according to SuperFriend's Indicators of a Thriving Workplace report. The Australian Financial Review says, "Major wellbeing issues faced by women rela...
Published on Feb 24, 2020
Pink hair, sexual harassment scapegoating and shoulder pain were all in the mix when the Fair Work Commission ruled in a favour of an unfairly dismissed service station worker in February, ordering her employer to pay more than three months workers' compensation (minus a month f...
Published on Feb 11, 2020
Firies aren't the only workers who may see a jump in workers' comp claims following our horror fire season, according to Kate Ralph - pharmacists, charity workers and/or wildlife rescue personnel may have suffered work injury too. ...
Published on Feb 11, 2020
Formal workplace flexibility arrangements boost parents’ wellbeing and help them manage both work and family life but informal flexiblity (e.g. taking personal calls at work, rearranging meetings or leaving early but catching up at home) are associated with more distress, ...
Published on Jan 28, 2020
Australian research supported by Beyond Blue has shown that junior doctors who work more than 55 hours per week have double the risk of common mental health problems and suicidal ideation. Based on data from 2013, around a quarter of junior doctors fall into this category. ...
Published on Jan 28, 2020
The banking Royal Commission showed us all that culture drives behaviour. In this podcast, ASIC's cultural risk expert Elizabeth Arzadon digs deep into the way leaders can measure and change organisational culture for the better, beginning with the question, "What kind of cultur...
Published on Jan 13, 2020
RTW people are people-people, and we know a lot of our readers will be looking for a way to help the many Australians - not to mention animals and ecosystems - impacted by this terrible fire season. The Guardian has some good advice, in tl;dr form: do your homework, give cash an...
Published on Jan 13, 2020
Pedestrian TV shares their best blues-beating tips for January, including getting healthy, practicing gratitude, taking breaks and scheduling like a boss. ...
Published on Jan 13, 2020
Questionable claims models and inadequate oversight of workers' compensation systems in NSW and Victoria are drawing national attention. Investigative journalist Adele Ferguson says that workers' compensation schemes may have dodged the "royal commission blowtorch," but "serious...
Published on Dec 11, 2019
Move over Google! Workplace wellness is no longer the domain of tech companies: the giants of industry are muscling in too. From plants to airconditioning to green outdoor spaces, workers in industrial spaces will likely be the next beneficiaries of the wellness revolution. But ...
Published on Dec 11, 2019
Many injured people develop a mental health problem (e.g. depression or anxiety) on top of the original injury. In fact, a recent report from Deloitte "showed that insurance claims for secondary conditions such as depression or anxiety were rising at a faster rate than primary c...
Published on Dec 11, 2019
Researchers say there's a link between work-related stress and antidepressant medication use, which costs Australia around $212 million per year. Global expert on work health and professor at UniSA, Maureen Dollard, wants us to know that it's not all about work pressure and...
Published on Dec 03, 2019
Whether you suffer from depression yourself, or simply support others who do, this article written by Jennifer Wong and published on ABC Life is enlightening. Wong writes about the non-linear road to recovery, the need for social support and simple pleasures, and also shares too...
Published on Nov 19, 2019
If you find yourself up against the staid and hidebound at work, organisational psychologist Dr Amantha Imber might be able to help. You can mine her wisdom online, as she speaks to Lisa Leong on the always excellent This Working Life (Radio National). ...
Published on Oct 30, 2019
What we want to know is, what are they going to do about it? The ABC has detailed some of the problems faced by federal police officers who develop PTSD as a result of repeated exposure to stress and trauma whilst serving Australian interests overseas, only to be further stresse...
Published on Oct 29, 2019
“After my episode aired I wanted to kill myself and I started drinking more alcohol in an attempt to self-medicate my injury,” Nicole Prince told the New South Wales Compensation Commission, describing her experiences on reality TV show House Rules. Prince presented ...
Published on Oct 22, 2019
The Workplace Employment Lawyers have launched a blog series on the legal ins and outs of workplace injury and illness. First up, they tackle independent medical examinations (IMEs), providing information on when and how employers can direct workers to have an IME. As yet, they ...
Published on Oct 08, 2019
Five years ago, architect Kerwin Datu was diagnosed with type 1 bipolar disorder after what he describes as "a period of profound social isolation conducting fieldwork in West Africa". Now he has a message for employers and coworkers: people with severe mental illnesses can and ...
Published on Oct 08, 2019
It's a dismal stat: over the last three years, Comcare has rejected three out of every four claims for psychological injury, but only one in ten physical injury claims. According to an unidentified Comcare spokesman, "Determinations for psychological injury claims are invariably...
Published on Sep 24, 2019
No, no, we're not advising you to go back and re-watch Portlandia. But we do think you might be interested in a little study from the University of South Australia, which found that nature-based art in the workplace can reduce stress and mental fatigue. The study was conducte...
Published on Sep 10, 2019
Are you an insurance professional with a bright idea about workers' compensation (or any other aspect of your field)? Do you want the opportunity to pitch your idea to a panel of people who could help you put it into practice - as well as taking home prize money and accessing me...
Published on Sep 10, 2019
Here's the best idea we've heard since our last overseas jaunt: instead of thinking about retirement as something that happens at the end of your working life, consider taking a series of "mini-retirements": opportunities to "dial down external pressures while focusing on ...
Published on Aug 27, 2019
RaeLea Foley was bucked off her horse while working on a cattle station and suffered a brain injury. Although she was back on the job after five weeks, she can no longer do everything she used to, and coming to terms with these limitations has been a struggle. Ms Foley ...
Published on Jul 24, 2019
We were delighted to read about the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline, a free and confidential phone service for performing artists recently launched in Victoria. Many in the industry do not have access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), either because they are independent th...
Published on Jul 24, 2019
Looking after their bodies isn't necessarily a high priority for young workers in physically demanding industries, but this lack of care may well come back to bite them as they age. Physiotherapist David Hall told the ABC that young tradespeople and labourers can feel p...
Published on Nov 19, 2019
Psychologist Dr Marny Lishman says reducing stress is the best way to recover from work-related burnout--the only kind of burnout, according to recent advice from the World Health Organisation. Her tips include exercise, socialising, getting out into nature, and seeing a ps...
Published on Jul 24, 2019
You probably don't need another reminder of the grim reality, but here it comes anyway: Australia has a very poor track record when it comes to managing work-related mental ill-health. Now, there's a glimmer of light on the horizon, in the form of new clinical practice guideline...
Published on Jul 24, 2019
According to the website Preventing Overdiagnosis, "Overdiagnosis happens when people get a diagnosis they don’t need. It can happen when people without symptoms are diagnosed and then treated for a disease that won’t actually cause them any symptoms, and it can happ...
Published on Jul 15, 2019
Earlier this month Collingwood Magpies star Dayne Beams announced he was taking an indefinite break from AFL to deal with his mental health. In the past he's spoken openly about his struggles after the death of his father, as well his distress as a target of online trolling. ...
Published on Jul 15, 2019
An Australian man who had seven operations to his hips and back after falling out of a boom lift at work five years ago is now competing in international cycling races. Before his injury Daniel Pomering wasn't a cyclist, but decided to follow in his wife's footstep...
Published on Jul 15, 2019
The Clinical Framework for the Delivery of Health Services was published by the Victorian Transport Accident Commission and Worksafe Victoria in 2012, and subsequently endorsed by Comcare. (We've covered it here and here.) Basically, it encourages evidence-based treat...
Published on Jun 26, 2019
Australian paramedics experience Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at around twice the rate of other health professionals. A new review from researchers at Flinders University, commissioned by the Ambulance Employees Association (AEA) has found that: “Paramedics rep...
Published on Jun 26, 2019
The Heads of Workers Compensation Authorities (HWCA) invite you to participate in the consultation on the DRAFT Principles for Practice for Workplace Rehabilitation Providers, developed to support Workplace Rehabilitation Providers deliver services to individuals with a compensa...
Published on May 27, 2019
People who claim workers' compensation in Victoria, NSW, South Australia and the Commonwealth may be entitled to a lump sum for future loss of earnings, but they can't claim a lump sum for future medical needs. For those with catastrophic injuries and permanent impairment, this ...
Published on May 20, 2019
Do you work with GPs who would benefit from learning more about occupational cancer? The Cancer Council has developed an e-learning module to increase GP’s awareness of workplace carcinogens and cancers. The module includes sections on occupational carcinogens in the Au...
Published on May 20, 2019
Sarah Guthleben from Equip Super, workplace health expert Niki Ellis and mental health campaigner Mitch Wallis will join the board of workplace wellbeing advocate Superfriend, bringing the board close to an equal gender split. Superfriend CEO Margo Lydon told Investment Magaz...
Published on May 06, 2019
Australian health and wellbeing technology company WorkScore has released new research claiming that almost 40% of 8,800 workers surveyed report losing sleep because of work stress. According to the research, workers who sleep less than 6 hours a night work more, have higher ...
Published on May 03, 2019
Many organisations respond to workplace injury by pushing compliance with new or existing rules and procedures - however safety often hinges on proactive responses to challenging situations. “Our research showed that employees who were compliant with the safety rules in...
Published on Apr 17, 2019
Melbourne-based digital agency Versa abolished Wednesdays 12 months ago, splitting the 37.5-hour working week into two two-day blocks. Managing director Jonny Clow was initially a sceptic. "To lose a whole day — 20 per cent of revenues — you know it...
Published on Apr 16, 2019
RTW professionals and employer representatives are sometimes frustrated by the doctor-patient bond, especially when there are questions about the legitimacy or work-relatedness of an injury. Should doctors simply believe injured workers' reports, or is a more skeptical attitude ...
Published on Apr 16, 2019
Working in a pharmacy it's almost inevitable: you're going to have to deal with an agro customer at some point. So it makes sense that pharmacists would be particularly interested in creating mentally healthy workplaces. The Australian Journal of Pharmacy E-Mag has published a f...
Published on Apr 16, 2019
Warning: this is a story about violent crime in the workplace, so please don't read it if you think it might disturb you... Dr Andrew Taylor was shot at work, by a gunman intent on revenge. The offence? A medical report that he believed underplayed his workplace injuries, result...
Published on Apr 05, 2019
Aaron Goonrey and Jenni Mandel of Lander and Rogers law firm strongly believe that older workers should be nurtured - not stigmatised. Stereotypes limit everyone. If you're wedded to the idea that older workers are set in their ways and on their way out the door anyway, you'r...
Published on Mar 22, 2019
When you think about musical therapy in a hospital, most likely you think of it as something offered to the patients: the fabulous Hush program comes to mind. The Sunshine Coast University Hospital has taken a different approach, installing a grand piano in the main foyer so ...
Published on Mar 19, 2019
We're saddened to report that Anthony White, the Queensland stonemason who helped raise the alarm about the dangers of silica dust, has passed away from silicosis aged just 36. Mr White's brother, Shane Parata, also has the disease. In the wake of his brother's death, he's ...
Published on Mar 10, 2019
Ex-BHP workers with black lung disease (pneumoconiosis, a potentially fatal disease caused by prolonged exposure to coal dust with no known cure) have proposed a one cent per tonne, per week levy on coal produced to create a fund for sick workers and their families once workers'...
Published on Mar 10, 2019
In a world first, a woman who developed PTSD working as a crime reporter for The Age has been awarded $180,000 in damages by the Victorian County Court, which deemed her workplace to have been unsafe. Although not strictly speaking a workers' compensation case, we're bringing it...
Published on Feb 11, 2019
You've probably heard about the Maccas worker who toppled from the roof after smoking a cigarette up there prior to the start of the night shift. Many people raised their eyebrows when the Industrial Court of Queensland ruled she was eligible for workers' compensation for the br...
Published on Jan 15, 2019
We've all said it: "I don't have time to exercise." But what if you could give yourself all the benefits of an hour-long workout (increased fitness, better mood) in just ten minutes. (Full disclosure: you'll also have to find time for a warm up and a shower or two.) Profes...
Published on Jan 15, 2019
Following on from a recent report that found that FIFO workers are more likely than workers to experience high levels of psychological distress, a West Australian state MP is calling on the resource industry to do more in terms of rostering for good mental health. Labor Membe...
Published on Dec 19, 2018
Pregablin, a nerve pain drug often sold under the brand name Lyrica, is frequently prescribed for back pain. Initially marketed as a non-addictive alternative to opioids, it's becoming increasingly clear that the drug is both addictive and dangerous. Side effects include depress...
Published on Dec 13, 2018
"I question why should we as a community accept an industry inflicting higher than normal psychological distress and mental harm on its employees," said Peter Miller, whose son Rhys Conner took his own life in a FIFO accommodation camp on July 25, 2013. "We don't accept as a ...
Published on Nov 29, 2018
Pregabalin (sold as Lyrica) is a drug commonly prescribed for patients on workers' compensation. Its intended use is as an anti-epileptic and a painkiller for nerve pain. According to new research, "ambulance call-outs associated with the misuse of pregabalin hav...
Published on Nov 29, 2018
In this video link, co-founder and non-executive director of RUOK, Graeme Cowan, spells out his acronym of support for friends and colleagues who tell you they're not doing well. Graeme uses the acronym I CARE: Identify Compassion Access appropriate support...
Published on Nov 29, 2018
"At its most basic level, regulation is used to control risks that lead to societal problems," writes Dariel de Sousa, on legal blog Lexology. So what does it take to be an effective regulator in workers compensation? The short answer: focusing on desired outcomes (e.g. ti...
Published on Nov 19, 2018
Jessicah Mendes is an ABC journalist and private investigator who spent a year working for the insurance industry, mostly on cases involving people with income protection or disability claims relating to a mental health condition. Reflecting on her experience...
Published on Nov 09, 2018
"Australians are increasingly using prescription or over-the-counter painkillers to ease emotional, rather than physical, pain," writes criminologist Kev Dertadian on The Conversation. "Our cultural understanding of pain is changing, and as a result it’s becoming ...
Published on Nov 06, 2018
We highly, highly recommend you follow the link and read this fantastic opinion piece by Zoë Wundenberg, who, personally and professionally, knows all the benefits the Invictus Games bring returned Defence Force members: not just recovery and rehabilitation but also...
Published on Oct 23, 2018
A national plan to reduce medical overdiagnosis, and reduce the harm it can cause patients is underway by the Wiser Health research collaboration. “We know harm can come from overdiagnosis,” says Chief Medical Officer, Professor Murphy, “from cau...
Published on Oct 23, 2018
Alarming levels of accelerated Silicosis found in stonemasons who work with engineered stone, a popular kitchen benchtop material. With an expected 300 cases by December in Queensland alone, Brisbane-based senior occupational physician Dr Graeme Edwards says Austra...
Published on Oct 23, 2018
While acceptance of the need for mental health days has increased, 55% of workers surveyed still believe that taking leave may lead to negative repercussions. Concerned with what the research shows, psychologist Sabina Read said “Workers may feel taking...
Published on Oct 09, 2018
Mental health at work will be a key focus of a Productivity Commission investigation, the Federal Government has announced. "It's focusing on the causes and the prevalence of mental health, the ability to recognise it, and help provide treatment, support,...
Published on Oct 05, 2018
“Burnout is becoming more prevalent as time goes on and it has a lot to do with the intensity of our work environments as people need to perform at such a high level in order to succeed,” Dr Michael Leiter, world renowned expert on the psychology of work, tol...
Published on Sep 25, 2018
There's a "hidden workforce" of carers in Australia: around 2.7 billion Australians provide $60 billion worth of care each year, $13 billion of which is in the form of caring for someone with a mental health issue. Many unpaid carers are also workers; and many i...
Published on Sep 20, 2018
"If our workplaces and our workmates are supportive, and we take the breaks we should, seek the support we need when recognising we’re finding it tough or help is required, we’d all live in a much healthier space," says Business SA CEO Nigel McBride. He&...
Published on Sep 10, 2018
Simonie Fox, group strategy manager of rehabilitation and claims at AIA Australia, told the Investment Magazine Group Insurance Summit: “We’ve got oncologists whose patient load is growing and growing. Consequently, they’re really focusing on survival,...
Published on Aug 28, 2018
Follow the link for a fantastic resource from the Mentally Healthy Workplace Alliance, laying out six key areas and evidence-based strategies to help Australian employers maximise the mental health and wellbeing of workers. ...
Published on Aug 09, 2018
Deakin University conducted a return on investment study on sit / stand desks and found that they were excellent value for money. It would cost $185.2 million to provide 20% of Australian office workers with sit / stand desks, but would save 7492 “health-adjusted life y...
Published on Jul 31, 2018
Amie Steel, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Technology Sydney, has written an excellent piece for The Conversation summarising the existing evidence on the benefits of osteopathy for conditions such as low back pain, pancreatitis, neck pain, back pain...
Published on Jul 31, 2018
Around 1.9% of Australian workers go to work high on ice, according to Business SA, South Australia's peak business lobby - increasing the risk of work injury, especially in safety critical roles. Management personnel at Pinnacle Drinks, based in the Barossa Valley,...
Published on Jul 17, 2018
A warning: the link in this heading leads to a report from the Sydney Morning Herald describing distressing scenes encountered by child protection workers. Please don't follow the link if you don't want to encounter such material at work. Our summary: the union that r...
Published on Jul 12, 2018
If you're after a bit of office worker affirmation, don't strike up a conversation with clinical exercise physiologist and corporate adviser Graeme Wright, who told PerthNow that desk-related work should come with a health warning. “If you look at tho...
Published on Jul 12, 2018
“Most insurers are saying that mental illness claims are on the increase,” says Margo Lydon, chief executive of SuperFriend. “We’ve been talking for 10 to 11 years about how, globally, we’re going to be seeing greater claims in the mental h...
Published on Jul 06, 2018
The ABC have teamed up with Smiling Mind and former Sydney Swans captain Brett Kirk to develop a series of mindfulness meditations, including some designed to help deal with different forms of workplace stress. Specifically, meditations to help you: Regulate feelin...
Published on Jun 29, 2018
In claim farming, telemarketers try to recruit clients for personal injury claims and then sell the client referrals to law firms. The practice is banned in some Australian states and against ethical guidelines in others. But desperate times call for desperate measures. As re...
Published on Jun 19, 2018
Employee performance and well-being consultant Franziska Alesso Bendisch has profiled BankUnited’s Bank On Wellness program for Forbes, highlighting 5 characteristics that she believes have led to unusually high employee engagement with the program. Sta...
Published on Jun 08, 2018
Happy managers are low on three key job stressors, according to new Australian research reported on The Conversation. Role ambiguity, role conflict and role overload all increase managers' unhappiness, while reducing performance. "Put simply, managers are...
Published on Jun 05, 2018
Dr Vered Gordon is a GP consultant based at the Black Dog Institute. She says that managers often struggle to respond well when workers disclose mental health problems. She shared 5 tips with Smart Company: Respond to disclosure with compassion and support. ...
Published on Jun 05, 2018
People who stand all day for work can end up aching all over, especially if they have poor posture and few breaks. Kusal Goonewardena, founder of the Elite Akademy physiotherapy clinic, told the Sydney Morning Herald that "mini-steps" (aka walking on the spot) ...
Published on May 22, 2018
Full disclosure: we think you should all be listening to Best Practice, a podcast hosted by Richard Aedy for ABC Radio National. The most recent episode (which we link to here) asks "How do you react when you notice bad behaviour taking place in the office, in corporatio...
Published on May 22, 2018
Why? “People who are very active at work spend eight hours a day being active,” says Pieter Coenen, an occupational health researcher at VU University Medical Center in the Netherlands. “They may get very limited rest breaks; their heart rate and blood...
Published on May 08, 2018
Back in 2015, Greg Medcraft then chair of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), said: "Culture matters to ASIC because poor culture can be a driver of poor conduct. Culture has been at the root of some of the worst misconduct we’ve seen ...
Published on Apr 24, 2018
Over the last year we've covered some of the challenges RTW poses for women specifically. Is flexible work for men the answer? Libbie Lyons, director of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, has called on senior managers to set targets for flexible work amongst male emplo...
Published on Apr 24, 2018
RTW professionals are often the nice guys and gals of the office, which according to Peter O'Connor from the school of Business and Management at Queensland University of Technology means that they could be compromising their own success at work. But don't worry, it&#...
Published on Apr 24, 2018
Workers' comp and WHS will face mega challenges over the next 20 years, according to a report prepared by Safe Work Australia in partnership with CSIRO’s Data61. The Workplace Safety Futures report identifies six megatrends set to shake things up: the extending...
Published on Apr 24, 2018
RTWMatters is created in suburban Melbourne, northern NSW, country Victoria, Tasmania, Darwin and even further afield, meaning that we depend on digital connectivity and home office environments. We love the flexibility of this working model but there are health and wellbeing...
Published on Apr 10, 2018
Arthritis Australia's national policy and government relations manager, Franca Marine, recently shared some tips for helping workers with athritis remain at work. Here's something we didn't know: there are actually more than 100 different conditions that fall unde...
Published on Apr 10, 2018
Yes you can, according to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, which recently upheld Comcare's decision to cease covering massage therapy for a worker injured in 1989. The massages began as a treatment for back pain brought on by a chronic cough from exposure to cigarette...
Published on Mar 27, 2018
John Brogden has written a thoughtful and personal analysis of James Packer's decision to resign from the board of Crown Resorts because of struggles with mental illness. Our highlight: "The good news is our treatment of mental health gets better and better all the t...
Published on Mar 23, 2018
You might have seen recent reports of employers up in arms about "the growth of paid-for sick notes which they say are being handed out like headache tablets in some pharmacies". The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has issued a rejoinder, stressing that&nb...
Published on Mar 07, 2018
Some public service workers' compensation claims may soon be managed by private sector insurers, if government departments and agencies decide to take advantage of new options announced by Comcare this month. The public / private model has already been trialled in the Com...
Published on Feb 27, 2018
In Western Australia, medical staff are being trained in self-defense techniques by the police. In Victoria, 95% of healthcare workers have experienced physical or verbal assault, according to WorkSafe Victoria. Patients have been known to spit at nurses and doctors, hu...
Published on Feb 23, 2018
An independent review of the mental health of members of the Australian Federal Police has found that: Almost 25% reported experiencing moderate to high levels of current psychological distress; 14% reported clinically significant symptoms of depression ...
Published on Feb 20, 2018
Did you know that whiplash injuries cost more than spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries caused by car crashes, according to the University of Queensland's Recover Injury Research Centre? Or that half of all people with whiplash injuries will be moderately to severely ...
Published on Feb 20, 2018
Superfriend and Safe Work Australia have released Taking Action: A best practice framework for the management of psychological claims in the Australian workers’ compensation sector. (It's an update and adaptation of a framework initially prepared for the life i...
Published on Feb 12, 2018
For FIFO worker Barry Haack a wrist injury eventually became a mental breakdown, after colleagues dubbed him "The Milky Bar Kid" because they believed he was milking his injury while working modifed duties. Mr Haack's supervisor offered no support, and eventuall...
Published on Jan 29, 2018
The idea that heavy lifting causes hernias is outdated, according to evidence presented on behalf of Comcare to the Workers' Compensation Tribunal. Expert witness Professor O’Rourke gave evidence that there had been a shift in the medical consensus in recent ye...
Published on Jan 29, 2018
We know that work-related stress can give some people high blood pressure. Scientists are now beginning to understand how work stress can rewire the brain in ways that also impacts the body. According to science writer Liam Mannix, "Chronic stress may be...
Published on Jan 16, 2018
On releasing the AMA’s position statement on mental health, Dr Michael Gannon says “Almost one in two Australian adults will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime, yet mental health and psychiatric care are grossly underfunded when compared to phy...
Published on Dec 18, 2017
Early in 2017, the Australian Financial Review asked then-chief executive Ahmed Fahour if he was aware of internal allegations that senior managers were delaying workers' compensation claims to secure bonuses. He implied that he was not, but it's now been reveale...
Published on Dec 08, 2017
"It was so embarrassing … it was humiliating and all this time I could have been seeing my own GP," supermarket delivery worker Nyrie Stringer told the ABC, describing her experience of attending the work doctor with her manager present. Ms Stringer had ...
Published on Dec 01, 2017
Former Essendon player John Barnes suffered hundreds of knocks to the head when he was in the AFL. For the last five years he's suffered from epilepsy and experienced memory loss that makes tasks like shopping for groceries difficult. “I’m staring at the ...
Published on Dec 01, 2017
In this vivid article, people who've suffered psychological injury at work share their stories with news.com.au. For example, a child protection worker described his breakdown: "I just cracked up, I burst into tears and I told her how scared I was that this kid could...
Published on Nov 20, 2017
Workers win, government wins and employers win when workplaces become more age-friendly, according to a study from the Australian National University. The ten-year, longitudinal study compared the health, wellbeing and levels of welfare dependency amongst older workers and th...
Published on Nov 06, 2017
The Executive Health Index summarises clinical data collected from 30,000 executive-level employees at 500 organisations across Australia between 2013 and 2017. The index ranks professions according to physical health, medical health, psychological health, lifestyle fact...
Published on Oct 23, 2017
Australian businesses aren't doing enough to contain the identify hazards and assess and manage risks associated with occupational asthma, according to Dr Peter Jezukaitis, an occuptational physician. Annually there are at least 200 confirmed asthma-related workers&#...
Published on Oct 16, 2017
Around 75,000 Australians live with a psychotic illness; only 22.4% of this group works. Researchers say that that a new program combining web-based cognitive remediation therapies and supported employment programs might make employment a real possibility for many more. ...
Published on Sep 25, 2017
A casual primary school teacher from NSW has been awarded a six-figure settlement from a school authority on top of the workers' compensation payments she to which she has been entitled since 2014. The teacher had sustained a severe psychiatric injury as a result of bully...
Published on Sep 15, 2017
Every year sleepy workers cause more than 10,000 serious workplace injuries. Currently, it's up to workers to self-identify as too tired for work. Researchers at Monash University think they might have a solution: saliva or blood tests that objectively assess whether work...
Published on Aug 28, 2017
Joshua Schulz was employed as a contractor, with no leave or superannuation entitlements, operating under an ABN and collecting GST, working part time as an Uber driver - and yet he was also eligible for workers' compensation from the company who leased him his vehicle, a...
Published on Aug 28, 2017
Six years ago, a Senate inquiry found "a conclusive link between firefighting and cancers, and found certain cancers to be up to five times more likely than in the general population". In NSW and Victoria, however, firefighters diagnosed with work-related cancers fa...
Published on Aug 14, 2017
Some sobering facts from the Australian: "The construction and mining sectors, the most exposed to the boom and bust of Australia’s economy in recent decades, have the biggest suicide problem. Unskilled labourers are most at risk. "Data from the Na...
Published on Aug 14, 2017
A former Woolworths’ cold room worker expected to lift more than 2000 heavy boxes per day to shoulder height and above has been awarded $231,211.45 in compensation plus legal costs by the Court of Appeal in Brisbane. The boxes weighed up to 24kg, and some were labe...
Published on Jul 31, 2017
Firing the employee might seem like a relatively easy solution to long-term work absence, given the many challenges of supporting people back to work after a period of prolonged absence. However, if the employee protests it's up to the employer to prove that, on the...
Published on Jul 31, 2017
To yell or not to yell: if that was the question, evidence suggests North Melbourne coach Brad Scott puts his vote firmly in the 'to yell" column, after being filmed indulging in an angry tirade at a poorly performing player this month. RMIT Professor of Manage...
Published on Jul 17, 2017
We can't vouch for the comprehensiveness of this list, but the people at PR Wire have compiled a list of all the incentives (i.e. premium reductions) available in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria. Scroll down to find the detail...
Published on Jul 07, 2017
WorkCover Queensland and Monash University have announced a new research partnership, which will focus on identifying and supporting injured workers who are at risk of poor return to work outcomes and/or pursuing common law against their employers. “There are...
Published on Jul 03, 2017
Small business owners face pressures that may undermine their own mental health, according to Anthony Hasphall, training team manager for St John Ambulance Victoria. And they can find it difficult to cope when employees struggle too: "For small business owners...
Published on Jul 03, 2017
Follow the link for a fantastic overview of the science and art of ergonomics, which focuses on shaping the environment to suit people (and not the other way around. According to Ted Dohrmann, managing director at Dohrmann Consulting based in Melbourne: "Wherever y...
Published on Jul 03, 2017
Finding it hard to concentrate at work? Irritable with your colleagues? You might be due a mental health day! Health and wellbeing psychologist Marny Lishman says, "In a perfect world, confessing to taking a mental health day would be great as, if everyone was...
Published on Jun 05, 2017
According to RUOK, Australian businesses need to create more interpersonal trust. Research recently launched by RUOK and NSW icare found that more than 1/3 (36%) of Australian workers aged 25-34 are concerned they'll be blamed for mistakes at work, compared with arou...
Published on Jun 02, 2017
More than one fifth of truckies experience mental illness and most aren't receiving treatment, according to research cited by the Transport Workers Union. They've partnered with beyondblue to draw attention to the issue. According to Beyondblue’s Head...
Published on May 22, 2017
Karen Hitchcock is a doctor and writer who has a regular column in the Monthly. Recently she had this to say about the sick day: "Getting sick has its advantages: time off work, the presence of doting loved ones, fiscal compensation, identity solidification, sympathy, at...
Published on May 22, 2017
If you're lucky enough to work for an organisation that allows its employees flexibility about where and when they do their work, here's some free advice from a lawyer: you need to have clear policies and procedures about working from home, and understand the impact t...
Published on May 19, 2017
In 2011 a truck driver on his way home from an induction session was involved in a head-on collision with a motorcyclist, who died at the scene. The driver subsequently developed PTSD, and his employer (Bernie Howe Pty Ltd) covered the workers' compensation payments. Fast...
Published on May 15, 2017
Surgeons often overestimate the benefits of their work and underestimate the harm of it, according to leading orthopaedic surgeon, Ian Harris. As reported in the Canberra Times, Professor Harris recently told a gathering of surgeons that around half of orthopaedic surgic...
Published on Apr 24, 2017
Best Practice airs on Radio National. In this episode, Rhonda Brighton-Hall asks questions about work satisfaction: "What makes a difference when it comes to how you feel about work and who are the happiest workers in Australia?" ...
Published on Apr 10, 2017
The ABC has published the transcript of a speech Julia Gillard gave at Adelaide University, hot on the heels of the news that she has replaced Jeff Kennett as the chair of Beyond Blue. Gillard announced that Beyond Blue has now set its sights on suicide prevention, and ...
Published on Apr 10, 2017
There was a 33% drop in serious workers compensation claims between 2000-01 and 2013-14, according to the 2014-15 Australian Workers’ Compensation Statistics report recently released by Safe Work Australia. However, median compensation paid for a serious claim rose...
Published on Mar 13, 2017
Lynn Morgan's work injury left her with incomplete paraplegia: in workers' compensation terminology, 92% total body disability. Now as a result of total immersion therapy she is free to move again. According to the Adelaide Advertiser, therapy creator Pete...
Published on Feb 22, 2017
Australia Post is again in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, with managers accused of manipulating injury rates and using corporate credit cards to pay for workers' medical treatments in order to secure bonuses for KPIs (key performance indicators) relating to LTI ...
Published on Jan 30, 2017
Do you feel as though you need to be a counsellor or psychiatrist to manage mental health issues in the workplace? The experts have spoken: just as you don't need to be an orthapedic surgeon to help someone cope with a broken leg, you don't have to be an expert in men...
Published on Jan 16, 2017
Two new reports from Safe Work Australia detailing the results of the 2016 Return to Work Survey are now online. The biannual survey compares the return to work experiences and outcomes of injured workers against a number of variables, including returning to work, workplace r...
Published on Dec 19, 2016
Do unexplained work absences give employers reason to direct an employee to see an Independent Medical Examiner (IME)? Well that depends, according to a 2016 ruling from the Fair Work Commission. Yes, if work absences are frequent or prolonged, and linked to any illness that ...
Published on Dec 05, 2016
You may hit a paywall when you attempt to follow the link attached to this story, but we couldn't ignore the Australian's coverage of the crackdown on mental health claims at Comcare, which sources say has been initiated at the behest of the federal government. ...
Published on Dec 05, 2016
Taking advice from lawyers before organising the work Christmas party? Bah humbug indeed! This alert from Lexology provides employers with hints and tips for an accident-free, claim-free festive season. Our favourite: designate a couple of senior staff members to stay sober, ...
Published on Dec 05, 2016
A former prosecutor who worked for the Specialist Sexual Offences Unit of the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) between 2009 and 2011 is seeking damages for lost earnings and lost earning capacity. Zagi Kozarov says she suffers from severe chronic post-traum...
Published on Nov 21, 2016
There were 27,759 claims for serious injury from Australian truckers in the years 2010-11 to 2014-15, according to data from Safe Work Australia, averaging more than 5,000 claims per year. Manual handling injuries, falls and vehicular accidents accounted for 33.9%, 27.2% and ...
Published on Nov 18, 2016
A workers' compensation case that has bounced from the Adminstrative Appeals Tribunal, to the Federal Court, the High Court and back again is yet to establish whether a decision taken by the ABC constitutes reasonable management action undertaken in a reasonable manner. A...
Published on Nov 14, 2016
Unlike some other OECD countries, Australia does not currently include work rehabilitation as part of the standard management of cancer patients - but it should, according to an oncologist and senior staff specialist at the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Professor ...
Published on Nov 02, 2016
Architects can help organisations make the most of the link between staff wellbeing and productivity, according to a panel of designers at the recent Architecture & Design’s Commercial Connect event held in Sydney. How? By using big data to analyse staff movem...
Published on Oct 24, 2016
Former Premier of Victoria and Chairman of Beyond Blue, Jeff Kennett, is lobbying the Business Council of Australia to endorse a plan that would make the mental health of employees one of the annual key performance indicators of private-sector executives and government d...
Published on Oct 24, 2016
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal has thrown out a Comcare workers' claim for compensation after surveillance footage showed the worker playing a poker machine in a club and going on a fishing trip with friends where he helped lift a kayak from a trailer, picked up a fu...
Published on Oct 03, 2016
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) has supported Comcare's decision to stop covering massage treatments more than 12 years (and 648 massages) after a workplace accident left former public servant Jeffery Drummey with an injured back. Deputy Preside...
Published on Sep 26, 2016
Comcare is headed for the Federal Court to challenge the Administrative Appeals Tribunal's decision to award workers' compensation to ASIC senior manager John Chambers. The tribunal upheld Mr Chambers' claims that he suffered from anxiety and depression afte...
Published on Sep 18, 2016
For Comcare workers wondering what constitutes a legitimate workplace injury, secondary weight gain and jogging are out but moving to Canberra is in, reports The Australian - at least for now. Despite a 25% decrease in the number of claims lodged over the last 5 year period, ...
Published on Sep 11, 2016
Almost three quarters of Australian workplaces have no formal policy or procedure for managing staff mental health issues, according to a survey of Australian workplaces conducted by the law firm Minter Ellison. The national mental health commissioner, Professor Ian...
Published on Sep 11, 2016
The Australian Administrative Appeals Tribunal has upheld Comcare's argument that a 9.30am jog does not constitute an "ordinary recess" from work when rejecting a workers compensation claim from Catalyst presenter Maryanne Demasi, who broke her hip on a 7km coas...
Published on Sep 04, 2016
Westpac faces action in the Federal Circuit Court from former metrics and performance insight manager, Angela Corlett, who says she was bullied at work. According to the Australian Financial Review, Ms Corlett "allegedly suffered from a back injury at work but Westp...
Published on Aug 28, 2016
A former Anglicare employee has been awarded more than $450,000 for psychological injuries sustained while caring for a 15-year old resident of an Anglicare facility in 2013. Rachel Greenway was subject to verbal abuse and physical threats from the teenager, and then required...
Published on Aug 28, 2016
Amie Frydenberg and Lyndon Albiston from Lander and Rogers Lawyers stress the importance of getting medical assessments right in an article outlining the ongoing dispute between the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) on behalf of Mr Michael Haylett (Hayle...
Published on Aug 21, 2016
UK Comedian Ricky Gervaise is just one of thousands to support an Australian campaign to start conversations about suicide and men's mental health. The initiative asks men to post selfies on social media with the tag #ItsOKToTalk. Rugby player Luke Ambler developed the id...
Published on Aug 14, 2016
41 Australian military personnel and veterans have commited suicide this year, the same number of Australians who were killed in Afghanistan during the 13 years of war. Grieving families have united to call for adequate support from authorities to help address the issue. The ...
Published on Aug 14, 2016
Rebates to improve the safety of all terrain vehicles (ATVs) are being made available in Victoria and NSW. The scheme will be administered by the Victorian Farmers Federation in Victoria. Grants of up to $1200 can to towards fitting rollover protection or buying an alternativ...
Published on Aug 07, 2016
The chair of the Senate inquiry into black lung believes that there has been a flawed testing regime, and said that Australia should adopt national standards for the testing of black lung in coal workers. There have been 11 cases of pneumoconiosis (black lung) discovered sinc...
Published on Jul 31, 2016
An Adelaide businessman imported 8000 cement sheets which were laced with asbestos. The company is urgently trying to track down former employees to warn them of the risks and to offer health assessments and counselling. The contamination was not discovered until 2015, but th...
Published on Jul 24, 2016
Workers at Perth Children's Hospital were covered by a white substance after drilling into roof, however the area was not isolated for 24 hours. The material was later found to be asbestos. Opposition health spokesman said, "John Holland has had an infinite number of...
Published on Jul 24, 2016
A flight attendant was arrested and jailed for three days in the United States following accusations by a workmate that he sexually assaulted her. He spent a night in a police cell before being transferred to Orange County jail. The police did not proceed with any charges aga...
Published on Jul 17, 2016
The most recent set of data from Safe Work Australia shows that workers in the agriculture, forestry and fishery industries are at highest risk of injury and fatality. There were 686 deaths in these industries between 2003 and 2014, accounting for 23 percent of all workplace ...
Published on Jul 10, 2016
Impairment through drug and alcohol use greatly increases the risk of injury in the workplace. Around half of all workplace incident occur as a result of drug abuse according to research. Tackling the issue improves worker health, workplace stability and increases workplace p...
Published on Jun 19, 2016
Research has revealed that 26 percent of people aged between 12 and 25 years of age would not tell anyone if they had a personal mental health issue. 52 percent of people in this age group who had experienced a mental health issue in the past year said that they would be emba...
Published on Jun 19, 2016
It has emerged that thousands of truck drivers may not be covered for workers' compensation despite paying for their policies. CGU and WorkSafe Victoria recently denied a claim for compensation over a woman's husband's death. The driver worked for a trucking giant...
Published on Jun 19, 2016
Hundreds of truck drivers and their families held protests and convoys around the country to demand an end to the pressure placed on drivers. This included a rally in Sydney after a convoy of 240 drivers across Sydney Harbour Bridge, tranport workers holding a 'go slow...
Published on Jun 12, 2016
The The United Firefighters Union's Victorian Secretary Peter Marshall is reported to have written to Queensland MP's last year advising that there wasn't enough evidence to support the automatic inclusion of volunteer firefighters in a compensation scheme. He wro...
Published on May 29, 2016
An app has been developed by Hall & Wilcox which helps to assess whether a claim is likely to be recovered. The platform is able to tap into an insurere's entire portfolio to help identify claims with recovery potential, and helps the insurer to meet the requirements ...
Published on May 29, 2016
A former trainee fighter pilot suffering from vertigo had his claims for compensation rejected by Comcare, the Federal Court and the High Court and has taken his fight to the International Human Rights Commission. The man believes that the vertigo was the result of adverse re...
Published on May 22, 2016
From September 1, all Comcare payments will be paid directly to employees and the service providers via electronic funds transfer. Email will be used for information about claims and payment advice. As a result of the change, funds will be received sooner, and it will speed u...
Published on May 22, 2016
Mental illness is estimated to cost Australian businesses $10.9 billion each year. One in five Australians siffer from a mental health condition every year, and it's estimated that around 45 percent of people will have a mental health condition in their lifetime. Computer...
Published on May 01, 2016
The Comcare Work Health and Safety Awards are now open for nomations. The awards this year will introduce new categories which reflect Comcare's emphasis on minimising harm as well as helping injured workers back to good health and a return to work. The conference theme f...
Published on Apr 24, 2016
The Australian Unemployed Workers' Union president is seeking the abolishment of the Work for the Dole Scheme. The campaign follows the death of an 18 year old man who fell from a trailer being towed by a tractor in Toowoomba. Unemployed workers have no access to WorkCove...
Published on Apr 24, 2016
Law firm Maurice Blackburn is calling for the introduction of new laws to make franchisors responsible for the actions of franchisees when worklace laws are breached. Some franchisees employ people as independent contractors to avoid correct payment of wages and avoid paying ...
Published on Apr 24, 2016
Union workers and their families gathered outside Queensland's parliament house to demand immediate action from the government to stop black lung disease. The disease is caused by prolonged exposure to coal dust, and is frequently associated with mining. The disease was e...
Published on Apr 17, 2016
Employers need to be aware of the legal risks associated with employee burnout. These might include compensation claims, healthy and safety issues, bullying claims and breach of duty of care. Common causes of workplace stress include deadlines, overtime and heavy workloads. T...
Published on Mar 21, 2016
Taking a short nap at work has been shown to improve productivity, as well as minimise the risk of accidents and injury. The study was conducted by the Centre for Sleep Research at the University of Pennsylvania and they found that a siesta particularly helped workers involve...
Published on Mar 21, 2016
Worksafe has released statistics showing that the highest number of injury claims are from healthcare and social assistance workers. Worksafe are planning to address this through their Health Practice team. The team is developing targeted projects with key stakeholders and ma...
Published on Mar 21, 2016
During the eight years from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2011, 356 people died while working on farms. This was 17% of all workplace fatalities. Safe Work Australia is strongly encouraging farmers to consult with workers, identify hazards, assess risks, control risks and keep a rec...
Published on Mar 14, 2016
The reports into CommInsure have prompted other large banks to review declined claims and out of date policy definitions. ASIC is looking closely at the industry, investigating claims handling, the product design of policies and consumer remediation. ASIC may impose penalties...
Published on Mar 14, 2016
Concerns have been raised that GPs may be counselling patients against pursing workers' compensation claims, concerned it may be detrimental to the workers' mental health. Some GPs also find the compensation system so onerous that they are relucant to follow through w...
Published on Mar 14, 2016
Safe Work Australia has released statistics showing that the number of females being seriously injured in the workplace continues to decline. They have fallen by 21% in the past 12 years. There has also been a 30% drop in fatal injuries for female workers over the same time p...
Published on Mar 07, 2016
A Four Corners / Fairfax investigation into the Commonwealth Bank's insurance arm, CommInsure, explored the stories of sick and dying people whose claims had been rejected by the insurer. These included a man diagnosed with leukaemia who was given only 12 months to live. ...
Published on Mar 06, 2016
The Royal Flying Doctor Service has called for a national injury and prevention plan, aimed at saving lives as well as billions of dollars. They hope to target people in rural and remote Australia, where people face double the risk of accident or death. The main causes of dea...
Published on Feb 29, 2016
Personal injury law firm Slater and Gordon has been given a month to restructure their organisation or it will be shut down by its banking syndicate. The syndicate includes Westpac and NAB. If the lenders are unhappy with the restructure, they can demand repayment of debts wi...
Published on Feb 29, 2016
A call centre worker suffered neck and shoulder injuries due to alleged telephone overuse and lodged a compensation claim. This claim was accepted. After working on modified duties for a time, her employment was terminated, as the employer decided that the applicant could not...
Published on Feb 22, 2016
The SA Greens are proposing penalties of up to $1million or 20 years in jail for employers who cause the death of a worker through negligence or indifference. It would create a new criminal offence of 'industrial manslaughter'. The proposal has union support. The bill...
Published on Feb 22, 2016
The Turnbull government is looking to establish a parliamentary injury compensation system to cover MPs injured in the course of their duties. The bill was introduced to parliament last week, and will cover medical treatment, rehabilitation, inability to work, death and funer...
Published on Feb 15, 2016
A Senate inquiry into 'black lung' disease has been announced this week, in response to five confirmed cases in Queensland in recent months. The five miners have filed compensations claims against the owners of the mines in which the disease was contracted. A class ac...
Published on Feb 15, 2016
The World Health Organisation last year upgraded glyphosate from 'possibly' to 'probably causes cancer.' Glyphosate is a weed killer, currently is use by many Australian councils, including in sensitive areas such as playgrounds. It was originally market...
Published on Feb 08, 2016
A signage company has been fined $250,000 for their part in the fatal wall collapse on Swanston Street, Melbourne, in 2013. Three people died in the incident. The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that people other than employees were not exposed to risks of their h...
Published on Feb 08, 2016
Safe Work Australia's Director of Health and Safety and Compensation Policy Julie Hill has sought to dispel the myth that workers aged over 65 have no access to workers compensation. She stated that "Medical and rehabilitation costs and lump sum payments for permanen...
Published on Feb 08, 2016
A police administrator won compensation this week over a minor workplace disagreement, and an employment lawyer has warned that this could open the way for more cases around psychological injury. The worker claimed harm relating to a flow chart presented in a meeting at the C...
Published on Feb 01, 2016
The Industrial Court of Queensland has dismissed an appeal by MAC Moranbah Village operator Civeo and found that a worker attacked in his bed can claim workers compensation. The worker sustained soft tissue injuries as a result of the 2010 attack, and sought compensation as t...
Published on Feb 01, 2016
The parliamentary inquiry into the exposure of firefighters to toxic chemical at Fiskville has heard the former officer in charge admit that a chemical spill had been "brushed under the carpet." The incident occurred around Christmas 2001. A tractor which expo...
Published on Jan 26, 2016
Qantas is planning to spend $680,000 on workplace safety procedures. The spend was triggered by a workplace accident in which a cleaner slipped and hurt his back at Canberra Airport. He fell backwards out of a service door as he was cleaning an aircraft parked in the hanger. ...
Published on Jan 26, 2016
The new South Australian Police Minister is "prepared to reconsider" the police union's push to increase the amount of compensation available to police officers who have been injured in the line of duty. The union claims that seriously injured officers are at ri...
Published on Jan 26, 2016
The safety of staff, medics and patients in hospitals is being badly impacted by people high on the drug ice, and there have been calls to increase security as a result. At Tweed Hospital alone, there have been hundreds of assults in the past year according to the state nurse...
Published on Jan 18, 2016
89% of Australians now own a smart phone, with many workers using their device to send emails, make personal calls, send text messages and check their social media accounts. This can be a major distraction in the workplace. Some Australian businesses have made the move to ban...
Published on Jan 18, 2016
90% of all industries suffer from data breaches which result in stolen medical records according to a report from Verizon Enterprise Solutions. They found that over 392 million medical records were disclosed in 1931 data breaches across 20 years, worldwide. The breaches were ...
Published on Jan 18, 2016
A security guard at Crown Casino in Melbourne was involved in a scuffle with James Packer after he failed to recognise the owner. The guard reportedly collapsed on the way home after the event, and told News Corp that he was taken to hospital suffering from back pain and shoc...
Published on Dec 21, 2015
Safe Work Australia are seeking feedback regarding proposed changes to the health and safety requirements around inorganic lead. The chances are in response to scientific reports stating that current exposure standards are not sufficient for proecting the health of workers. T...
Published on Dec 21, 2015
The NSW Ambulance Service may be facing a class action from current and former paramedics and call centre workers. They are currently in discussions with three law firms, alleging bullying, harassment and intimidation by some in the management side of the organisation. Concer...
Published on Dec 21, 2015
WorkSafe's representative Barrister Ross Ray QC has told the Melbourne Magistrate's Court that the club's conduct was a substantial departure from its duty of care. He added that when players complained about the program, they were told to keep quiet in order to m...
Published on Dec 21, 2015
A woman who suffered from years of sexual harassment in the workplace has been awarded $1.36 million from her employer, Winslow Constructions. When she complained about her treatment to the person who she believed responsible for human resources, he invited her out for a drin...
Published on Dec 14, 2015
A report from management organisation CEB has found that engagement levels are currently as their lowest since January for Australian employess. CEB stated that, "Employees feeling the pressure to perform have become less engaged at work. With work/life balance vital for...
Published on Dec 14, 2015
Remember that health and safety obligations apply even during end of year celebrations as they are work functions. WorkCover Queensland pointed out that, “Particularly if the event is organised and paid for by the employer, the duty of care to workers remains the s...
Published on Dec 07, 2015
Compensation has been awarded to FIFO worker who was assaulted during after-hours drinks.The court found that the worker was in a remote WA "company town". The assault took place outside the 'tavern' and the worker's shoulder was injured. He applied for ...
Published on Dec 07, 2015
Summer is on the way, so employers are being urged to protect all workers from the heat. As well as people working outdoors, people working indoors or in confined spaces are also at risk from indirect heat or fatigue during heatwaves. WorkSafe Victoria recommends that workers...
Published on Nov 30, 2015
Although hotdesking is being used by many employers, it can shift attention away from ergonomic design and result in more strain injuries. Hotdesking results in employees having less focus on whether their chairs and desk are at the correct height. Profession Leon Straker, se...
Published on Nov 30, 2015
Essendon Football Club has pleaded guilty to breaches of the OH&S Act over its handling of their supplements program. In the charges brought by WorkSafe, the club was accused of failing to provide a working environment and system of work which was safe and without risks t...
Published on Nov 30, 2015
The Royal Australian College of Surgeons is seeking to change the perception that it's an "Anglo-Saxon boys club" through promoting more women and addressing bullying by surgeons in the workplace. A report earlier this year found that bullying, discrimination an...
Published on Nov 30, 2015
A worker in Queensland was seeking almost a million dollars in compensation has had the amount reduced to $191,061 after viewo surfaced of him sparring in a karate class. The worker was injured in 2012 after burning his heel and ankle in a caustic solution and reported the pa...
Published on Nov 23, 2015
The Australian Defence Force have introduced a creative arts program to improve the mental health and wellbeing of their workforce. Brigadier Wayne Goodman noted that many studies have demonstrated the relationship between the arts and enhanced health outcomes for individuals...
Published on Nov 23, 2015
The University of NSW is planning to start clinical trials within a year following a breakthrough discovery linking a lack of a particular protein to PTSD. If proven successful, it would take at least five years to become an accepted treatment. As part of the experiment, rats...
Published on Nov 23, 2015
The cost of chronic pain to the Australian economy was more than $55 billion in 2012, with back pain and osteoarthritis the most common conditions. These two condition represent more than 100 million years of productive life lost due to disability in 2010. The statistics coul...
Published on Nov 23, 2015
According to a study conducted by PsychSafe, lawyers working in law firms have the lowest health and wellbeing of all white collar workers. They are also the highest users and abusers of alcohol and nicotine. While many employers are using resilience and mindfulness strategie...
Published on Nov 14, 2015
Insecure workplaces can be a major cause of both psychological and physical ill health according to a recent study. The research shows that people facing economic insecurity are more likely to smoke, drink and exercise less. It is estimated that deaths associated with poor co...
Published on Nov 09, 2015
Comcare is set to conduct two trials with private companies in order to see how it can work better and reduce premiums. A spokesperson was quick to point out that "we have had no indication from government of any move towards privatisation or outsourcing." Their aim...
Published on Nov 09, 2015
If your boss is in a state of constant stress, they may be causing you harm as you can 'catch' their negative energy. This phenomena is becoming increasingly prevalent in the workplace. We tend to mirror the mental state of those around us, and researchers has found t...
Published on Nov 09, 2015
The high level of risk around driving and operating machinery continues with little change. The rate of illness or injury in this group remained at 88 per 1000 employees according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This was followed by manufacturing at 82 per 1000, and t...
Published on Nov 01, 2015
A new report from the Cancer Council shows that around half of all workers who spend time outside as part of their job are missing out on sun protection. The Council reminds employers that they need to protect their workers skin to reduce the risk of skin cancer. More than 2....
Published on Nov 01, 2015
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare released a report in 2014 which studied eight chronic diseases: arthritis, asthma, back problems, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mental health conditions. They found that 46% o...
Published on Nov 01, 2015
The average mental stress workers' compensation claim through Comcare costs $342,000, but nearly 500 cases in the last five years have cost over $500,000 according to a report by Comcare. A number of trial programs are being developed to address the problem, with the main...
Published on Oct 25, 2015
Chicken processor La Ionica has been fined $64,000 after a worker's arm was maimed in an unsafe machine. The worker suffered injuries which will be lifelong, as well as severe depression. The National Union of Workers estimates that one in three workers in the poultry ind...
Published on Oct 25, 2015
Bullying is often focused on oafish or physically violent behaviour, but what about the small, repetitive, needling acts which go unnoticed and unreported? They can quickly create a toxic workplace. A US survey has found in their preliminary results that 80% of people who fee...
Published on Oct 25, 2015
An employee terminated while on workers' compensation payments missed out on $181.66 as the calculations were two days short of the required five weeks notice. The fines for the employer were much larger. ACI Operations was fined $20,400 and the HR manager was fined more ...
Published on Oct 19, 2015
A Federal public servant has won a five year battle for compensation following a stroke suffered while leaving the shower in a hotel room. It was previously found that it was not suffered in the course of his employment, however this decision was overturned by the Administrat...
Published on Oct 19, 2015
The NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation has issued a strong warning about the importance of safety around forklifts. Between July 2012 and July 2014, 1,360 workers were injured in forklift accidents. Five of these accidents were fatal. Safework NSW wants busines...
Published on Oct 12, 2015
A public servant has won a legal battle for the Commonwealth Government for pay for her breast reduction surgery. The claim was initially denied, however the Federal Court overturned the decision. The worker said that long hours hunched over computers had led to neck and shou...
Published on Oct 12, 2015
An injured worker failed to tell Comcare that he was working as a taxi driver while claiming more than $70,000 in compensation payments. He has been found guilty of obtaining financial advantage by deception. The former ambulance officer had injured his back while at work, an...
Published on Oct 12, 2015
A Sydney man is claiming that his employment insurance policy was cancelled after he became permanently incapacitated in a workplace accident. He further claims that the MLC is delaying the lawsuit in the hope that he will give up the fight. The legal fight over the insurance...
Published on Oct 05, 2015
Studies show that financial insecurity has a strong impact on migrant worker health, and that through poor working conditions, chronic health issues may arise. This can back traced back into Australia's past, with the Wittenoom asbestos mine in the 1960's cited as an ...
Published on Oct 05, 2015
Garry McDonald, comic actor and former beyondblue board member, discussed his experiences with depression and anxiety on Australian Story last night. Since his well-documented breakdown in the 1990's, he has become a strong advocate for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)...
Published on Oct 04, 2015
October is Safe Work Month, and to mark the occasion, Safe Work Australia are launching a Virtual Seminar Series. The Chair of Safe Work Australia encourages workers to reflect on their reasons for being safe and healthy at work. She said that, "For me, the major cost of...
Published on Oct 04, 2015
Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley has announced that the current system around mental health will soon be overhauled. The aim is to "catch people before they fall." A report in April 2015 found that "The effect of our poorly planned mental health system is a m...
Published on Sep 28, 2015
A Four Corners report last night looked at the unnecessary testing and treatments choking the Australian healthcare system. We're talked about this issue many times here at RTW Matters, as it can be a major problems in the management of work injuries. MRI scans provide an...
Published on Sep 27, 2015
The chief executiveof the Mental Health Recovery Institute believes that businesses are still trying to catch up with mental health training. He believes that it's currently about 20 years behind. He cited research stating that "people who have had a mental illness a...
Published on Sep 27, 2015
WorkSafe WA has turned its attention towards commercial cleaners, planning an inspection program for the remainder of the financial year. The focus was prompted by the high level of injuries sustained in the industry, with an average of 140 lost-time injuries each year over t...
Published on Sep 27, 2015
A Norwegian study has round that people who are being bullied at work are more likely to contemplate suicide than people who have never been bullied. The study found that less than 5% of participants in the study had contemplated suicide, but they were twice as likely to have...
Published on Sep 21, 2015
Patients who listen to music, even under general anaesthetic while surgery is conducted, tend to have lower levels of anxiety and require lower levels of pain medication, a new study has found. The study covered various types of music, timing and music delivery methods as wel...
Published on Sep 14, 2015
70% of Australians are sedentary or insufficiently active, and their health is suffering. 63% of Australians are now considered to be obese, and poor posture and work injuries are common. Aty the Workplace Wellness Conference, delegates discussed the impact of immobility on h...
Published on Sep 14, 2015
Quad bikes are the biggest killers on Australian farms. They are unlikely to be replaced in the near future, so farmers are encouraged to attend training courses, wear helmets and install roll-over protection. Farmers are also advised to keep children under 16 off adult-sized...
Published on Sep 14, 2015
The annual Safe Work Australia Awards have been discontinued, to be replaced with strategies which are more effective and efficient. The organisation described the awards as pretigious and well-respected, but had a limited reach in the media and required extensive planning an...
Published on Sep 07, 2015
A neurosurgeon and former director of surgical training at Monash Helath has lodged an unfair dismissal claim with Fair Work Australia, alleging bullying and sexism. The neurosurgeon was dismissed about a fortnight after bullying accusations were levelled against her. She was...
Published on Sep 07, 2015
Health economists are arguing that professional sportspeople should have their medical expenses for on-field injuries paid for by their employer rather than through the government via Medicare. A Department of Human Services report last year found that Medicare claims had bee...
Published on Sep 07, 2015
Bullying can have a terrible impact on the lives of workers. It also impacts the majority of employees during their working lives, whether they are a victim, a witness or an alleged perpetrator. Michelle Tuckey from the School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy at t...
Published on Sep 07, 2015
84 diseases should be added to the national list of compensable diseases according to a WorkSafe Australia report. These include HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and anthrax. It was argued that workers at risk of needlestick injuries, such as health care workers, be covered against con...
Published on Aug 31, 2015
Between 2003 and 2012, SafeWork Australia found that 18 workers were killed by reversing trucks. In an effort to counter these statistics, VicRoads is updating its fleet with radar-based reverse braking technology. The new brakes sense when there is an object behind the vehic...
Published on Aug 24, 2015
Research conducted by a professor of Epidemiology at University College London has found that people who work more than 55 hours per week can increase their stroke risk by 33%. People working between 41 and 48 hours per week increased their risk of stroke by 10%. It was noted...
Published on Aug 24, 2015
A worker who was operating excavators at the Hazelwood mine site during the fire is claiming that his lung disease is the direct result the smoke. His role during the fire was to dig out the burning coal and to stockpile it so that the fire wouldn't spread as easily. He w...
Published on Aug 17, 2015
Coal miners in NSW will receive no increase to the compensation scheme put in place for the families of workers who are killed at work. Although the amendment will increase the amount paid to the families of deceased workers, from $524,000 to $750,000, coal miners will miss o...
Published on Aug 17, 2015
Dr Chris Stevens from Communicorp recently spoke about creating psychologically healthy workplaces, while agreeing that in modern workplaces, workers are subject to an over-diagnosis of of mental health issues. Dr Peter Cotton estimated that around 30% of workers' compens...
Published on Aug 17, 2015
A worker who cleaned asbestos from pipes was diagnosed with mesothelioma early last year, and the Supreme Court ruled that it was the result of his exposure to asbestos dust and due to the negligence of the mine operators. Alcan Gove has since been bought by Rio Tinto. Rio Ti...
Published on Aug 17, 2015
During the Queensland Finance and Administration Committee public hearing, some workers claimed that they had been discriminated against by employers due to their past workers' compensation claims. There were 26,000 requests from employers to see workers' compensation...
Published on Aug 10, 2015
A Flinders University study has found that sick days caused by handovers are costing the Australian economy around $3b per year, up from $1.2b in 2001. It has also been suggested that people who mix alcohol and amphetamines on the weekend are experiencing 'weepy Wednesday...
Published on Aug 10, 2015
The Fair Work Commission has ruled in favour of two employees of a real estate firm. The employees alleged that they were abused and threatened with violence at work by a female property manager. It was alleged that she undermined their work and belittled them, as well as swe...
Published on Aug 10, 2015
A 16 year old suffered third degree burns to his face and body while emptying a cooker in North Geelong's KFC. He is in a critical but stable condition. He had worked at the store for about a year. The restaurant was closed following the injury and WorkSafe Victoria are i...
Published on Aug 03, 2015
Almost three in four police have been attacked on duty in the last three years, with ice being blamed for the significant increase. Capsicum spray is often ineffective against users. A survey found that 90 percent of Victorian police believe that violence against them has inc...
Published on Aug 03, 2015
The annual cost of bullying, harassment and violence in the public service is approaching $80m, according to Comcare. Trauma caused by bullying or violence makes up the largest number of mental stress claims, with these costing an average of $342,000. Mental health claimants ...
Published on Jul 27, 2015
A leaked internal survey from the NSW WorkCover Independent Review Office has uncovered complaints from workers about a 'toxic' culture, with complaints including sexual harrassment, bullying and low morale. Review Officer Kim Garling is currently caught in a 'job...
Published on Jul 27, 2015
The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission has agreed that a worker who injured his back running to answer a call from work on his mobile should be eligible for compensation. The worker was required to work at least 55 hours per week and was on-call from time to time. He ...
Published on Jul 27, 2015
ABC's Landline looked at Australia's most dangerous job this week - farming, and more specifically the dangers of quad bikes. While driver error may be to blame, there are also arguments for improved bike designs. An average of 14 to 15 people die every year on quad b...
Published on Jul 27, 2015
The New Daily explores some of the challenges facing workers over 65. The article argues that one of the main challenges is that there is little or no protection in the state based workers' compensation schemes for workers over 65. In NSW, workers over the retirement age ...
Published on Jul 19, 2015
The head of Hynes Legal's aged care and retirement living team told the Nurses in Aged Care Conference that they are seeing two to three providers each with seeking advice regarding social media, often regarding the bullying of other staff members or revealing details of ...
Published on Jul 12, 2015
A second year apprentice attending his boss's birthday party suffered serious burns and has won compensation for his injuries. The employer bought 11 kegs of beer and his employees were drinking from 11am into the early evening. During the party, a group of apprentices st...
Published on Jul 12, 2015
The emotional wellbeing of employees is vital for a productive workplace. Manager shouldn't ignore it. Comcare estimates that the total cost of mental health claims is more than $14b per year in Australia - much more than is paid out in compensation. The agency also says ...
Published on Jul 06, 2015
A parking ranger was reprimanded for not handing out enough fines in an email cc'd to eight of his colleagues. The ranger emailed Lord Mayor Clover Moore and other City of Sydney Executives complaining of alleged corruption, mental health, low morale, high sick leave and ...
Published on Jul 06, 2015
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal has found that a former housekeeper at the Prime Minister's official residence in Canberra exaggerated her condition, but will continue to receive workers' compensation. She injured her back in 2010 while making a bed, the reinjured...
Published on Jul 06, 2015
Stories abound of people who are 'gaming the system', but is there any truth to the matter? A report in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine suggests that workers' compensation fraud is a myth perpetrated by insurance companies and employers. In Australia&#...
Published on Jul 06, 2015
A report from Monash University has found that Vic TAFE teachers have the highest levels of burn out, and early childhood teachers have the highest levels of workload concerns. Around half of all teachers surveyed reported having suffered a health and safety incident in...
Published on Jun 29, 2015
In 2012, falls from heights accounted for 7,400 workers' compensation claims, and injuries for falling objects accounted for 4,200 claims. These two types of incident combined accounted for around 20% of injuries. There are various methods available to mitigate the risks,...
Published on Jun 28, 2015
A WA Parliamentary Inquiry has made several recommendations on protecting the mental health of Fly In Fly Out (FIFO) workers, however the inquiry is facing criticism for focusing on "a misleading aspect of mental health." This aspect is that 20-45 year old males are...
Published on Jun 21, 2015
The humble office chair is set to become a smart chair. Monash Health, Austin Health and Monash University are working to create a chair which can read the sitter's posture in real time - and correct it. The system has 78 pressure sensors to measure weight distribution an...
Published on Jun 21, 2015
A flight attendant working for Ansett during the 1990's is taking BAE Systems to court claiming damages for "aerotoxic syndrome". Suffers claim that during flights, cabins are contaminated with microscopic airborne engine oils and chemicals. Symptoms include fat...
Published on Jun 21, 2015
A 2011 Stanford University study found that there was a 13% increase in productivity among the 255 Chinese travel workers randomly chosen to work from home for eight months. In addition to the reduction in office distractions and a reduction in traffic, it also helps to creat...
Published on Jun 21, 2015
The worker was dismissed by BHP in 2014, claiming that the worker was unable to fulfil his duties, with his weight creating a danger both to himself and his fellow employees. At the time, he had been absent from the workplace for two years, with BHP paying his medical bills. ...
Published on Jun 15, 2015
The new book, Job Quality, expores the upcoming challenges in the Australian workplace. With regard to RTW, it notes that "Giving workers greater control over their work, moderating demands on them and ensuring a greater degree of employment security and regulatory prote...
Published on Jun 14, 2015
The Australian Lawyers Alliance has labelled the proposal by the Insurance Council of Australia as a disaster, claiming that it would lead to more deaths. The ALA director Rod Hodgson called the cap on payments for high paid workers "...a brutal cash grab against people ...
Published on Jun 14, 2015
A Californian acupuncturist and biochemist spent ten tears researching remote communities around the world. She found that some reported no back pain at all, despite hours spent sitting on the floor. She found that the spines of the people tended to have a 'J' shape r...
Published on Jun 14, 2015
The Insurance Council of Australia would like to see state-run monopoly schemes opened up to general insurance companies, driving efficiency. They are also keen to see the nine workers' compendation schemes in Australia 'harmonised' and overseen by one independent...
Published on Jun 14, 2015
The Health Profile of Australian Employees has found that Australian workers are more physically inactive, have higher BMI's and higher levels of physical distress. It also found that young working women were most at risk of poor mental health. High blood pressure, obesit...
Published on Jun 08, 2015
A University of Ohio study has found that women cope better with stress. The experiment involved people playing a gambling game, and being told at the start of the game that they would in 20 minutes be giving a public presentation speaking about their body. This made both men...
Published on Jun 08, 2015
The Queensland Industrical Relations Commission found in favour of a worker who held roles as a mines inspector, legal officer and district executive vice-president of the CFMEU. It found that he had been exposed to three work-related stressors, leading to the workers' me...
Published on Jun 08, 2015
Maintaining machinery and equipment on farms can help support on-farm safety, as well as avoiding downtime and lower productivity. Cutting corners makes farmers vulnerable to accidents in the workplace. While newer models of machinery tend to have a focus on safety, older mod...
Published on May 31, 2015
the CEO of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia stated that lawyers "are taking up to 35 percent of disability payments made to super fund members." She said that historically 95% of claims to super funds have been paid out, and that it was difficult...
Published on May 31, 2015
WorkSafe has a rejected a claim by the CFMEU, the Electrical Trades Union and Australian Manufacturing Workers union that workers based on Barrow Island off Western Australia should have been evacuated as it became clear that category 3 Cyclone Olwyn was bearing down on the l...