New Industrial Manslaughter Laws in NSW Highlight Crucial Importance of Worker Safety
Article ID: LWS-1569
With workplace fatalities on the rise, it’s crucial for employers to be aware of the industrial manslaughter laws being enacted across Australia. Recently, the Commonwealth and South Australia have passed industrial manslaughter offences, and New South Wales is expected to introduce similar legislation soon. Understanding and complying with industrial manslaughter…
Read More
Urine Test deemeed reasonable by Fair Work Commision
Article ID: LWS-1477
From Workplace Express: The FWC has upheld the dismissal of an “intransigent” sales employee who declined on “medical” grounds to comply with her employer’s lawful and reasonable direction to supply a urine sample for a random drug and alcohol test. The worker said she was happy to take saliva drug…
Read More
Global Freight Costs Rise
Article ID: LWS-1462
An article published in the weekend Australian Financial Review, 29-30 May 2021 mentions the increasing cost of freight from South East Asia for 20 foot containers: Traditionally, we’ve paid $US1500 ($1937) for a box – a 20-foot container – out of various suppliers based in south-east Asia, but that climbed…
Read More
DEA Launches Project Wave Breaker to Stop Flood of Deadly Fentanyl
Article ID: LWS-1449
From the May 12, 2021 issue of DATIA e-news: WASHINGTON – Today the Drug Enforcement Administration announced a new initiative, Project Wave Breaker, to disrupt the flow of deadly fentanyl into the United States. Project Wave Breaker will direct interdiction, enforcement, and outreach efforts to high-impact areas to disrupt the…
Read More
Recent Decision – Unreliable saliva test
Article ID: LWS-1446
From a recent article on workplaceexpress.com.au: Coles dismissed the driver after a December 1 oral swap produced an unconfirmed methamphetamine reading. A second test provided a positive test for cannabinoids but not for methamphetamine. … He said “the first one came up for methamphetamine and then when they’ve done. ….
Read More
Cannabis impairs driving skills long after the high is gone
Article ID: LWS-1251
CNN reports in an article titled Weed impairs driving skills long after the high is gone that heavy users of recreational cannabis are poor drivers. Speeding, running red lights, crossing into oncoming lanes, and even hitting pedestrians. These are some of the dangerous driving behaviours that a new study in…
Read More
Ice use is rife in Newcastle’s building and construction industry
Article ID: LWS-1208
An article in the Newcastle Herald reports that the use of Ice is “rife” particularly in the building and construction industry. A Newcastle addiction doctor, Dr David Outridge has treated a growing number of trade and construction workers using crystal methamphetamine via his work in addiction medicine. “If 10 guys…
Read More
FWC holds urine drug testing policy not on “use it or lose it” basis
Article ID: LWS-1200
A Workplace Express article reports that Fair Work Commission has green-lighted company’s plan to re-introduce random urine drug testing following a decade-long hiatus, holding that its policy did not operate on a “use it or lose it” basis. The Australian Workers Union (AWU) disputed the ability of Rocla Pty ltd…
Read More
Drug helpline gets 20 calls a month from WA bosses concerned over employee drug use
Article ID: LWS-1190
A recent article published in PerthNOW, reported a Drug Helpline for WA managers and business owners is receiving approximately 20 calls a month, most of which were centered around the concern of worker’s use of methamphetamine. According to Deidre Willmott, CCI chief executive, the bulk of calls came from businesses…
Read More
