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Safe Work Australia has recently published “the Decision Regulation Impact Statement: Prohibition on the use of engineered stone”. A report in which recommends a prohibition on the use of all engineered stone to protect the health and safety of workers. This report was preceded by an announcement of the Australian Council of Trade Unions that they will ban the use of Engineered Stone on Union worksites with or without federal assistance by July 2024.

Prohibition on the use of Engineered Stone

Safe Work Australia has recently published “the Decision Regulation Impact Statement: Prohibition on the use of engineered stone”. A report in which recommends a prohibition on the use of all engineered stone to protect the health and safety of workers. This report was preceded by an announcement of the Australian Council of Trade Unions that they will ban the use of Engineered Stone on Union worksites with or without federal assistance by July 2024.

As Safe Work Australia states “Engineered Stone workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica are significantly over-represented in silicosis cases and they are being diagnosed with silicosis at a much younger age than workers from other industries”.  This action toward an Engineered Stone Ban comes as many Australians are developing silicosis as a result of working with these materials, being cited by many as a health epidemic.

Client Success Story: Damages for Retail Worker Assaulted by Suspected Shoplifter

Zaparas Lawyers successfully assisted an injured retail worker to obtain damages following an assault by a suspected shoplifter.

In 2017 near the end of the workday, our client, a Retail Sales Assistant working by herself, was assisting a customer in a clothing shop when a Shopping Centre Security Guard indicated that a person who had just entered her shop was acting suspiciously and had put something in her stomach region. Our client finished serving the customer and tidied some racks when the suspicious character removed an item of clothing that she had hidden in her own clothes, threw them on the ground and as she went to leave the store she grabbed our client, forcefully pushing her to the ground.

National Asbestos Awareness Week 2023 runs from the 20th to the 26th of November. It is a week where we raise awareness for the very real risks the Australian public still face with Asbestos and its related diseases. This National Asbestos Awareness Week marks the 20-year anniversary since Asbestos was completely banned in Australia. Throughout this week, we will reflect on the progress that has occurred since the ban, but also highlight the threats asbestos can still pose to us today.

National Asbestos Awareness Week 2023

National Asbestos Awareness Week 2023 runs from the 20th to the 26th of November. It is a week where we raise awareness for the very real risks the Australian public still face with Asbestos and its related diseases. This National Asbestos Awareness Week marks the 20-year anniversary since Asbestos was completely banned in Australia. Throughout this week, we will reflect on the progress that has occurred since the ban, but also highlight the threats asbestos can still pose to us today.

Dispute Resolution for TAC claims in Victoria

The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) supports Victorians who are injured on the road and assists with recovery.

Under the “No-Fault Scheme”, the TAC can provide entitlements such as medical and like expenses.

Medical and like expenses include but are not limited to:

GP consultations;

Specialist appointments;

Radiological scans (e.g. MRI, x-ray);

Physical therapies;

Psychology/Psychiatry treatment; and/or

Medication (original receipts are required).

However, there may be instances where a TAC claimant receives a denial letter or faces challenges when claiming entitlements such as medical and like expenses.

Occupational Exposure to Benzene can result in Adverse Health Effects

Benzene, an aromatic hydrocarbon, is mainly derived from petroleum and is used as an intermediate in the chemical industry as well as a solvent in paint, inks, dyes, thinners, adhesives, and coatings. It is also commonly used in the production of polymers, resins, synthetic fibres, and rubber products.

COVID-19 Dependency Claim Settlement

In 2021, our client’s father, the deceased, worked as a Sales Manager with a manufacturing company.  During the deceased’s period of exposure to COVID-19, the Greater Melbourne area was subject to its 6th lockdown, with orders made by the Victorian Government that limited amongst other things what work premises could be open, who could attend them and what measures needed to be in place to limit or seek to limit the spread of COVID-19 infections. The deceased only left his residence to attend his work’s premises during the weekdays or once a week to go grocery shopping. The deceased tested positive to COVID-19 and unfortunately passed away about two weeks later due to complications from the infection. Shortly after the deceased tested positive to COVID-19, about four of his colleagues also tested positive. His daughter subsequently lodged a WorkCover dependency claim which was rejected by the WorkCover insurer.

Claiming transport accident benefits if you’re at-fault

Being injured in a road or transport accident can have negative impacts on everyone involved – those at fault and not. For these reasons, compensation schemes exist around Australia and aim to provide benefits to injured persons to support them back …