Working from home and hybrid working is now common practice for many local governments. It offers plenty of benefits to individuals and employer alike. It can provide meaningful flexibility for employees to juggle multiple demands and is now expected by many recruits.
Members are once again asking questions about fire safety for e-bikes, e-scooters and other light electric vehicles (LEV), alongside the installation of EV charging stations. This is an evolving risk area and members should consider the developing situation.
2023/24 proved an interesting year for the LGIS scheme and our members. There have been inflationary pressures, labour markets have been tight and skilled workers difficult to find, the workforce is ageing, and there has been substantial legislative change including the Local Government Act and a brand-new Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act.
Safety is everyone’s responsibility. Local governments are committed to ensuring the health and safety of their bushfire volunteers. However, safety responsibility does not fall solely on the local government – individual volunteer firefighters also have a duty to look after themselves and not put themselves or others at unreasonable risk.
Every year local governments across Western Australia invest millions of dollars in the assets that deliver vital services to their communities. Whether it’s a new roof for the recreation centre, construction of a new administration building or creating a new home for the library, LGIS members are building, renovating, extending or repairing assets. The question is, what happens if the contractors fail?
A rising awareness of psychosocial hazards and local government’s duty to actively mitigate them is causing plenty of discussion within the sector. The City of Mandurah has proactively responded to their work, health and safety obligations recently launching their new program which educates and supports individuals, teams, managers and the broader organisation.
The high-profile defamation case involving Ben Roberts-Smith shows that defamation isn’t just a concern for high-profile figures, but also for those serving their communities in less public roles.
It’s vital for local government officers and elected members to be aware of what constitutes defamation to continue navigating their roles effectively.
The CrowdStrike global incident on 19 July brought into sharp focus for many organisations around the world our reliance on a small number of suppliers and the degree of cyber vulnerability. This event served as a wake-up call, emphasising the systemic nature of cyber risk.
A recent case involving the Shire of Denmark and a tourist turned on
whether pea gravel at the bottom of some stairs was an obvious risk and
what is the extent of a local government’s duty of care in relation to obvious risks.
The relationships we build at work play a crucial role in our overall wellbeing. Social connections in the workplace can boost mental wellbeing, job contentment, and productivity of employees.
