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Victoria's 2027 WorkSafe Awards — nominations open

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Now in its 37th year, nominations have opened for Victoria’s annual WorkSafe Awards — spotlighting efforts to reduce workplace harm and improve outcomes for injured workers.

Celebrated through the awards are employers, workers and teams who have fostered a strong safety-first culture, developed creative health and safety solutions and supported injured workers in their return-to-work journey.

“Each year, the WorkSafe Awards recognise those who go above and beyond to protect the people in Victorian workplaces,” WorkSafe Victoria Chief Executive Officer Cathy Henderson said.

“Whether through new technology, updated systems and processes, or even a can-do attitude — if you've taken steps to improve health and safety or return-to-work outcomes, we want to hear from you.”

In 2027, the awards will have the following categories:

Excellence in Preventing and Managing Psychosocial Risk
Agriculture Safety Solution
Health and Safety Representative of the Year
Leading Return to Work Practice
OHS Leadership/Achievement
Worker Return to Work Achievement
Workplace Health and Safety Solution of the Year

With entrants able to nominate themselves or another person, nominations are open to all Victorian-based employers and workers until Tuesday, 30 June.

You can submit an entry here.

Winners will be announced at the WorkSafe Awards presentation and dinner on 25 February 2027. For information on recent winners in these awards, click here.

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$168K+ fine after worker falls attaching shade sail to 5.5 m pole

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

An individual has been convicted and fined in the District Court of NSW over an incident in which a worker attaching a shade sail to a pole 5.5 metres in height sustained serious injuries in a fall.

The individual pleaded guilty to an offence pursuant to section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 relating to exposing a worker to a risk of death or serious injury, where the individual owed the worker a health and safety duty under section 19(1) of the Act.

“Falls from heights are a primary cause of traumatic injuries and fatalities in NSW workplaces,” SafeWork NSW Commissioner Janet Schorer said. “Preventing injuries caused by a fall is an area for action in SafeWork NSW’s regulatory priorities this year.

“SafeWork NSW reminds all businesses of their duty to ensure their workers are protected when working at heights.” The individual has the right to appeal against his sentence. You can read the full judgement against the defendant here, on the NSW Caselaw website.

Business owners and workers can access a range of resources to help manage the risks of working from heights here, on the SafeWork NSW website. Workers who have concerns about WHS can anonymously contact SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50 or through the Speak Up Save Lives website, SafeWork NSW advised.

Image credit: iStock.com/John Wallace. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.

Manufacturer fined after 200 kg gate falls on mother and three children

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

The sole director of a company that manufactured, supplied and installed a 200 kg sliding gate at a NSW property has been convicted and fined $50,000 after an incident on 2 September 2022 when it overran its supports and fell onto a woman and her three young children as they were walking along a road.

Convicted and fined in the Industrial Court of New South Wales, as a result of a prosecution by SafeWork NSW, the sole director pleaded guilty to an offence pursuant to section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 — for failing to comply with his duty under section 27(1) of the Act to exercise due diligence and ensure that the company complied with its health and safety duty under the Act.

“Duty holders must ensure that every structure they design, manufacture and install is safe and fit for purpose,” SafeWork NSW Commissioner Janet Schorer said. “This incident serves as a stark reminder that failing to meet safety obligations can have real and lasting consequences not just for duty holders, businesses and workers, but for communities and families.”

The sole director has the right to appeal against his sentence. You can read the full judgement against the defendant here, on the NSW Caselaw website.

In a related proceeding against another company, the court imposed a fine of $180,000, which was in relation to an offence arising from the same incident.

Workers who have concerns about workplace health and safety can anonymously contact SafeWork on 13 10 50 or through the Speak Up Save Lives website, SafeWork NSW advised.

Image credit: iStock.com/Prapat Aowsakorn. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.

$1.1m WHS penalty sets Commonwealth record

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

National waste management company Cleanaway Operations Pty Ltd was sentenced on 28 May for two offences under the Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Act (WHS Act). The sentencing, which has seen the largest ever penalty imposed under federal WHS laws, was over an 18 August 2014 Adelaide truck crash that killed two motorists.

The company was fined the record $1.1 million over the crash that happened on Adelaide’s South-Eastern Freeway, with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions filing charges in 2016. The incident occurred when a loaded Cleanaway vacuum truck collided with three cars at the Cross Road intersection, killing two motorists.

The driver of a third car involved in the collision suffered serious injuries including a fractured neck and back, while the truck driver had a leg amputated and suffered a broken neck. Comcare’s investigation found Cleanaway’s driver training was inadequate, exposing the driver and other road users to the risk of serious injury or death, Comcare CEO Colin Radford said.

“The company’s failures had devastating consequences,” Radford said. “This was the driver’s first week in the job, and he was only trained on relatively flat roads in a truck with an automatic transmission. On the day of the collision, he was driving a manual heavy vehicle for the first time and had to navigate the steep descents of the Adelaide Hills.

“This created a clear and significant risk of injury or death. The obvious safeguard was for Cleanaway to have enforced a system of work that ensured the driver was supervised until he was experienced in operating a manual heavy vehicle in these conditions.”

Comcare acknowledged the difficulties associated with the lengthy legal proceedings, Radford said, caused by multiple legal challenges, and the impact this had on the victims and their families.

“This penalty comes more than a decade after the incident,” Radford said. “We sincerely thank everyone involved for their patience and understanding — especially those injured and the loved ones of those lost.”

The two charges are Category 2 offences under the WHS Act, each carrying a maximum penalty of $1.5 million. As a licensed national employer in the Comcare scheme, Cleanaway Operations Pty Ltd is subject to regulation under Commonwealth WHS laws.

You can read the judgment here.

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30th annual national Spinal Health Month gets underway

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

June is national Spinal Health Month and to mark its 30th year the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA) has released a clinical research study exploring the acceptability and feasibility of “adding an online, psychologically informed pain management program to the usual healthcare provided by chiropractic musculoskeletal clinicians”.

Funded by ACA and conducted out of CQUniversity in conjunction with Macquarie University’s MindSpot digital psychological care program, the study was conducted by chiropractor, clinician, academic, Senior Lecturer at CQUniversity and ACA member, Dr David McNaughton (PhD Psychology). It examined how the mind and body communicate when integrating therapies for psychology and physical health.

“The results are encouraging showing that in applying the biopsychosocial model focused on the relationship between spinal health, chronic pain and the psychological impact pain has on a person’s mental health, we can help mitigate the impact MSDs have on both physical and mental health,” McNaughton said.

ACA also marked the launch with the release of data from an independent national public survey by global research company Pureprofile, which found an increase in back pain, the mental health consequences for sufferers and how the cost-of-living is preventing patients from seeking medical treatment.

Among the work-related findings of the released data was that almost one third (28.5%) of peak working age Australians who suffer low back pain required time off work or were no longer able to work due to their back pain.

More information on Spinal Health Month is available here.

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Safety of welding processes — have your say

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

To better protect workers and others from welding‑related hazards, Safe Work Australia (SWA) is inviting consultation on potential options to strengthen how welding processes are regulated.

The aim of the potential changes is to clarify duties and obligations when welding is undertaken, supporting improved protection for welders and others in the workplace, SWA said.

A consultation paper that outlines the proposed regulatory and non-regulatory approach, the issues raised by stakeholders to date on the current framework, and the rationale for change has been published by SWA.

Safe Work Australia members will consider information gathered through the consultation process, which is open until 11:59 pm (AEST) on 12 July 2026.

To read the consultation paper and respond to the questions through SWA’s online survey, or by uploading a written submission, via SWA’s Consultation Hub.

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Electric shock fine increased six-fold on appeal

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

After pleading guilty to a single charge of failing to provide a system of work that would reduce or eliminate the risk of electric shock, in October 2025 a civil construction company was fined $15,000 without conviction in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court.

However, following an appeal, on 22 May the Melbourne County Court set aside the original sentence, convicting the company and ordering it to pay a $90,000 fine and $4064 in costs.

The incident occurred in March 2024 when the company’s workers were digging a bore shaft beneath overhead powerlines as part of construction works on a housing estate in Pakenham.

While measuring the depth of the shaft, the court heard that a worker lifted a seven-metre aluminium pole over his shoulder, either touching the lines or getting close enough to cause an arc flash.

The electric shock resulted in lost consciousness, significant burns requiring skin grafts to his feet, a toe amputation and removal of tendons. WorkSafe Victoria had previously provided guidance to the company on the risks associated with no-go zones and working around powerlines, the court heard.

It was reasonably practicable, the company admitted, to ensure workers adhered to a three-metre exclusion zone between overhead powerlines and any handheld objects.

“Before any work on a site with live powerlines it’s critical to identify hazards and eliminate or control all of the risks, including risks to workers using tools capable of conducting electricity,” WorkSafe Victoria Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said.

“Electric shock can happen even if equipment doesn’t actually touch the powerlines — as electricity can arc to nearby vehicles, machinery, or even equipment such as poles or conductive tools.”

To avoid contact with powerlines, WorkSafe Victoria advised that employers and contractors using trucks and other mobile plant or conductive equipment should:

Identify all powerlines on site and at site entrance or exit points.
Comply with the No-Go-Zone rules and spotter requirements when operating mobile plant around powerlines.
Monitor weather conditions closely — powerlines can sag in extreme heat and sway in strong winds.
Be aware that powerlines are more difficult to see at dawn and dusk.
Designate travel paths, loading and unloading areas well away from powerlines.
Install warning signs or other visual indicators on each side of the powerline to warn operators and drivers.
Consider the type and height of heavy vehicles, plant, machinery and equipment and if it can safely operate near the powerlines.
Induct drivers and operators in the risks of powerlines onsite, and the controls in place to prevent hitting the powerlines.
If routinely working near powerlines consider engineering controls such as presence-sensing systems that can detect powerlines and interlock plant movements.
Consult with workers on safe systems of work for working near powerlines.

For more information, visit Energy Safe Victoria’s Look up and live webpage.

Image credit: iStock.com/Anjuman Sharma. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.

Charges laid after worker fatally crushed by articulated front-end loader

Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

A recycling centre is facing charges after an articulated front-end loader reversed into a 26-year-old worker sorting recycled goods, causing fatal crush injuries. The incident occurred in July 2024, with the articulated front-end loader having been operated by a colleague of the struck worker.

For failing to provide and maintain, so far as reasonably practicable, a working environment that was safe and without risks to health, the company is facing six charges under section 21(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

It is alleged by WorkSafe Victoria that the company breached section 21(2)(a) of the OHS Act three times by failing to implement an appropriate traffic management system; failing to install a reversing camera on the plant; and failing to repair the plant’s reversing alarm, rear view mirror, or two cabin windows that obscured the operator’s view.

By failing to ensure the plant operator and the worker were adequately supervised, and failing to ensure the worker received appropriate information, instruction or training on the risks of working near powered mobile plant, it is also alleged the company thrice breached section 21(2)(e) of the OHS Act.

The matter is listed for a filing hearing on 10 June 2026 in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court.

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$78K fine after temporary guardrail collapse saw worker fall three metres

Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

After an incident on 23 June 2023 in which a worker fell three metres from a partially installed staircase in the Adelaide CBD, a construction company has been fined $78,000.

The worker, an employee of a company contracted to tile walls, floors and stairs at the work site, fell after leaning on a temporary guardrail on a partly installed external staircase. It collapsed, resulted in the fall onto a canopy frame above the ground floor.

As a result of the fall, the worker sustained fractures to sternum, ankle, vertebrae and several lacerations.

Installed at the top of the external staircase had been live edge protection (LEP) in the form of a temporary timber beam and orange plastic mesh. The beam had been secured with two metal screws attaching it to a vertical metal column at one end and wedged against a precast concrete wall at the other end where it was held in place by friction alone, SafeWork SA said. The LEP failed to support the weight of the worker.

For failing to provide safe system of work, the company was charged with a category 2 offence under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012. Sentenced this month in the South Australian Employment Court — the result of a SafeWork SA prosecution — the company pleaded guilty.

“The presence of the timber guardrail gave the impression of being secure and being able to be relied upon,” Deputy President Judge Calligeros said in sentencing remarks. “It gave a false impression that it was reliable and able to be leant on safely.

“While the LEP was a short-term safety measure, it is not surprising that a timber guardrail screwed securely at one end but simply wedged into a concrete wall at the other end, came loose and fell when weight was applied to it.”

A conviction was recorded and the company fined $130,000, which was reduced by 40% to $78,000 for its early guilty plea and previous good safety record. The company was also ordered to pay a contribution to SafeWork SA’s legal costs of $1210, and a Victim of Crime Levy of $424.

“Falls from height still remains one of the most significant causes of serious injury, and this incident demonstrates how quickly things can go wrong when controls are not properly implemented,” SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell said.

“If a guardrail is installed, workers must be able to rely on it to take a specified load. Anything less creates a false sense of security and places people at serious risk,” Farrell added. “Duty holders must ensure fall prevention systems go beyond just looking to be effective, they must be properly designed, installed and maintained. Cutting corners on safety can have devastating consequences.”

Image credit: iStock.com/nuttapong. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.

Calls for renewed focus as National Road Safety Week gets underway

Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

With National Road Safety Week (17–24 May) now underway, Transport Australia, Safer Australian Roads and Highways Group (SARAH Group), and the Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) have called for renewed national focus on practical, proven measures such as safer speeds, better infrastructure and safer vehicles.

The call comes as preliminary April data shows road deaths were 20% above the five-year monthly average as 121 people were killed on Australian roads, with a longer-term trend of road death increases over the past five years suggesting that Australia is significantly off track to meet the National Road Safety Strategy target of halving fatalities by 2030.

SARAH Group President Peter Frazer OAM said too many roads did not meet the required minimum level of safety, which means three stars or better under the Australian Road Assessment Program. “Each additional star halves the risk of a fatal or serious injury crash occurring on that road, so improving a road from one or two stars up to three stars or better will save lives. Everyone has a right to get home safe, every day, without exception. When a road is high-risk, there are two proven ways to improve safety,” Frazer said.

“Firstly, invest in upgrading the infrastructure. That means more than just repairing potholes. It requires real safety improvements, starting with laying rumble strips and removing roadside hazards, then moving to more significant safety measures such as installing barriers, widening shoulders, smoothing hazardous corners, and providing lane separation to prevent head-on collisions. Each of these measures is highly effective but requires increased funding and long-term planning,” Frazer added.

“However, there is a second approach that is both fast and low-cost. We know that crashes at speeds above 80 km/h are often fatal and yet default speed limits are often set at 100 km/h… far too high for the road’s design. So, if a road lacks those highly effective safety features, especially our regional and remote roads, simply lowering the speed limit will immediately improve its safety star rating, and in doing so, reduce the risk of serious injuries and, most importantly, save lives.”

ACRS CEO Dr Ingrid Johnston said road trauma costs the Australian economy more than $40 billion a year. “The costs fall on business, the health system, communities and the families and loved ones impacted. Road crashes also negatively impact travel time reliability and congestion levels across the country. With almost 1 million km of road in Australia, we need to invest in both the high-return infrastructure upgrades and the speed limit reductions to reduce the number of people being killed and seriously injured.” Johnston said. “It will be win-win for all.”

More information on National Road Safety Week is available at roadsafetyweek.com.au.

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Entries open for 2026 Augusta Zadow Awards

Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

With grants of up to $25,000 for WHS initiatives benefitting women and young workers in South Australia, entries are open for SafeWork SA’s 2026 Augusta Zadow Awards.

Established in 2005, the annual grant program recognises the legacy of Augusta Zadow, who in 1895 became South Australia’s first female inspector of factories. Zadow played a crucial role in securing better conditions for employees, particularly women and children.

“For more than 20 years, SafeWork SA’s Augusta Zadow Awards have helped to improve the safety of women and young workers across South Australia — to honour the legacy of one of the state’s great workplace safety pioneers,” SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell said.

With projects funded last year including an electrical safety awareness program for young workers, a research project to develop strategies addressing the challenges of menopause in shift workers and a culturally safe WHS induction toolkit for young Aboriginal construction workers, 44 grants to fund safety initiatives valued at almost $475,000 have been awarded by SafeWork SA since the program began.

“We’ve funded research and solutions across industries from academia to agriculture, and plenty in between,” Farrell said.

Applications for this year’s awards close on 30 June, with successful applicants to be announced at an awards ceremony as part of National Safe Work Month in October.

For more information, and to apply, click here.

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$55K fine after work experience skylight fall results in paraplegia

Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

After a person on work experience fell more than 3.5 metres through a skylight, sustaining serious injuries resulting in paraplegia, a roofing company has been convicted and fined $55,000 — and ordered to pay $5888 in costs.

The incident occurred in February 2024; the company had been engaged to complete roofing works at a building that had multiple domed skylights and a person on paid work experience with a subcontractor was carrying a removed roofing sheet to the side of the roof when he fell through a skylight.

While several Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) outlining the risks of the roofing works and associated control measures had been prepared, there were no fall protection measures in place, a WorkSafe Victoria investigation found.

It was reasonably practicable, the court heard, for the company to reduce the risk of serious injury or death by securely covering the skylights or installing guardrails or barriers and signs around them.

After earlier pleading guilty to failing to ensure that a workplace under its management or control was safe and without risks to health, the company was sentenced in the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on 6 May.

“Time and time again we see duty holders fail to take simple, easily understood precautions to address the serious risks of a fall from heights,” WorkSafe Victoria Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said.

“Sadly, this failure has left an individual with devastating injuries that could and should have been prevented.”

In December 2025, the subcontracted sole trader who engaged the injured person was separately fined $50,000 without conviction in relation to the incident.

WorkSafe Victoria advised that to prevent falls from height duty holders should implement the highest possible measures from the five levels in the hierarchy of controls:

Level 1 — eliminate the risk by, where practicable, doing all or some of the work on the ground or from a solid construction.
Level 2 — use a passive fall prevention device such as scaffolds, perimeter screens, guardrails, safety mesh or elevating work platforms.
Level 3 — use a positioning system, such as a travel-restraint system, to ensure employees work within a safe area.
Level 4 — use a fall arrest system, such as a harness, catch platform or safety nets, to limit the risk of injuries in the event of a fall.
Level 5 — use a fixed or portable ladder, or implement administrative controls.

Practical advice and resources to help prevent falls in their workplaces are also available to eligible employers through WorkSafe Victoria’s free online falls basics workshops.

Image credit: iStock.com/TW Farlow. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.

Workplace Health & Safety Show returns to Melbourne next week

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Attended by thousands of buyers, decision-makers and end-users from Australia’s largest companies across a variety of sectors including construction, manufacturing, transport, education, health care/aged care, mining, retail and government, the Workplace Health & Safety Show returns to Melbourne next week.

Held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre from Wednesday, 20 May to Thursday, 21 May, this year’s Victorian event includes:

6000+ attendees
1000+ products to explore
200+ exhibitors
70+ speakers
40+ sessions

Speakers at this year’s show include:

Amy Bell, General Manager, Workplace Relations & Wellbeing, Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Rachael Ford, Manager Policy and Regulation, Workers Compensation, Suncorp
Julie Gratton, Safety, Health, Environment & Wellbeing Director, AECOM
Chanelle McEnallay, Group Chief Safety Officer, Ramsay Health
Heather Miller, Director – Health & Safety, Ambulance Victoria
Greg Murphy, Ambassador, Autosense
Tennille Zahra, Head of HSEQ, Kinetic

Organised by National Media, in 2026, Workplace Health & Safety Show will also be in Sydney (21–22 October at ICC Sydney) and, in 2027, will return to Brisbane (17–18 March at BCEC).

Safety Solutions is a media partner of the Workplace Health & Safety Show Melbourne. To secure a ticket, register now.

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Green waste grinder fatality leads to $470K+ fine

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

After an incident on 8 July 2022, when a worker was fatally injured while attempting to clear a blockage in a Van Gelder Green Waste grinder from within the feed chute, a recycling centre has been fined $472,500.

The result of a prosecution by SafeWork NSW, the fine was handed down in the District Court of NSW — the company pleading guilty to an offence pursuant to section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) for failing to comply with its duty to workers under section 19(1) of the Act.

“Risk control measures for working with moving plant and fixed machinery are well known,” SafeWork NSW Commissioner Janet Schorer said. “Preventing injuries caused by mobile plant, vehicles or fixed machinery is an area for action in SafeWork NSW’s regulatory priorities.

“Having an awareness and assessment of the risks, along with implementation of safe systems of work, is key to reducing the number of incidents related to moving plant,” Schorer added. “SafeWork NSW reminds all businesses of their duty to ensure their workers are protected when working with plant, machinery and equipment.”

The company has the right to appeal against the sentence.

You can read the full judgment here, on the NSW Caselaw website.

Resources to help business owners and workers manage the risks of working with plant, machinery and equipment are available here, on the SafeWork NSW website.

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2026 National Safe Work Month theme announced

Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

‘Safe work is for life’ has been announced as the theme for October’s National Safe Work Month, Safe Work Australia (SWA) has announced. The theme acknowledges that WHS is about more than preventing harm in the moment, it’s about protecting workers’ lives, health and future.

“Safe work is for life reflects the fundamental purpose of WHS: to prevent work-related death, injury and illness, while also recognising the long-term impact workplace harm can have on workers, families, businesses and communities,” SWA said in its announcement of the theme.

“188 workers tragically lost their lives due to traumatic injuries in 2024, and there were 146,700 serious workers’ compensation claims in 2023–24. That’s more than 400 serious claims a day across Australia.

“Each of these numbers represents a life altered by a workplace incident that could have been prevented. Work should never cost someone their life, their health, or their ability to live fully outside of work.

“Every worker deserves to return home safely, and every workplace can make a meaningful difference through genuine consultation, proactive risk management, and sustained long-term commitment to safety.”

To support workplaces to reflect on what ‘Safe work is for life’ means for them and to take action to reduce serious injuries, illnesses and fatalities in Australian workplaces — for life — SWA said it will provide resources and practical tools.

More information on the 2026 National Safe Work Month is available at www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/national-safe-work-month.

Image credit: iStock.com/AndreyPopov. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.

$575K fine after 750 kg wheel assembly fell on apprentice mechanical fitter

Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

A mining company has been fined $575,000 (and ordered to pay $2663.30 in costs) after an apprentice mechanical fitter became a paraplegic when a wheel assembly fell on him. The apprentice, who was 18 years old at the time of the incident (in September 2021), was performing work for the company under a labour hire arrangement and under the supervision of a company-employed heavy diesel mechanic in the Matilda Gold Open Pit site’s mechanical workshop.

The apprentice and the mechanic were replacing two of the wheel assemblies on an articulated dump truck on the day of the incident. A telehandler was used to lift the first assembly off the truck, after which the mechanic placed it on the ground and asked the apprentice to retrieve the washers that had fallen inside its rim.

Without securing the assembly to the telehandler, mechanic transferred it upright to a nearby tyre storage rack. The mechanic used the telehandler about 30 minutes later to remove the second assembly but kept it upright on the machine’s tines rather than placing it on the ground.

The apprentice, who had been observing the procedure nearby, then received a gesture from the mechanic to walk in front of the telehandler and retrieve washers from inside the assembly’s rim. The unsecured assembly fell forward as the apprentice reached into the rim, striking and pinning him to the ground.

The telehandler was used by the mechanic to lift the assembly and free the apprentice, the mechanic asking another worker to call for medical assistance. About 15 minutes later, an ambulance arrived and transported the apprentice to a medical facility.

The company’s standard operating procedure for changing tyre and rim assemblies, at the time of the incident, directed workers to ensure that handled components did not pose pinning or crushing risks. It lacked, however, clear and specific instructions directing workers how to avoid or minimise these risks. The company amended its standard operating procedure after the incident by identifying further hazards, adding more safety requirements and appending a competency assessment.

The company also developed an additional procedure for the replacement of wheels on surface mining equipment. This additional procedure addressed exclusion zones, transportation protocols and injury risks. The contraventions of the company of the MSI Act were assessed as if the apprentice was a direct employee of the company.

“A young worker suffered a permanent spinal injury and became a paraplegic because the company responsible for their safety had an operating procedure for changing tyre and rim assemblies that was overly generalised and lacked direction,” WorkSafe WA Commissioner Sally North said.

“The circumstances of this devastating, life-altering incident were avoidable. This tragic case highlights that the only operating procedures that contribute to safety in Western Australian workplaces are those that provide clear and specific instructions.

“I encourage Western Australian employers to review their safety procedures and engage with their employees to ensure that every process is clear, specific and fit for purpose. Taking these steps is essential to preventing avoidable harm and safeguarding workers.”

The Work Health and Safety Commission’s code of practice: managing risks of plant in the workplace can be found here, via the WorkSafe WA website.

Image credit: iStock.com/singkamc. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.

Young worker's fatal fall lands construction company $150K fine

Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

A construction company has been convicted and fined $150,000 after a 23-year-old worker fell three metres through an unprotected stair void to the concrete floor and later died.

The incident occurred September 2022 on a Glen Waverley building site. The worker — engaged by a carpenter contracted by the company to build frames and erect roof trusses for a number of multi-storey townhouses — was carrying lengths of steel along the first floor when he fell through an open stair void three metres to the concrete floor below. Suffering serious head injuries, he later died in hospital.

After pleading guilty to a single charge of failing to ensure a workplace under its management or control was safe and without risks to health, the company was sentenced in the Melbourne County Court.

As the site’s principal contractor, it was reasonably practicable for the company to eliminate or reduce the risk of death or serious injury due to a fall, WorkSafe Victoria said, by restricting access to the first floor until perimeter guardrails had been installed around the stair void, and access was made using a ladder that extended at least 90 centimetres past the first floor that was securely fastened at the top and bottom.

“It is incredibly frustrating and tragic to see another life lost to such a preventable and well-documented risk,” WorkSafe Victoria Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said. “Despite there being extensive information and guidance on ways to properly manage the risks, falls from height sadly remain the number one cause of death and serious injury in the construction industry.”

In August 2025, after pleading guilty to a single charge in relation to the incident, the sole trader of the carpentry business was sentenced to 100 hours of community work and ordered to pay a fine of $10,000.

WorkSafe Victoria advises that, to prevent falls from height, employers should implement the highest possible measures from the five levels in the hierarchy of controls:

Level 1 — eliminate the risk by, where practicable, doing all or some of the work on the ground or from a solid construction.
Level 2 — use a passive fall prevention device such as scaffolds, perimeter screens, guardrails, safety mesh or elevating work platforms.
Level 3 — use a positioning system, such as a travel-restraint system, to ensure employees work within a safe area.
Level 4 — use a fall arrest system, such as a harness, catch platform or safety nets, to limit the risk of injuries in the event of a fall.
Level 5 — use a fixed or portable ladder, or implement administrative controls.

Image credit: iStock.com/agungsusilo. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.

Victoria seeks feedback on draft Code of Claimants' Rights

Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Victoria is seeking feedback on a draft code developed following last year’s legislative amendments to the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act.

Responding to a key recommendation from the independent review into the administration and management of complex claims, the code is intended to provide clear expectations for the treatment of claimants and outline their key rights. These include: to have support persons, communication, information and fair treatment, among others.

Service standards and obligations for WorkSafe Victoria, its agents, providers and self-insurers will also be set out, as well as providing a complaints process and potential remedies for breaches of the code.

“We are committed to delivering a scheme that supports injured workers and ensures people are treated with dignity and respect at every stage of their claim. By formalising these rights, claimants can feel confident and empowered throughout the process,” WorkSafe Victoria Chief Executive Officer Cathy Henderson said.

“WorkSafe values the perspectives of those with lived experience and we encourage workers, employers and the community to have their say and help shape a code that will improve outcomes for all claimants.”

Representative bodies including Victorian Trades Hall Council and the legislated lived experience advisory body for workplace safety and compensation matters — Workplace Incidents Consultative Committee — have provided early feedback on protecting the needs of injured workers and the community.

Expected to commence by the end of the year, comment on the draft code is available here until Wednesday, 27 May, via the Engage Victoria website.

Image credit: iStock.com/Dimensions. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.

Today is World Day for Safety and Health at Work

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Tuesday, 28 April 2026 is World Day for Safety and Health at Work (World Day) and this year the International Labour Organization’s theme focuses on ensuring a healthy psychosocial working environment for all.

With the potential to harm workers’ psychological and physical health and contribute to safety risks, psychosocial hazards arise from the working environment, workplace machinery or equipment, design or management of work, or workplace interactions and behaviours that can cause psychological and physical harm.

Psychosocial hazards — just like physical, chemical and biological hazards — must be identified, addressed and effectively managed to maintain safe and healthy workplaces.

Some common psychosocial hazards at work include: exposure to traumatic events or material; inadequate reward and recognition; job demands; lack of role clarity; low job control; poor physical environment, organisational change management, organisational justice or support; remote or isolated work; bullying and harassment; and workplace conflict, violence and aggression.

Get involved

To help you promote World Day on 28 April 2026, Safe Work Australia (SWA) has the following downloadable co-brandable resources:

SWA also encourages you to post awareness-raising content on social media along with its social tiles and the hashtags #WorldWHSDay2026 #SafeDay2026.

SWA’s resources on psychosocial hazards in the workplace provide employers with examples of hazards, how to identify them and helpful tools to mitigate their risks to ensure a healthy workplace, and are available here.

Image credit: iStock.com/kali9. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.

$550K fine after unsafely secured truck load is involved in fatal collision

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +1000

After the ratchet strap securing an intake boom on a truck failed and was later involved in a fatal collision, a trucking company has been fined $550,000 and ordered to pay $8000 in costs.

As part of the construction of earthworks at a mine in the Pilbara, a mobile water pump known as a “MegaFill pump” was required, which has two booms — an intake boom and a discharge boom — that extend out for use and are folded away for storage and secured for transport.

If not properly secured, when folded the booms can unfold and rotate away from the pump. Therefore, the intake boom is secured for transport by way of a chain attached to the boom, a travel mount strap placed over the boom and a travel mount bolt attaching the boom to the pump frame — while over the whole machine a precautionary strap is applied.

When work was completed with the pump, a mining and construction services company placed a ratchet strap over the intake boom for transport; however, this created a risk that the boom could rotate during transport because they did not attach the chain or the travel bolt. With the travel strap in place, the pump was later loaded onto a semi-trailer. However, the truck driver failed to check to see if the travel mount bolt or holding chain had been applied to the intake boom, or to place a strap over the entire pump.

The ratchet strap securing the intake boom failed and the boom became unrestrained when the truck was travelling towards Perth on the Great Northern Highway. The intake boom of the pump struck and killed the driver of a truck travelling in the opposite direction just north of Meekatharra at around 9.27 pm on 25 July 2022.

The trucking company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the health and safety of other persons was not put at risk by their work and was fined in the Perth Magistrates Court on 13 April. Over the same incident, three mining and construction services companies were also fined a total of $770,000 in October 2025.

“This case highlights the importance of safe systems of work and ensuring that employees are properly trained in those systems,” WorkSafe WA Commissioner Sally North said. “[The company] should have had a system of work in place such as an enforced checklist requiring drivers or loaders to check if all moveable parts are restrained according to the instructions of the manufacturer, with drivers appropriately trained in how to achieve this.

“Reasonably practicable measures could have been taken to reduce the risk of the boom coming free and putting other road users at risk.” Over another incident, the company and its director were also fined a total of $400,000 in March 2025, pleading guilty to failing to maintain a safe workplace and, by that failure, causing serious harm to a worker.

Image credit: iStock.com/Thank you for your assistant. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.