WHS & worker safety

In the Northern Territory, a PCBU or officer whose reckless or negligent breach of a WHS duty causes a death commits industrial manslaughter.

From 1 December 2026 the 0.05 mg/m³ silica standard becomes a legally binding workplace exposure limit (WEL).

QLD PCBUs must ensure health and safety so far as reasonably practicable; industrial manslaughter live since 2017.

Death, serious injury, illness or dangerous incident must be notified to WorkSafe immediately.

NSW PCBUs must so far as reasonably practicable ensure the health and safety of workers and others.

WA mine operators must ensure safe and healthy mines under MSIA + WHS Act 2020.

PCBUs handling hazardous chemicals must maintain a register + (above threshold) a manifest.

QLD coal mine operators must ensure acceptable level of risk under the Act.

the Northern Territory PCBUs must, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the health and safety of workers and others affected by the work.

In South Australia, a PCBU or officer whose reckless or negligent breach of a WHS duty causes a death commits industrial manslaughter.

In Tasmania, a PCBU or officer whose reckless or negligent breach of a WHS duty causes a death commits industrial manslaughter.

In the ACT, a PCBU or officer whose reckless or negligent breach of a WHS duty causes a death commits industrial manslaughter.

WHS duty extends to psychosocial hazards — workload, bullying, harassment, role conflict.

South Australia PCBUs must, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the health and safety of workers and others affected by the work.

Tasmania PCBUs must, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the health and safety of workers and others affected by the work.

Before high risk construction work starts, a SWMS must identify the work, its hazards and risks, the control measures, and how they are implemented, monitored and reviewed.

NSW mine operators face mine-specific WHS obligations + Resources Regulator oversight.

Every party in the heavy vehicle supply chain has a positive duty under HVNL.

Victorian employers must so far as reasonably practicable provide and maintain a safe working environment.

All construction site workers must have completed nationally recognised induction training (CPCWHS1001).

WA adopted harmonised model WHS Act 2020 with industrial manslaughter offences from 31 March 2022.

Death, serious injury, illness, dangerous incident — notify SafeWork NSW immediately.

Approved ECEC services must notify state regulator of serious incidents within 24 hours / 7 days.

Asbestos work requires licensed asbestos removalist + asbestos management plan.

the ACT PCBUs must, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the health and safety of workers and others affected by the work.

PCBUs must manage psychosocial risk under WHS Acts + state codes.

Forklift, crane, scaffolding, dogging, rigging, EWP and other high-risk work requires a HRWL.

Since 1 July 2024, a Comcare-scheme PCBU or officer whose reckless or negligent breach causes a death commits industrial manslaughter.

Commonwealth entities and Comcare self-insured licensees must, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the health and safety of workers and others.

ISO 45001 certification is voluntary and does not replace the WHS primary duty, but principal contractors and tenders often require it.

Questacon (a division of DISR) supplied alcohol-based hand sanitiser near plasma globe exhibits; a child visitor's hands caught fire after touching a globe in July 2022. The release says it was the sixth incident involving the globes in five months and earlier warnings were not adequately acted on.

On 21 January 2023 a worker was seriously injured using a grain mill to prepare cattle feed.

A pedestrian was fatally struck by a reversing reach stacker (container-handling mobile plant) on 21 April 2022. The company was convicted after a defended hearing.

Hire equipment provider whose technician serviced the boom lift the morning of the fatal North Blackburn incident. It should have identified the disconnected operator protection alarm and withdrawn the lift from use.

A plumbing company's worker was crushed against an overhead steel frame while in a boom lift at a North Blackburn site in August 2023 and died. No spotter was used and the boom lift's operator protection alarm was disconnected; the company lacked a daily pre-start inspection system.

Building and maintenance company; on 23 October 2023 a worker fell about three metres through a skylight void and was seriously injured.

The company had workers clean up and demolish its former Brompton facility (Dec 2021 - Feb 2023) knowing asbestos was present; friable asbestos was disturbed. Removal was done without a licence, removal areas, air monitoring or clearance inspections.

During decommissioning of Torrens Island A Power Station (Oct 2022 - Apr 2023) workers cut lead-covered cables without respiratory protection; five employees later showed elevated blood lead levels.

In September 2023 an unattended truck and tipper parked on a slope without the park brake rolled off an Adelaide Hills site into an industrial building, narrowly missing a worker. The park-brake warning alarm had been disabled and two service reports flagging it were not acted on.

Steel subcontractor on the Kew Recreational Centre job that outsourced fabrication of the GT1 truss to a China-based firm without having welding/QA documents verified before erection. The truss failed and part of the building collapsed in October 2022. Company now in liquidation; sentenced ex parte after a guilty finding.

A young worker wearing gloves was injured in September 2022 when the gloves became entangled in the rotating chuck of a drill press. The undertaking was given jointly by the company and its director as officer.

Farm business; in February 2023 a worker riding a quad bike hit a mound at speed and was fatally injured.

At a Thebarton demolition site in November 2023 an excavator bucket swung and crushed the foot of a worker sorting debris nearby, causing amputations. Exclusion zone, spotter and communication controls in the SWMS were not enforced.

Transport firm supplying trucks and drivers to a Dandenong South commercial laundry. In June 2023 a driver fell about 1.2 m from a truck tailgate used as a loading bridge and died; the tailgate had no fall protection rails.

Trading as Centenary Bakehouse, the company had workers remove suspended insulation panels from a bakery roof space in Reservoir with no fall controls; harnesses were on site but not required. A worker fell about four metres in August 2021 and died. Second workplace manslaughter prosecution in Victoria; largest fine for a single offence under Victoria's workplace safety laws.

In May 2019 contractors moving a roughly three-tonne coin blanking press by forklift let it topple, narrowly missing a worker. CDPP had filed three charges alleging no safe system of work and an inadequate SWMS for the contractor; the undertaking was accepted instead of prosecution.

Theme park operator (formerly Ardent Leisure Limited). Two alleged maintenance incidents: in November 2020 ride arms rolled off trestles in a workshop, and in February 2021 a ride arm rose uncontrollably to four metres while a gondola was being disconnected. No injuries.

Steel erector on a Malaga industrial site; in July 2024 a non-rated, non-compliant lifting lug failed and a suspended steel column fell on a rigger, killing him. Directors knew the lug was unrated but kept it in use. Highest fine ever under WA workplace safety laws.

During 2023 demolition and renovation at a Plympton Park gym, the operator allegedly failed to identify and manage asbestos risks in line with the code of practice; no injuries reported. The director was alleged to have failed his due diligence duty.

Trading as Real Aussie Sheds, the company had workers unload roof sheeting at height in wet, windy weather at a Jervis Bay site in July 2022, contrary to its own SWMS; a worker fell from a ladder. No scaffolding, EWP or fall protection was used.