Cofield Wines owner fined after worker’s finger crushed in machine
A North East winery owner has been fined and ordered to pay costs of more than $12,500 after a worker badly injured his hand.
Fines & Breaches
Employer ordered to pay $150,000 in damages to beauty therapist sexually harassed at work
An employer has been found vicariously liable for the sexual harassment and assault of a female beauty therapist and ordered to pay $150,000 in damages, after the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (the Tribunal) found the employer’s response “manifestly” inadequate.
WA employers now face hefty fines and/or jail time
Employers could face up to 20 years behind bars and $10 million in fines if they are found responsible for a workplace death under new state laws which come into effect on Thursday.
Historic jail sentence after work accident
Gympie businessman Jeffrey Owen has become the first person to be prosecuted, convicted and jailed under Queensland’s relatively new industrial manslaughter laws.
Company director convicted for horror industrial accident
A fabrication company in liquidation has been fined $28,000 for a horror industrial accident in 2018, which left a worker with “charred feet” requiring amputation.
Darwin construction business faces massive fine after employee death
A major NT company and its sole director have been charged with industrial manslaughter after a workplace tragedy two years ago.
Inquiry into jumping castle tragedy could take a year
The WorkSafe Tasmania investigation into the tragic deaths of six children at Hillcrest Primary School in December is continuing and is expected to take up to a year.
Three defendants found liable in workplace injury common law damages claim
The 2021 case of Muller v Klosed Pty Ltd gives a good insight into how Victorian Courts assess personal injury compensation and the calculation of damages for injured workers where there is more than one defendant.
Demand to know why Dan, CHO weren’t prosecuted
WorkSafe may be forced to share details of its investigation into Victoria’s disastrous hotel quarantine system— exposing the Premier and chief health officer.
Mechanics fined $210k over triple-fatality
A Victorian mechanics business has been convicted and fined $210,000 after a petrol tanker detached from a truck and killed three people including a four-year-old.
Mining companies fined for failing to provide safe work environment
Two Rio Tinto subsidiaries have been fined a total of $90,000 after a worker suffered injuries to his arm at a Dampier port facility in November 2017.
Employer fined $124,000 for injuries to teenager who repeatedly failed to follow instructions
In an important lesson for employers, this case demonstrates that a worker’s disobedience or failure to follow instructions does not excuse inadequate safe work procedures and training.
‘Undone by greed’: beef stockist caught trying to cheat WorkSafe
A Victorian worker who lodged a fraudulent claim with WorkSafe Victoria while still receiving weekly benefit payments for a wrist injury sustained in 2018 at his previous job has been ordered to return more than $35,000 to the scheme.
Harvesting Company Fined $150,000
A harvesting company has been fined $150,000 over an incident in which a worker’s leg was amputated after it was caught in a skidder.
Meat company fined over crushed worker
Patrick Smith was an experienced stockman who believed in silver linings.
