WorkSafe has charged dozens of businesses for breaching working at height safety standards in the first half of 2025, as the crackdown to prevent disastrous falls continues.
Charges stack up for ignoring falls risks Read More »
Recent changes to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) now make NSW Codes of Practice (Codes) legally binding, requiring a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) to take steps to be compliant with the Codes, or otherwise become open to penalties for breaching health and safety duties.
NSW WHS Codes of Practice now legally binding on PCBUs Read More »
The New South Wales District Court has handed down its first Work Health and Safety (WHS) prosecution of 2025, convicting Silver Raven Pty Ltd and imposing a $180,000 fine following an incident that left a worker with serious injuries.
John Holland contractor convicted in First WHS Prosecution of 2025 Read More »
Effective 1 July 2025, SafeWork NSW transitioned into an independent statutory regulator under the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Standalone Regulator) Act 2025.
SafeWork NSW – Now an Independent Regulator Read More »
The recently reconstituted Industrial Court of New South Wales has delivered its first sentencing decision in a work health and safety (WHS) prosecution, with Justice Paingakulam handing down judgment in SafeWork NSW v Hibernian Contracting Pty Ltd [2025] NSWIC 4.
Industrial Court delivers first WHS sentencing decision with key guidance on mitigation Read More »
Warning: This article contains details about attempted suicide which may be upsetting for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.
Magistrate Webster of the Magistrates Court of Tasmania has acquitted a sole trader charged under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (Tas) (the WHS Act) following the 2021 Hillcrest Primary School tragedy in which six children died and others were seriously injured while using a jumping castle during a school event.
Jumping castle operator acquitted by Tasmanian Magistrates Court Read More »
The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) in Satterly v Brisbane City Council [2025] QIRC 97 examines establishing workplace misconduct as a valid dismissal reason, especially when psychiatric injury is involved. It highlights how misconduct and unfair dismissal interact with the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003.
Separating misconduct from psychiatric injury in dismissal Read More »
SafeWork SA is launching a series of industry-specific compliance campaigns after a rise in workplace deaths this financial year.
Compliance campaigns launched after rise in workplace fatalities Read More »
The NSW Treasurer wants the workers compensation scheme reformed, saying billions are being spent keeping it afloat, but has angered state employees.
‘Choice is clear’: NSW Treasurer’s line in the sand as workers reject compo reform Read More »
The NSW government has announced a potential major overhaul of the NSW workers compensation system to address concerns regarding the cost impact and poor return to work outcomes of workers experiencing workplace psychological injuries.
Earlier this year, the Minns Government introduced the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Standalone Regulator) Bill 2025 (Bill) to Parliament as part of their commitment to strengthen the NSW WHS framework.
How NSW employers should prepare for a potential increase in WHS enforcement activity Read More »
SafeWork NSW is reminding workplaces of the importance of maintaining the highest levels of safety when operating mobile plant and moving vehicles after a fatal incident in Sydney.
SafeWork NSW issues warning on forklift safety Read More »
The architect of a globally recognised scale designed to measure psychological injuries in worker compensation cases says changes proposed by the Minns government will effectively kill the scheme by making it next to impossible for injured workers to claim damages from employers.
Experts say mental health payouts may become impossible Read More »
The FWC has affirmed that in safety critical industries, a positive drug test can be a valid reason for dismissal, even without signs of impairment.
Can an employee be dismissed for a positive drug test when not (obviously) impaired? Read More »
