With one young father killed in a workplace accident on Wednesday and another fighting for his life in hospital, debate over Australia’s industrial manslaughter laws has been reignited.
The death of a volunteer firefighter on Western Australia’s south coast has raised concerns among local governments about the scope of new workplace health and safety laws.
In late 2022, the NSW Government commissioned the Honourable Justice Robert McDougall KC to undertake an independent review of SafeWork NSW’s performance of its enforcement, educational functions, structure and organisational separation, and governance and culture.
Review of SafeWork NSW concludes: increased enforcement expected Read More »
In 2023 we wrote an article about the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) applying the workplace health and safety exemption under section 108 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld) (AD Act).
QIRC finds injured worker unable to meet genuine occupational requirements Read More »
On 23 January 2024 the National Operations Manager of a logistics business was sentenced to three years jail, ordered to pay $123,000 in legal costs and issued with an order prohibiting him from managing transport activities for 12 months upon his release from jail.
Executive jailed and ground-breaking WHS legal developments Read More »
Are you complying with your Work Health and Safety duties?
Work Health and Safety: increased activity means you need to be proactive Read More »
A vaccine-injured South Australian dad and public servant had a groundbreaking legal win against the government.
State Government ordered to pay compensation for Covid-19 vaccine injury Read More »
The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission recently dealt with a worker’s discrimination claim, alleging that he suffered bias after he failed to return to work after an injury.
Is it discrimination? Worker not allowed to return to work after injury Read More »
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) recently dealt with a worker’s claim that he was unfairly dismissed after suffering from an injury. He said the employer failed to keep him as an employee after the incident and didn’t properly accommodate him and his restrictions.
Employer fails to keep worker after injury, faces unfair dismissal claim Read More »
In the recent decision of SafeWork NSW v Qantas Ground Services Pty Ltd [2023] NSWDC 468, the NSW District Court found Qantas Ground Services Pty Ltd guilty of engaging in discriminatory conduct for a prohibited reason, contravening the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) (WHS Act).
If you work in Queensland, know this: your safety at the workplace is non-negotiable.
Understanding Workers’ Compensation Insurance in Queensland Read More »
New laws making industrial manslaughter a criminal offence in South Australia have passed Parliament.
Under the Work Health and Safety (Industrial Manslaughter) Amendment Bill, individuals can face a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, and $18 million for companies, if they are reckless or grossly negligent in conduct which breaches a work health and safety duty and results in the death of another person.
Industrial manslaughter to be criminalised in SA Read More »
A small business owner was found to have breached his duty of care to take precaution against a foreseeable risk of injury when a warehouse worker suffered an injury while forcefully using a pallet jack in the midst of time pressures.
Time pressure + no risk of assessment = injured worker Read More »
In 2019, an apprentice worker of a marine industrial engineering company, Aimex Ltd, suffered a hypoxic brain injury after being overcome by toxic fumes while cleaning the engine of a boat with brake cleaner.
The consequences of dishonesty Read More »
The Albanese Government is seriously stepping up efforts to reduce avoidable workplace fatalities, reports Alan Austin.
Under Labor, corporate executives to face 25 years gaol for workers killed Read More »
