Victoria in 2025: $17m+ in penalties and 137 prosecutions and enforceable undertakings

In 2025, Victoria had $17,391,325 in fines, costs and undertakings for breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Dangerous Goods Act, WorkSafe Victoria has revealed.

Last year also saw the state first workplace manslaughter conviction being increased to a record $3 million on appeal, and three other seven-figure penalties. There were also 29 outcomes worth more than $100,000.

At 64, employers in construction made up the largest proportion of prosecutions. This was followed by manufacturing (at 30), and transport, postal and warehousing (at 8).

Offences involving working at height accounted for the highest number of outcomes, with a total of $3.74 million in fines, costs and undertakings associated with 52 employers — almost exclusively from the construction industry.

Breaches involving mobile plant, such as forklifts and cranes, were the second most common offence type, accounting for 26 successful results, followed by unguarded machinery with 17.

Thirty-five duty holders were prosecuted by WorkSafe Victoria over observed or reported safety issues last year.

Victoria’s deadliest industry

“Construction remains Victoria’s deadliest industry with 69 fatalities in the last five years, largely due to preventable falls from height, but we also continue to see significant workplace harm in both the manufacturing and transport sectors,” WorkSafe Victoria’s Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said.

“By keeping a close eye on these industries, we’re able to identify both known and emerging risks and take strong enforcement action, even in cases where an incident has not yet occurred.”

To help drive down the number of injuries and deaths in key priority areas, Jenkin also said that the regulator will work to further improve its enforcement approach.

“We want to ensure we’re using the most appropriate tools to influence behaviour change when it comes to common offences, such as those involving working at height,” Jenkin said. “Not putting up guard rails for a quick roofing job or letting an apprentice work alone may seem like easy ways to save a bit of time or money, but the reality is you’re gambling with a person’s life.”

Deaths and life-changing injuries

Tragically, of Victoria’s 137 successful prosecutions last year, 17 arose from incidents where a worker had died, while other matters involved life changing injuries such as paraplegia, brain damage and amputation; matters that, Jenkin said, highlight what was at stake when safety was not at the forefront.

“When employers fail to manage risks in their workplaces, the consequences can be catastrophic — both physically and mentally,” Jenkin said.

“Through our work, we see this reality. We see the pain and heartbreak family members endure when their loved one is killed, the guilt and regret that often consumes employers and even co-workers after a tragedy, and the ongoing suffering of workers whose lives are forever changed after a serious injury.”

Psychological health

Regarding psychological health, WorkSafe Victoria also took action against workplace bullying and harassment, with four duty holders fined for failing to protect workers from psychological harm.

Victorian employers now have a specific duty to identify psychosocial hazards, take reasonable steps to eliminate or control the associated risks, and review risk controls, under new psychological health regulations that came into effect in December 2025.

Enforcement activity, WorkSafe Victoria stated, is a key part of its constructive compliance strategy, which balances deterrents and positive motivators for duty holders.

The full list of Victoria’s prosecution result summaries and enforceable undertakings is available here.

Top image credit: iStock.com/FrankRamspott. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.