Industry News
WHS prosecutions decline but average financial penalty reaches record high
This is according to new data released by Safe Work Australia, revealing a 33% increase on the average financial penalty per prosecution — the highest annual average recorded. [ + ]
Myer and supplier charged after robot warehouse fatality
The department store and a warehouse robotics supplier were charged after a 27-year-old man sustained fatal injuries after coming into contact with an energised and operating automated robot. [ + ]
ATSB Chief Commissioner publishes open letter on Sydney Airport investigations
The letter, by Angus Mitchell, sets out how the Australian Transport Safety Bureau is approaching its six investigations into the airport's traffic conflict and coordination incidents. [ + ]
WA commences prosecutions in relation to four workplace fatalities
All before the courts this month, the incidents encompass cyanide exposure at a mine, a fall through a roof on a construction site, a member of the public struck by a tow truck and a worker killed while tree pruning. [ + ]
$800K fine after pedestrian fatally struck by reversing reach stacker
Following a defended hearing, a company was convicted and fined over the incident that involved a type of mobile plant used for handling shipping containers. [ + ]
Death of 25-year-old crushed against steel frame leads to $630K in fines
The worker was in a boom lift to install safety mesh for future roofing works. No spotter was being used and a fitted operator protection alarm was disconnected. [ + ]
2.8m fall lands building and maintenance company $390,000 fine
The result of a prosecution by SafeWork NSW, the worker fell through a skylight void from one level to another and was seriously injured. [ + ]
$205K in fines follow six-metre fall from unsafely constructed scaffold
Two companies and one director have been fined $100,000, $15,000 and $90,000, respectively, after a worker was seriously injured in the approximate six-metre fall. [ + ]
$200K fine after stacker conveyor entanglement at a gold mine
The worker suffered a crush injury and a fractured left humerus as a result of the entanglement, which occurred in the Mungari gold mine near Kalgoorlie. [ + ]
Nexon partners with Dementia Australia to tackle dementia stigma in the workplace
Ahead of Dementia Action Week, which runs 21–27 September, Nexon Asia Pacific is encouraging workplaces to talk about dementia. [ + ]
Lead dust exposure during power station decommissioning results in $60K fine
Respiratory protection to prevent inhalation of lead dust, such as full-face respirators, was not provided to workers undertaking a task that generated dust and debris. [ + ]
ATSB commences transport safety investigation into Sydney Airport near collision
The near collision occurred on Sunday morning between a Jetstar A320 and Qatar Airways Boeing 777 on a taxiway. [ + ]
Worker seriously injured by falling metal debris leads to $212,500 fine
The worker was struck while working on a bucket elevator conveyer, the company being convicted and fined in the District Court of NSW. [ + ]
$150K spend follows truck driver struck by forklift
The incident occurred while the driver was in a loading area waiting for his truck to be packed with carpet tiles. Struck in the back, the driver briefly lost consciousness. [ + ]
Safe Work Australia publishes three airborne contaminants guides
The guides are to help workplaces manage exposure and prepare for the 1 December 2026 transition to the workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants (WEL) list. [ + ]
