The presence of PFAs at the designated site for Victoria’s WestGate Tunnel has meant that the entire project is now up in the air, as the state government, Transurban and
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Hopes fading for worker trapped underground in Western Tasmania
Mining workers in the town of Queenstown have been holding their breath as rescue efforts continue, to extract a miner trapped underground at Henty Gold Mine. The alarm was first
Silicosis Support Network calls for greater regulation for engineered stone cutting industry
While interim advice has been recommended by the National Dust Disease Taskforce, the government’s slow response has been less than ideal, according to the Silicosis Support Network. Silicosis Support Network
Worker killed in Carrum Downs
A worker has died at a truck-body manufacturing facility in Carrum Downs, outside of Melbourne yesterday. The worker was unloading panels from a shipping container when a stack of panels,
Call for new WHS standards following bushfires, worst ever air quality levels
While the weather in Sydney has improved and the air quality with it, unions and business groups have called on the Berejiklian government to implement new health and safety regulations
Fine over five and a half metre fall on worksite
A Victorian company has faced the Geelong Magistrates’ Court over its failure to control the risk of fall from height and two other offences after a worker suffered serious injuries
Silicosis victim takes legal action as rates continue to rise
Former stonemason, Frank Scott, has launched legal action against his former employer after he contracted silicosis following his career cutting and grinding marble and granite across Canberra in the ’80s,
Rise in health conditions from bushfires
First Sydney and then Canberra and Melbourne have experienced ongoing, heavy smoke conditions that have affected overall air quality and caused concern for public health. The smoke itself is made
Chemical exposure causes evacuation at North Sydney warehouse
A workplace north of Sydney has been evacuated after an incident of chemical exposure. The incident took place at a warehouse in Somersby, near Gosford. Initial reports indicate that as
Apprentice dies in traumatic workplace accident in NSW
An 18-year-old apprentice has died after suffering a cardiac arrest, as a result of a workplace incident, at a workplace in Brocklehurst near Dubbo. Police and emergency services were called
More than £22,000 in fines over failures to manage asbestos risks
Two companies in the Greater Manchester area in the UK and the sole director has faced court and been fined over failing to safely manage asbestos risks during a refurbishment
Renewed calls for industrial manslaughter laws after injured worker dies
A worker undertaking asbestos removal work at the University of Wollongong who fell through a portion of roof and sustained head injuries has died in hospital, prompting renewed calls for
Survivors of Gospers Mountain fire urged to be cautious over hazardous materials, asbestos
The Gospers Mountain mega blaze that has burned for weeks has now confirmed as having destroyed 96 homes, but residents are being urged to be cautious as a new range
Death of worker at ACT worksite
A 47-year-old man unloading materials off a truck at a worksite in Denman Prospect, ACT has died. WorkSafe ACT has released a statement, explaining that the fatality occurred just before
Reports seized over asbestos concerns at US military bases
An investigation into asbestos contamination in the United States Oklahoma City has involved Air Force investigators, as a military landlord came under intense scrutiny and computers and other materials were
Workplace fatalities for 2019 up on previous year
According to preliminary data from Safe Work Australia, 157 Australians died at work in 2019, which is an increase upon the 144 recorded fatalities the previous year. 55 workers of
Calls to delay Australian Open as players struggle in smoky conditions
The directors of the Australian Open have come under further scrutiny, previously defending their decision to push ahead despite smoky conditions while today, one player had to retire due to
FDA calls for new talc and cosmetic testing standards over asbestos concerns
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has endorsed the testing of asbestos in cosmetics despite the resistance of the industry, to better reflect public health authorities views. The
Worker killed at Queensland mine site
A 33-year old mine worker has died at a coal mining site in central Queensland. Emergency services were called to the site, operated by mining company Thiess, before 4:30pm local
Bushfire smoke and WHS obligations
SafeWork NSW had released advice for workers and PCBUs affected by the bushfire smoke spreading across large parts of the state. The advice is relative to those affected by smoke
Sports players claim air quality is like “smoking 50 cigarettes a day”, calls to stop all matches
Former Bayern Munich star and Sydney FC midfielder Alexander Baumjohann gave an interview with Spanish publication Marca about the conditions Australian sports players are facing. He said: “I think breathing
Worker injured during asbestos removal work
A worker has been rushed to hospital after he fell through a roof a the Univerity of Wollongong while completing asbestos removal work at the campus. Emergency services were called
Worker trapped in meat slicer at Queensland business
A worker has been flown to hospital after a workplace incident at a business west of Brisbane today. Fire and rescue crews and paramedics attended the address in Plainland on
A-League games in question over air quality concerns
The A-League and W-League double-header on Friday night, scheduled to take place at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle is reportedly likely to be postponed after concerns over the hazardous air
Asbestos risks in bushfire communities prompt new health warning
Residents of bushfire-ravaged Batlow, in south-west NSW, where at least one resident has died, have been warned that the risk isn’t over yet. Currently, there is limited access to power,
New tech to assist in reducing risks around stone cutting
A company from Queensland has developed a portable solution to ensuring safe stone cutting on worksites, in response to the rising silicosis health crisis across Australia. Dry cutting is now
WorkSafe NT criticised over 2018 death of fishing worker
Criticism has been aimed at the Northern Territory workplace regulator over the death of British backpacker Harry Evans, with the NT Coroner saying it should have done more. Mr Evans
Decline in SafeWork inspections
As a new work year begins, attention is focused on the 2019 workplace safety results. The results show a significant decline in workplace inspections across NSW and the lower rates
Rates of silicosis climbing rapidly
The latest estimates of people suffering from silicosis in Australia puts the national number of cases at 350, which is 100 more cases than the September 2019 figure. The figure
Poor bone health linked to lower air quality
As large parts of Australia continue to struggle with poor air quality, New Scientist has released new research data that indicates that bone density may be among the health consequences of
WorkSafe NT confirms workplace death
A worker in Palmerston, NT has died after an electrical incident at a worksite over the holiday period, NT WorkSafe has confirmed. The man, who was 23, is understood to
Truck driver to appear in court after drunkenly crashing asbestos-containing load
Sydney truck driver, Ashley Collins, 50, is due to face court within weeks over an accident in which the truck he was driving, which was carrying asbestos-containing material, crashed through the
Shoppers suffer crush injuries in Western Sydney
As many as seven shoppers finishing their Christmas shopping were injured overnight at Westfield Parramatta, in Sydney’s west. The promotional event, where more than 100 people gathered underneath a bundle
Regulators urge caution in the lead up to the holidays
WHS regulators Australia-wide have urged businesses and workers to stay vigilant in the lead-up to the holidays and to maintain focus on health and safety across all workplaces. WorkSafe WA
Two volunteer firefighters killed south-west of Sydney overnight
Two volunteers from the Rural Fire Service in NSW have died after the vehicle they were in rolled, as they fought a fire in Buxton, south-west of Sydney, late Thursday
Fine increased on appeal over deaths of two workers
Criscon Pty Ltd, the contractor found responsible for the deaths of two workers at a construction job at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane, has had the initial fine increased on
Trade Unions release new guidelines over heat, smoke exposure
The Australian Council of Trade Unions will today release new guidelines to address unprecedented threats to workplace safety due to the extreme heat and pollution due to the current bushfire
187 workplace breaches at manufactured stone businesses
SafeWork NSW continues its crackdown on silica-related workplace safety breaches, with three out of four manufactured stone worksites in NSW issued with breach notices over the last five years. The
SafeWork adjusts exposure standards for respirable crystalline silica
SafeWork Australia has announced that it has reduced the recommended workplace exposure standards for respirable crystalline silica. The reduction sees the standard brought down from 0.1 mg/m3 to the significantly
Silicosis sufferer denied TPD payout
A Queensland stonemason who has been diagnosed with silicosis has been refused a lump sum payout under his total permanent disability insurance. Garry Moratti was a stonemason from the age
Worker killed after fall at Port Adelaide worksite
A worker has been killed after a fall from a roof at an industrial steel business in Port Adelaide. The incident occurred just before 11:00 am on Saturday and police
CFMMEU fined over bogus safety concerns
The CFMMEU and two of its officials have had $156,900 in penalties imposed upon them in the Federal Circuit Court in Sydney after they falsified safety concerns and organised work
250 incidents during light rail testing phase
While Sydney’s new light rail system opened over the weekend to some growing pains, it has been revealed that during the testing phase, 250 separate “hazardous events” were recorded. Internal
SafeWork hits Jetstar with improvement notice
SafeWork NSW has issued Jetstar with an improvement notice over conditions for the ground crew at Sydney airport. It comes as workers commenced industrial action over understaffing. The notice was
Increased asbestos risk after storm
Timaru in New Zealand, south-west of Christchurch, was a victim to a freak storm several weeks ago, and asbestos inspection agencies are concerned about the threat to public safety. Building
$400,000 fine issued over workplace death
A regional Victorian steel fabrication workshop has received a conviction and a $400,000 after the death of a worker on their site in 2016. SJ & TA Structural Pty Ltd
Multiple safety breaches revealed prior to death of worker
It has been revealed that the Bootu Creek mine site had three dangerous wall collapses and 17 complaints were made to NT Worksafe in the year preceding the death of
‘Worst ever’ air pollution in Sydney
While Sydneysiders have taken to wearing face masks as the city struggles through it’s ‘worst ever’ recorded air pollution levels, NSW Health is warning people that the masks “might not
Climate change emergency declared by lung health body
The seriousness of the NSW air quality amidst the bushfire crisis has forced the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand to release a ‘Declaration on Climate Change’, decisively calling
Sydney workers abandon sites due to hazardous air quality
According to the NSW branch of the CFMMEU, thousands of construction workers have abandoned their worksites across the Greater Sydney region. NSW Secretary Darren Greenfield estimated that the numbers were
