The highly publicised West Footscray industrial fire that occurred in 2018 burned for days and sent toxic fumes across Melbourne’s suburbs. It was considered the largest industrial blaze in Melbourne
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Infant dies after mould exposure in hospital
A five-month-old girl who had been admitted to hospital in Seattle has died, after battling an Aspergillus mould infection for months. The hospital confirmed in 2019 that six other patients
Warnings over mould after record-breaking rain
The record-breaking rain across New South Wales has filled dams and extinguished fires, but has brought with it new challenges. The high humidity combined with many residents choosing to dry their
Workers airlifted after a roof collapse
Two workers have been seriously injured after they were injured during a fall at a worksite on Rottnest Island. The men completing work on the Hotel Rottnest fell approximately three
EPA uncovers ‘free shed’ scam in Sydney, residents delivered contaminated soil
Residents across Sydney’s Hills District are urged to be cautious after the EPA uncovered a scam where residents were targeted with offers of “fill with a free shed”, only to
Crane operator faces up to 5 years imprisonment over workplace death
Crane driver Michael Watts has faced court over the August 2016 death of his colleague at the University of Canberra Hospital construction site, admitting his actions risked his fellow worker’s
Suspended sentence for demolition company owner
A United Kingdom business owner, who was undertaking demolition work, has been sentenced in court for failing to reduce risks and minimise spread and exposure of asbestos-containing materials. In July
Asbestos risk remains in NSW towns ravaged by bushfires
Weeks after bushfires ravaged towns across the New South Wales Southern Highlands, residents are still struggling with basic necessities and safety, as government departments divide up much-needed funds from the
Surge in NSW silicosis cases, calls for bans of manufactured stone products
New South Wales has seen a dramatic surge in cases of silicosis, with the latest figures revealed in parliament today showing 70 new cases in the first half of the
Workplace injury after Sydney’s wild weather
A worker in Robertson was critically injured after a tree fell on him at a work site yesterday. Emergency services attended the scene just before 1pm, and RFS workers commenced
Severed fingers cost company $60,000
A Melbourne kitchen manufacturing company has been fined $60,000 with a conviction recorded over an incident in April of 2018, which saw a worker lose three fingers in a workplace
$125,000 in fines for safety breaches at apartment construction site
A Melbourne developer has faced the County Court on four charges of safety breaches at the construction of a residential apartment complex in Narre Warren. Over a three month period
WorkSafe launches new campaign promising harsher penalties
The Victorian workplace safety regulator has launched a new campaign, warning businesses that they have tough new penalties to face if their negligence causes a workplace death. Jill Hennessy, the
Workers caught on video 31-storeys up without fall protection
CALGARY: A video posted on Reddit has launched an OHS investigation, after it appeared to show workers clearing snow off a 31-storey building without any fall protection visible. Cam Mitchess,
QLD to introduce new body to regulate mining WHS after eight deaths in two years
Queensland is set to receive approval for a new body to better regulate the WHS of miners across the state as parliament resumes. The legislation comes on the back of eight
Worker killed at abattoir in Margaret River
A worker has died after suffering wounds during a workplace incident at an abattoir in Cowaraup, Western Australia. Police explained that it is believed that the worker, a 49-year-old worker
US Department of Labor records highest number of fatalities in ten years
In December, the US Department of Labor revealed the workplace injury data from 2018, which showed 5,250 fatal injuries in the workplace. It also represents a 2% increase on the
Historic Newcastle school holds emergency meeting over asbestos fears
Concerned parents last night attended an information session at Newcastle East Public School, over news that the school contained asbestos in one of its heritage buildings. After the discovery, an
WorkSafe urged to enter talks with AFL
Ongoing concerns about the severity of collisions and head injuries in AFL has prompted a player agent to approach WorkSafe Victoria, urging the sporting body to tighten protocols to better
Five workers injured in scaffolding collapse
Two men have been taken to hospital in a serious condition and three other men have also been injured, after a large amount of scaffolding collapsed a worksite in Craigieburn
Post-earthquake Christchurch rebuild blows out budget by $500k after asbestos discovered
The Ara Institute of Canterbury’s Christchurch campus demolition work has had its budget blown out by more than half a million dollars after asbestos was discovered at the site. The
Industrial site locked down over asbestos fears
A large site on the Gold Coast has been shut down and a local school has instigated asbestos and air quality testing, after a whistleblower tipped off the Department of
Worker killed at Hancock-owned site in Pilbara
A worker has died at the Gina Rinehart-controlled Roy Hill iron ore mine in Western Australia. Roy Hill is Australia’s largest privately-owned mine, situated more than 300km inland from Port
ABCC cracks down on “defiant” union reps in QLD
The Australian Building and Construction Commission, the construction industry watchdog, is increasing the number of workplace inspectors in an attempt to clamp down on challenging union officials. Head of the
New union policy over smoky conditions set to kick in
As fire conditions worsen again this week, trade unions across the eastern states have issued a directive that outdoor workers could walk off the job tomorrow if the relevant state
SafeWork NSW: advice on coronavirus
SafeWork NSW has released advice on the legal obligations of both workers and PCBUs in relation to the recent threat of coronavirus. “Coronaviruses are types of viruses that typically affect the
Study firms link between heart attacks and poor air quality
In light of recent poor air quality across the country, a study has found “an increased risk of deadly cardiac arrests from short-term exposure to air pollution, even at concentrations
Worker dead after incident at Delacombe worksite
A man in his 60s has died after an incident at a Delacombe business yesterday around 4pm. Emergency services were called to the scene outside of Ballarat just before 3:30pm
Blue Mountains City Council enters into EU with SafeWork NSW
In November of 2017, Sydney broadcaster Ray Hadley exposed the significant failings of the Blue Mountains City Council over its failures to correctly address the presence of asbestos-containing material across
Link between welding fumes and lung cancer
Reuters has released an article detailing new evidence that further strengthens the link between lung cancer and welding fumes. Researchers examined the risks of welding fumes alongside additional risk factors
PFAS presence at WestGate Tunnel halts building work
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
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
