Safe Work Australia and state regulators have issued a warning over the hazards of working in air pollution and heat. While the conditions, particularly in Eastern Australia, were significantly affected
Fine for disaster clean up company without asbestos licence
A Gold Coast company which specialises in clean-up services after disasters faced the Brisbane Magistrates Court to answer charges relating to working with asbestos charges, including removing 10 SQM of
BHP mine licenses under review over concern for dust levels
Western Australia’s government has confirmed it is undertaking a review of the environmental liceneses of two mining sites operated by BHP, after concerns were raised about the safety of dust
Company fined over 2017 workplace death at Barangaroo
A construction company has been fined close to half a million dollars after facing court last month over the 2017 workplace death of a rigger at the Barangaroo Ferry terminal
Worker killed in workplace accident in Hunter Valley
A worker has been confirmed as having died from injuries suffered while using machinery at a property near Scone, in NSW, on January 7. The man had been using a
Asbestos waste missing as company fined almost half a million dollars
More than a tonne of asbestos waste has been unable to be located after a Sydney earthmoving company submitted fake documentation which claimed it had lawfully disposed of the waste.
Worker suffers crush injuries at Western Sydney worksite
A worker from Sydney’s west has been rushed to hospital after being crushed under a 270kg pallet at a worksite on Tuesday morning. The worker, in his 30s, was taken
Three convicted over 2018 workplace fatality
Two companies and one director faced the Mildura Magistrates Court in late December and have been penalised a quarter of a million dollars over the workplace death of a contractor
Second fatality at abattoir site in twelve months
A worker has died at an abattoir in the south-west of Western Australia, the second in twelve months at the site. The worker, who was in his sixties, died when
Air pollution contributed to death of child – London coroner
A London coroner has ruled that air pollution contributed to the death of a local schoolgirl, with the outcome of the case likely to force the British government to get
Contractor fined $1.2M over apprentice’s death; unions call for harsher penalties
The death of apprentice form worker Christopher Cassaniti in April of last year sparked calls for harsher penalties for workplaces found to have been negligent in their health and safety
Workplace fined $300,000 over workplace crush fatality
The construction company who was in charge of a building site where a worker was crushed to death on her first day did not provide personal protective equipment, did not
Elderly man detained after workplace shooting in Melbourne’s west
An elderly man in Melbourne’s west had made a complaint to police about unauthorised dumping at his waste facility before an incident yesterday. It is understood shots were fired during
Fines over incident that crushed glaziers
A Western Australian glazier has been fined $90,000 plus costs over an incident in 2018 which saw a worker suffer serious injuries when he was trapped under multiple sheets of
Fatality at WA gold mine site
A worker has been killed at an underground gold mine in Western Australia’s Mid West on Tuesday. The Department of Mines, Industry, Regulation and Safety confirmed that a mine worker suffered
Warning over asbestos in acetylene containers
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has issued a safety alert over imported acetylene cylinders that were found to contain asbestos in their internal insulation. The cylinders, originating in China, were
Influencers slammed after visiting asbestos-contaminated town of Wittenoom
Health experts are baffled after social media influencers revealed they are continuing to visit the asbestos-contaminated town of Wittenoom despite clearly signed areas that outline the risks of entering. Some
Incident at Port of Brisbane
A worker is in a critical condition after suffering life-threatenening head and arm injuries in a workplace incident at the Port of Brisbane this afternoon. Paramedics and police attended the
Worker rushed to hospital after Bondi wall collapse
A worker was rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital today after the collapse of a brick wall at a construction site in Bondi, where his fellow workers and bystanders assisted in
Another quad bike fatality raises concerns over safety timeline
The death of a cattleman from a quad bike accident in Far North Queensland has renewed calls for mandatory roll bars on four-wheel motorbikes. Chris Greenwood was a prominent community
Electrical company faces court over 2019 electrocution fatality
Northern Territory’s workplace safety regulator has charged a company, Dexter Barnes Electrical, and director Russell O’Donnell, “for failures in the workplace which led to the death” of fourth-year apprentice electrician.
Worker critical after nail incident
The Westpac Rescue helicopter was dispatched to Clarence Town, north of Newcastle, on Wednesday afternoon. Emergency services responded to a worksite around 3 pm, after workers reported a man had
Worker killed in “horrific” workplace accident
A worker has died in what responders described as a “horrific” accident at a wood chipping facility in Howlong, west of Albury on Tuesday. Paramedics were called to a site
Directors charged over fatal aerial mustering incident
Northern Territory Worksafe has charged two directors of Hewitt Cattle Australia over a helicopter crash that killed an employee and seriously injured another in November of 2018 at Ambalindum Station.
Major asbestos contamination on Sydney’s northern beaches
A residential area on the northern beaches of Sydney was yesterday forced into lockdown following a major incident of asbestos contamination. Hazmat crews attended the site in Bilgoa Plateau late
Company fined over acid spill at WA mine site
An Australian mining company, FQM Australia Nickel Pty Ltd has been fined $35,000 after being charged with failing to provide a safe working environment, to which they pleaded guilty. The
Cosmetics under scrutiny after testing revealed asbestos materials in talc
An article published in last month’s Environmental Health Insights showed that researchers found measurable amounts of asbestos in one in seven cosmetic products that contain talc. The researchers, from the Environmental Working
Consumers warned over invalid asbestos licenses
Western Australian consumers seeking asbestos and demolition work have been warned to avoid an operator who is falsely claiming valid WorkSafe licenses for asbestos-related work. The licenses have either expired
Concerns raised over safety standards at Snowy Hydro 2.0
The Australian Workers’ Union has raised concerns over tight deadlines and workplace safety at the Snowy Hydro 2.0 site after a worker was critically injured in a car accident on
Canberra man awarded national first government payment for exposure to ‘Mr Fluffy’ loose-fill asbestos
A Canberra man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma after playing in loose-fill ‘Mr Fluffy’ asbestos as a child has been awarded more than a quarter of a million dollars by
Melbourne waste operator fined $82,000 after illegal dumping
A Melbourne waste collection operator has been fined for illegally dumping waste around the city, following an investigation by the Victorian branch of the Environmental Protection Authority. Alex Anasis, who
Explosion reported at Sydney worksite
Image via NSW Ambulance Twitter Two workers have suffered serious injuries after a gas explosion at a home which was undergoing renovation works on the northern beaches of Sydney yesterday
20 tonnes of hazardous material spilled at Port of Brisbane, worker transported to hospital
One worker has been taken to hospital, and an exclusion zone has been set up around an area at the Port of Brisbane after 20 tonnes of sodium cyanide spilled
Hazmat incident at Sydney manufacturing site
A worker is in the Campbelltown hospital after a chemical spill incident at a pool factory in Sydney’s south-west this morning. Emergency services including fire and ambulance attended the scene
Critical incident after fall from ladder
A worker is in a critical condition in hospital after a six-metre fall from a ladder east of Brisbane yesterday afternoon. Queensland Ambulance dispatched a team shortly after 1 pm,
Electrical burns incident costs contractor $150,000
One of the central contractors involved in completing Perth’s new Forrestfield-Airport Link Project train line has been fined $150,000 in court for failing to provide a safe workplace. The fine
Degloving incident costs juice company $30,000
A Mildura fruit juice company has faced court over an incident that saw a worker’s hand degloved, and the company has been fined for failing to provide a safe workplace.
Most extensive WorkSafe NZ investigation ever; charges filed over White Island disaster
New Zealand’s safety regulator has revealed the details of its investigation into the Whakaari, or White Island disaster that caused 22 fatalities in December of last year. Chief Executive of
Another primary producer killed during WA harvest
Western Australia has recorded another workplace fatality after a woman was crushed by a tractor at a tomato farm in Carabooda over the weekend. The woman was aged in her
Task force launched after fifth fatality of food delivery worker
SafeWork NSW and Transport NSW will lead an investigative task force, it has been announced this week, to examine whether there were any avoidable risks that may have contributed to
Earthworks company fined $33,000 over crush injury
A Western Australian earthworks business has been fined in the Albany Magistrates Court for failing to provide a safe work environment, following an incident in 2017 that saw an employee’s
Alert over falls from heights at sea
Northern Territory WorkSafe has issued a safety alert regarding the increased risk of overboard incidents on fishing vessels when workers are completing tasks where there is no edge or fall
Safety warning issued for transport workers after fatality investigation
Victoria’s workplace safety regulator has issued a report into a recent fatality as it continues its investigations into a fatal incident. The incident occurred on November 2 at a Yarraville
Brisbane company fined for failing to notice asbestos before demolition
A Brisbane demolition company has received a $6,000 fine for failing to ensure the health and safety of its employees while they were working, pleading guilty to the offence in
Sydney doctor sues over historic asbestos exposure at RPA
A Sydney plastic surgeon is suing the Sydney Local Health District after he developed terminal mesothelioma, which he believes is caused by asbestos exposure while working at the Royal Prince
Calls for central register after multiple incidents of asbestos exposure across NSW public transport network
Health authorities and transport union bodies are calling for the Berejiklian Government to establish an online Hazardous Materials Register for NSW trains stations after reports that several workers had come
Structural collapse sees total fines top $500K
A Victorian engineering firm has faced the Melbourne Magistrates Court over a workplace incident at a Mt Waverly construction site that saw nearby residents evacuated. The company’s director and the
“Horror” incident on Russell Island
A worker has suffered scalding from hot water across most of his body after a workplace incident on Queensland’s Russell Island this afternoon. Early reports suggest the worker was installing
Workplace death in Christchurch
A worker has died after a workplace incident in Christchurch this morning. The incident occurred at United Steel, and it is believed the worker was struck by a piece of
Bakery fined over amputation incident
Davies Bakery in Broadmeadows, Melbourne, has been fined in the Broadmeadows Magistrates Court over an incident in 2018 that saw a contracted worker lose a finger. WorkCover prosecutor, Morgan Brown,