A Victorian CFMMEU official has been taken to hospital after he and a fellow union official were allegedly assaulted at a construction site this morning. Victorian Police have confirmed that
NSW childcare centres among the most unsafe in the country
According to a new report, the NSW childcare sector has recorded the highest number of safety breaches out of any state. During the 2018 – 2019 financial year, there were
Arborist loses leg in woodchipper accident
An arborist has had his leg severed after a workplace accident involving a woodchipper in Wilberforce around 11am this morning. Emergency services were called to the scene after reports that
New workplace laws set to come into effect in Victoria
July 1 often marks the start of new legislative changes in Australia as the new financial year begins. In Victoria, the new financial year will mean new workplace legislation comes
Inner-city Perth park found to contain asbestos
An inner-city park in Perth has begun asbestos remediation works after asbestos-containing material was discovered in the children’s playground. Peachey Park, in Kewdale, has been closed to the public since
United Kingdom worker’s unions seeking heat-related work limit
The retail workers’ union in the United Kingdom is calling for a work limit on exceptionally hot days and is calling on employers to take better action to prevent “uncomfortably
Asbestos uncovered at Western Sydney school
Students and staff at Castle Hill High School in Sydney’s west have raised concerns after asbestos was discovered in a roof cavity on the site earlier this year. One staff
Technical college fined in ‘landmark decision’
An Otago technical college has been fined and convicted for health and safety failings after a student’s finger was partially amputated during a precursor training course. Otago Polytechnic appeared in
Chemical spill in inner Sydney
Hazardous Material crews from Fire & Rescue NSW, alongside the NSW Police bomb squad have attended a medical research facility after reports of a chemical spill at the Garvan Institute
NZ worker killed by tractor
A New Zealand primary producer has died after an incident in Eastern Southland. A WorkSafe New Zealand spokeswoman confirmed that two people were injured in the incident, one fatally. Emergency
Work for the Dole program under WHS scrutiny
The Australian Work for the Dole (WFTD) program is under renewed scrutiny as the workplace health and safety pressures of COVID-19 meet what are alleged to be unsafe practices. The
Safety alert issued over asbestos at demolition site
The Western Australia workplace safety regulator has issued an alert after an incident during which demolition work was carried out in the presence of asbestos-containing materials. Several workers are suspected
Employer avoids jail over enslavement of migrant workers
A Victorian restaurant owner has been spared a prison sentence despite being found guilty of causing a person to remain in forced labour. Farok Shaik enslaved a migrant worker and refused
Employer praised despite workplace incident at QLD farm
A pineapple farmer in Queensland has been praised for his ongoing support after an employee was injured working on a cyclone-damaged shed. Colin Stevens faced the Rockhampton Magistrates Court as
Injury spike over working from home conditions
The toll of working from home is beginning to reveal itself, after close to three months of many employees working from home. The Australian Chiropractic Association President Dr Anthony Coxon
National Remediation Framework announced for contaminated land
The Australian Government has announced a National Remediation Framework and Guidance for contamination assessments and remediation of the environment. The government’s Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of
Quad bike death sees a renewed focus on safety
A primary producer has died at Elleker, west of Albany in Western Australia, prompting renewed safety concerns around quad bikes. The worker was found deceased after checking on livestock in
$210k fine over crush fatality
Western Australian company Griffin Coal has been handed a fine of $210,000 and an additional $23,000 in costs following an incident which resulted in the death of a worker in
Asbestos-containing chimneys demolished
Eight chimneys that were part of the Hazelwood power plant have been demolished after more than twelve months of preparation.The chimneys were part of the power station and something of
NSW WHS Legislation update
The Work Health and Safety Amendment (Review) Act 2020 recently passed by the NSW Parliament has enacted the following key changes to NSW WHS laws: Enhancement of the Category 1
Moranbah blast fume raises community concerns
Image by Byron Hill Moranbah in central Queensland continues to make the news only a few weeks after an explosion at the Grosvenor mine site left five workers in hospital.
Particulate matter linked to neurological conditions
A leading neurotoxicologist has studied years of data across American and Mexico and is investigating further the hypothesis that pollution is causing damage to the neurological systems of the body.
Asbestos uncovered at Gladstone council facility
Gladstone Regional Council has confirmed that traces of both bonded and friable asbestos have been discovered at the Derby Street facility. Testing was undertaken in February of 2020, and the
Worker suing after being struck by nails from machine that had safety stop removed
A Brisbane worker has revealed he is living in constant pain more than two years after a workplace incident left him with severe injuries. Simeon Reynaud was working on a
Worker killed south of Wollongong
A worker has died after being crushed by a gate in a workplace accident at Berkeley, south of Wollongong this morning. Emergency services received calls for help just after 6am
Company directors narrowly avoid jail after ‘disgraceful behaviour’ following workplace death
Directors of a Brisbane wrecking company have faced court this week, and are the first to be prosecuted under Queensland’s new industrial manslaughter laws. The two men, Asadullah Hussaini and
Office cleaning standards in focus as workplaces reopen
While many Australians begin to return to their office workplaces with an eye to personal hygiene, many may not realise the steps employers are taking. Many workplaces are undertaking high-quality
Two critical incidents in one workday in QLD
A worker has been rushed to hospital this morning in a serious condition after a workplace incident at a site on Brisbane’s southside around 10 am this morning. Emergency services
Silica exposure linked to scleroderma incidence
As many Australian states crack down on silica exposure due to rising rates of silicosis among workers, another disease linked to silica dust is seeing a spike in lawsuits as
$200K in fines proposed after workplace fall that fractured worker’s spine
Two Queensland construction companies are facing up to $230,000 in fines after an incident on a Brisbane apartment site which resulted in a worker breaking his back after a fall
Further incidents recorded at QLD mine site where five workers were injured
The Grosvenor Mine, the site of a gas explosion which injured five workers last month, has recorded new gas incidents. The mine is under an exclusion zone after increased carbon
Gas bottle explosion on the Gold Coast injures worker
A worker was transported to hospital with serious injuries on Friday afternoon after reports of a gas bottle explosion at a Gold Coast worksite. Emergency services, including the high acuity
Workplace fatality recorded in Altona North, VIC
A worker has died at a worksite in Altona North, on Friday afternoon, in a workplace accident. Emergency services were called to the site a little after 4pm on Friday
Update to lead exposure workplace legislation & requirements
New workplace regulations relating to the use of lead in the workplace come into effect in New South Wales today, and WorkSafe has released new guidelines to replace the former
Polluted with a ‘cocktail of metals’ – river that supplies Sydney water investigated
Image property of Callum Fleming. Researchers at Western Sydney University have uncovered a “cocktail of metals” in the run-off from a mine site which is polluting the Nepean and Bargo
Former UK shipbuilder’s death attributed to asbestos exposure
An inquest in the UK has marked asbestos exposure the reason for a former shipyard worker’s death. Albert Brennan died at the Furness General Hospital on February 24. A hearing
“Get the Site Right” campaign launches as NSW residents renovate in record numbers
As the long weekend approaches, many NSW residents are planning home renovations or improvements – with many more likely to take up government stimulus packages for home renovations once the
Construction company with history of prohibition and improvement notices fined $26,000
An Auckland construction company has been fined $26,000 over its failure to notify WorkSafe after a crane collapse at one of its sites in 2018. They were also fined for
US construction workers twice as likely to develop COPD than other professions
American construction workers are facing a new risk as many states look at reopening following COVID-19 shutdowns: that they are twice as likely as their fellow countrymen to develop chronic
Bakery worker’s death attributed to asbestos poisoning
A former worker at Tip Top Bakery in the UK has died, after ongoing exposure to asbestos caused epithelioid mesothelioma. Kevin Manley, 61, died of respiratory failure in February at a
Concern over worker deaths at Qatar World Cup stadium
As the World Cup stadium takes shape in Qatar for 2022, the “supreme committee” heading up the organisation of the event has released information on the deaths of employees during
One dead, one injured after fertiliser tank incident
One worker is dead and another has been airlifted to hospital after a workplace incident at a property in Cathundral, approximately 112 kilometres west of Dubbo, on Thursday last week.
$650,000 in fines over 2017 workplace death
A New South Wales building company and its subcontractors have faced court this week over a 2017 incident which killed one man and injured another at a site in Carlingford,
Worker at Shoalhaven zoo attacked by lions
A worker at the Shoalhaven Zoo on the New South Wales South Coast has been attacked by two lions during caretaking duties. NSW Ambulance confirmed that one Shoalhaven staff member
Spinal injury costs company a quarter of a million dollars
Otago Rural Management Ltd, a primary producer, has been fined $270,937 ($253,422 AUD) over a workplace injury that left a worker with severe spinal damage. The incident occurred at an
$85K fine over electrical incident that resulted in brain damage
A construction company from Brisbane has faced court for failing to ensure the electrical safety of a site, following an incident in 2016. In September of 2015, the company was
PCBU charged over hazardous chemical fire
An auto repair business on the NSW South Coast has been fined $135,000 over an incident in 2017 which injured two young workers. In August of 2017, a 19-year-old worker
Fall from height fine increased on appeal and conviction recorded
A Melbourne builder and developer who faced the Ringwood Magistrates’ court earlier this year has had his fine increased on appeal. The business, Chloch Homes & Developments, faced court in
Worker killed in plant machinery in Auckland
A worker at a packaging company Alto Packaging in Auckland has been killed in an incident involving machinery. Police confirmed that emergency services attended the scene in Rosedale, Auckland before
Worker killed in Ballarat roofing incident
A worker has been killed in a roofing incident at a site in Golden Point, a suburb of Ballarat, yesterday morning. Police, ambulance and fire and rescue attended the site
