The director of a Melbourne security company has been convicted and fined more than $116,000 for ongoing bullying towards his employees. Facing Broadmeadows Magistrate’s Court last Friday, John Bernard Moncrieff and
NSW Updates Codes of Practise
SafeWork NSW has announced updates to 23 NSW Codes of Practice, now available via their website. SafeWork took the opportunity to remind “all businesses and employers to review the updated
Workplace WA puts schools on notice
A hazardous materials blitz at primary schools in Western Australia has resulted in 239 improvement notices across 53 locations, with inspectors noting “worrying levels” of compliance with hazardous substance regulations
Sydney Trains fined $525K over worker’s death
Sydney Trains has been fined $525,000 over the 2016 death of signal mechanic Charles Lagaaia, who was hit by a train while undertaking works on track in Clyde, Western Sydney.
Worker’s compensation fraud results in 9-month prison sentence
A Victorian man has received a nine-month prison sentence over fraudulent worker’s compensation claims totalling more than $112,000. Andres Uranga faced Sunshine Magistrates Court last week over three counts of
Lendlease secures Western Sydney Airport contract
The Federal Government has announced that the $644 million earthworks contract for the initial development of Western Sydney’s new airport at BAdgery’s Creek has been awarded to Lendlease. Prime Minister
Respiratory health assessments required, from WorkSafe Vic
WorkSafe Victoria has announced an update to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, requiring health assessments for those who work with crystalline silica. The call for assessments comes after a
Contaminated site causing headaches for Sydney apartment owners
As Sydney struggles with a defective apartment crisis, another building has been revealed as unliveable, but for a different reason. The Opal, Zetland and Mascot apartment complexes were declared unsafe
SafeWork Australia: evaluating the workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants
Safe Work Australia is evaluating the workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants to ensure that they are based on the highest quality, most contemporary evidence and supported by a rigorous scientific
‘Not A Finished Issue’ – Mesothelioma continues to take lives
Despite being banned nation-wide for nearly 20 years, asbestos continues to affect hundreds of Australians. Mesothelioma, which is mostly caused by asbestos exposure, continues to claim lives at an average
Asbestos ban limiting classic car importation
Australia’s plan to be entirely asbestos-free, particularly around importation is causing headaches for classic car enthusiasts. Almost all cars built before 1999 have asbestos-based components in brake linings, brake disc pads,
Record fine for workplace bully handed down in South Australia
An Adelaide workplace construction supervisor has been found guilty in the South Australian Employment Tribunal over a 2017 attack on an apprentice. Luke Daniel Chenoweth pleaded guilty to breaching workplace safety
Robots and drones soon to feature on construction sites
Advances in artificial intelligence and ongoing labour shortages mean that several construction companies have their eyes set firmly on the future and are considering employing drone painters, robot masons and
White House staff relocated after asbestos risk
Key staffers at the White House have been forced to relocate as several offices undergo asbestos abatement work. Ivanka Trump and senior counsellor Kellyanne Conway are among the staff affected.
Johnson & Johnson case: article shows “weak link” between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure
While Johnson & Johnson have made news today for the $845 million fine over their involvement in the American opioid crisis, their lawyers are working hard to dispute a link
WA Government announces new penalties for breaches of WHS laws including prison, $10M fines
Under the industrial manslaughter laws preferred by Labor, those who operate businesses who are found to have contributed to the deaths of employees by breaking or disregarding workplace safety rules
Victorian Govt acts on silicosis risks in dry cutting of engineered stone
The Victorian Government has acted to better protect workers from exposure to silica dust, by introducing a ban on the uncontrolled dry cutting of engineered stone. According to WorkSafe Victoria,
Banking exec crippled by mould-related illness
A CBA executive who was in the best shape of his life and had just completed his first marathon was understandably shocked when his health deteriorated rapidly and he lost
Formwork Code of Practice: Have your say with SafeWork
SafeWork NSW and the NSW Government is encouraging form workers and concrete construction workers to provide feedback on a draft formwork code of practice, which aims to provide practical guidance
“Hidden danger” of mould-related illness
Federal MP Lucy Wicks is leading the charge for a nation-wide inquiry into the health effects and illnesses from exposure to black mould. Ms Wicks, the MP for Robertson, has
Bottled water containing mould linked to illness in Brisbane woman
A Brisbane woman claims she was made unwell after drinking bottled water which contained what she believed to be mould. Zara Ward purchased the bottled Pump bottle from a cafe
Construction worker dies after fall from height on job site in Western Sydney
A 38-year old worker has died after falling five storeys and down a shaft at a Geneva Jordan Springs development near Penrith yesterday. Emergency services rushed to the scene, including
Mould concerns over common household items
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology and the University of Illinois have teamed up to provide a study into common household items that can potentially harbour dangerous bacteria. Items
Hospital operating rooms test positive for mould
Seattle Children’s Hospital in Washington has closed down it’s operating theatres after air testing revealed aspergillus mould present in the operating rooms and equipment storage rooms. The Hospital released a
Building surveyor suspended over dangerous apartment approval
As the flammable cladding saga continues, one Melbourne building surveyor has had his license suspended, after it was found he had approved some of the most dangerously clad apartments, containing
$90K over severed hand injury at Melbourne site
Melbourne company, JBS Australia Pty Ltd, has pleaded guilty in the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court to a count of failing to provide a safe working environment after a worker’s hand was
Landlords and tenants: rights and responsibilities over mould in residences
The Tenants Union of NSW has recently released the results of a survey conducted about tenant’s experiences living with mould, with more than 400 respondents. According to the union’s Leo
NSW Case Study: damage caused by mould
The following case study reflects decisions made by the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal, which is now the NSW Consumer and Commercial Division of NCAT from 1 January 2014. The information
Construction worker fined for assaulting a SafeWork inspector
A Victorian construction worker has been fined after facing court for assaulting a WorkSafe inspector on a job site in Elwood, 2018. The inspector had been passing the construction site
DIY renovators warned about asbestos risks
The rise in home renovation television shows has moved lawyers related to the infamous James Hardie cases to warn would-be renovators about the risks of undertaking DIY jobs themselves. Both
‘Epic proportions’ of mould at Nauru processing centre, ‘poorly managed’, ‘comedy of errors’
According to a microbiologist contracted by the Australian Government to assess growing concerns at the Nauru processing centre, says the contamination was “of epic proportions” and “presented a serious health
$349K fine for death of worker on NZ worksite
A fruit juice company operating out of Hastings, New Zealand has been fined $NZ367,500 ($349,624) after an employee was killed in workplace machinery in 2017, and ordered to pay $NZ141,000
Townsville residents struggle with mould after floods inundated the region
Six months after significant flooding events hit Townsville, residents that are battling construction and insurance negotiations are also having to deal with an unprecedented problem of mould growing in residences.
Health effects of exposure to mould or dampness upon children
A report has been released explaining the connection between adverse respiratory health in children and mould or dampness in the home. The group of scientists investigated the association between exposure
Health Check: the effects of household mould on your health
As reported recently, there’s been a significant increase in the number of homes affected by mould. The average person spends around 16 hours a day at home, and issues in
Huge jump in number of Sydney homes affected by mould
Unexpectedly high rainfall across the east coast of NSW has resulted in a considerably higher prevalence of mould in Sydney homes and it poses significant health risks to residents. While
School for disabled children neglected as mould problems continue
According to local MP, Dr Michael Freelander, a Minto public school for disabled children remains covered in mould and should be bulldozed despite repeated pleas for help to the NSW
Legal action over toxic mould in workplace Australian first
A Townsville worker is taking action against her former employer for allegedly exposing her to toxic mould in what is believed to be an Australian first. Regina Senger, 31, was
Electrical safety in the spotlight after incident
WHS Queensland has urged electrical workers to take care around live power lines after a number of incidents in recent weeks. A worker has died south of Cairns after being
SafeWork NSW Position Paper: cladding over asbestos-containing? materials
This position paper relates to a trend in the residential sector where asbestos cement sheeting is clad with new, non-asbestos products. This practice causes considerable damage to the asbestos-containing material
Company fined over teen’s death on worksite
A Western Australian company has faced court over the workplace death of 17-year-old Welsey Ballantine from 2017. Mr Ballantine died after falling through a skylight at the GPO building in
AFL career prospects ruined after workplace accident
Irish national Diarmuid Blake, who had hopes of taking his AFL talents to the highest level is now unable to walk or work, let alone play football after a serious workplace
Gold miner fined $150,000 over death of worker, third in string of fatalities
The owners of a Western Australian gold mining operation have been fined $150,000 over the death of a worker, the third recorded over a six-year period. Kevin Maloney’s Tulla Resources
Asbestos exposure confirmed at Latrobe Valley power station
Two workers at Latrobe Valley power station, Jeeralong, have been confirmed as being exposed to asbestos while undertaking maintenance work at the plant. This is the second incident of asbestos
Serial dumper under fire over largest regional toxic waste dump in Victoria
A man linked to the Footscray warehouse that was last year gutted by fire has been discovered as the culprit behind 50 million litres of chemical waste illegally buried on a
Site supervisors face court for bullying incident where apprentice was set alight
A construction supervisor in Adelaide has pleaded guilty in court this week to breaching the Work Health and Safety Act. The charges relate to an incident in April 2017 when
EPA & WorkSafe to handle dangerous goods & waste chemicals at Campbellfield site
Another Campbellfield site has caught the interest of the Environmental Protection Authority of Victoria, following the widely-publicised fire in a nearby factory earlier this year. WorkSafe Victoria will lead a
Severe fines handed down in Victoria over serious falls from heights
Two businesses have been fined over serious workplace incidents in Victoria, one resulting in a fatality and the other in paraplegia, as the state regulator calls again for greater care
$13K fine for obstructing investigation into workplace death
A Queensland labour-hire business and company director have been fined and convicted in the Darwin Local Court this week after failing to cooperate with authorities including WorkSafe NT during an
Lack of supervision costs QLD construction company $40K after trench injury
A small Brisbane plumbing company has been fined $40, 000 for failing to meet its work health and safety duties under the WHS Act, which relates to a failure to
