A Queensland Magistrate’s decision to fine a cleaning company has again highlighted the dangers af asbestos roofs and the importance of following the industry codes of practice. A childcare centre
QLD mining under scrutiny after another workplace death
A Queensland coal worker has died in a mining accident, and another has been seriously injured after falling more than four storeys in separate incidents over the weekend, bringing the
Major safety breaches uncovered at QLD Construction site
Workers at a school under construction in Queensland have been put at risk by the unsafe practices at the site, according to a WHS inspection. The construction company at the
Silicosis action plan implemented by QLD Government
The Queensland Palaszczuk Government has announced better workplace health and safety protections for workers under changes to the Public Health Act 2005 and Public Health Regulation 2018. Dr Anthony Lynham, Minister
Hydrogen gas explosion results in charges against CSIRO
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia’s leading national science body has been charged under federal work health and safety laws, relating to an explosion incident at a Melbourne
Amputation required to free worker at QLD worksite
The forestry and agriculture industry continues to be among the most dangerous work environments as based on SafeWork fatality figures. This week, one Queensland forestry worker narrowly avoided adding to
Two workers exposed to radiation at Sydney nuclear facility
Two employees from the Lucas Heights nuclear facility remain under strict observation from doctors after they were exposed to radioactive material. According to their employer, the workers were working with
Worker killed at Sydney worksite
A worker at an industrial site on Grand Avenue in Camellia was crushed during a horror workplace accident. Emergency services were called to the site on Monday after reports an
Roofing worker convicted of defrauding worker’s compensation system
A Victorian roof tiler who was caught receiving weekly worker’s compensation payments while still working has been ordered to repay more than $80,000. In the Geelong Magistrates Court, Joshua Bunn
SafeWork investigating death of worker at Sydney Olympic Park site
SafeWork NSW is investigating the death of a worker at a sewage overflow facility in Olympic Park who died three days later. It is understood the man was an employee
AI changes to worksites divide workers
The safety of job sites with the presence of AI has been revealed as a major concern of workers. A new survey by Volvo Construction Equipment showed that half of
Johnson & Johnson to pay $300 million in damages
Johnson & Johnson was ordered Friday to pay $300 million in punitive damages to a woman who was able to link her asbestos-related cancer to talc-based products produced by the
Construction watchdog awarded $3.7 in funding, QLD the focus
The Morrison government has reinforced its commitment to the Australian Building and Construction Commission to enforce legislation on the nation’s building and construction sites. Prior to its defeat at the
NSW Government doubles asbestos fines to $2 million
The NSW government has announced an Amendment Bill as part of a new crackdown on asbestos regulation, which will see the penalty for unlawfully depositing or transporting asbestos-containing waste doubled.
Rising asbestos-related disease rates costing Australia $500 million annually
Following recent calls for a total asbestos eradication plan for Australia, a new report has revealed that asbestos-related diseases are estimated to be costing the country more than $500 million
Construction safety blitz focuses on preventable musculoskeletal injuries
WorkSafe Victoria has launched a new proactive inspection program focused on the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries, which are currently the most common injury amongst construction workers. Caused mostly by lifting
Calls for total asbestos eradication plan
The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency has called for the Australian government to implement a plan for total asbestos eradication after a report into significant asbestos removal plans found that
Australian worker killed every two days
The latest figures from SafeWork have revealed that while deaths in Australian workplaces are declining generally, a worker is killed every two days on average across the nation. Alongside this
Union uncovers asbestos exposure to the public at Port Adelaide worksite
Australia’s construction union, the CFMEU, has said that a warehouse in Port Adelaide contained asbestos that has been disturbed, likely putting local workers and residents at risk to exposure. CFMEU
$175,000 fine for asbestos importer
An energy company in Western Australia has been convicted and fined $175,000 for importing material that contained asbestos. The company was unnamed but convicted on two counts of importing a
Queensland company director imprisoned over WHS breaches that killed worker
The managing director of Queensland quarry company has been imprisoned for eighteen months after multiple safety breaches at a worksite resulted in the death of a worker. Sean Scovell, 21,
Workplace prank leads to conviction and $12,000 fine
Last week, SafeWork SA announced that it had successfully prosecuted an individual for bullying under a Category 1 WHS offence in a ruling that could have national significance. Jeffrey Rowe pleaded guilty
WestConnex workers stood down for union-affiliated? clothing
According to an Electrical Trades Union spokesperson, a group of its members contracted to work for Fredon Industries were sent home from a job site when they arrived at work
Consistent breaches of health and safety result in $60,000 in fines
A NSW business owner has been fined $60,000 for ongoing breaches of his health and safety duties regarding safe work systems and an additional $1,500 for failing to notify SafeWork
Blue Mountains Council threatens Ray Hadley with legal action over asbestos claims
Blue Mountains City Council, with the assistance of lawyers, have today threatened legal action against broadcaster Ray Hadley, after he claimed on air that they had been lying and covering
Melbourne developers who demolished historic pub found guilty of dumping asbestos
Two developers who came to the attention of regulators in October of 2016 when they demolished an iconic inner-Melbourne pub without a permit have since been fined for dumping asbestos
Breaking: worker dies at Eastern Creek worksite
A worker has died and another is seriously injured after an incident at a worksite in Eastern Creek, Sydney. Ambulance and resuce crews were called to Dial-A-Dump landfill off Kangaroo
Lendlease launch new safety campaign
One of Australia’s largest construction companies has launched a new nation-wide safety campaign to help keep workers safe. Enlisting the help of mothers of Lendlease workers, the campaign focuses on
Unsafe noise levels for one in five male workers
New research from Curtin University has revealed that almost one in five male Australian workers experience noise above the recommended occupational limits the last day they worked. 5000 Australian men
Ashfield redevelopment site positive for asbestos
A demolition crew working on the redevelopment of a public pool in Ashfield, Sydney have found asbestos in the administration building roof, the pool walls and the soil of the
SafeWork update on Operation Scaff Safe
SafeWork NSW has released an update on Operation Scaff Safe, a safety blitz across construction sites in NSW to highlight the importance of safety when working from heights involving scaffolding:
Spinal injury costs swim school $150,000
A swim school in regional Victoria has been convicted and fined after an incident in 2016 left a student a quadriplegic after diving into the shallow end of the pool.
50 level prop falls? on Melbourne CBD worksite
WorkSafe is calling for a renewed focus on the safety of working from heights and the dangers of falling objects after a large metal prop fell from the 56th level of
Fines of $80,000 for apartment developer’s unsafe worksites.
WorkSafe Inspectors have fined a residential apartment developer after it uncovered multiple safety breaches across at least two construction sites in Melbourne. Erfanian Developments faced the Melbourne Magistrates Court on
Manslaughter charges over workplace death, deliberate cover-up
The operator of excavation equipment has been accused of killing a man and then deliberately tampering with the scene to cover up his involvement. Neil Norris pleaded not guilty in
Fact Sheet: New Return to Work Program Requirements
Are you ready? New Return to work program requirements for NSW. In May 2017, significant reforms were implemented in respect to the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) Guidelines for Workplace Return
$330,000 in fines over fall that killed shopfitter
A Victorian shopfitting company has been convicted and fined over a 2017 incident where a worker fell and died at one of their sites in Maidstone, west of Melbourne. The
Fact Sheet: Asbestos Roofs
Asbestos cement roofs were in widespread use throughout Australian homes until the 1980s. Corrugated asbestos roofs are commonly referred to as ‘Super Six’. While asbestos was mostly discontinued by the
“Sheer luck” workers unharmed after concrete panel safety breach
A safety breach at a precast concrete manufacturer in Victoria has cost the company $30,000 in fines after it endangered workers by storing 3-tonne concrete panels on end, without supports.
Conviction quashed on appeal for director responsible for workplace death
The director of a Queensland roofing company, who was jailed after an employee died on a Sunshine Coast worksite has had his conviction quashed. In February, Gary Levin became the
?Asbestos discovered to be a major factor in M4 budget blow out
An unprecedented amount of asbestos found during construction of Sydney road projects has blown budgets out and forcing the Berejiklian Government to scramble for extra funding from existing infrastructure projects.
Asbestos Product Awareness
The range of products that contain asbestos is often larger than you might think. As many homeowners undertake home improvements and repairs at this time of year, it’s important to
EPA warnings over hazardous materials ignored prior to massive industrial fire
It has been revealed that a large fire at a Melbourne industrial complex broke out in a building belonging to a company that had it’s license to accept waste suspended
Scaffolding company at centre of Macquarie collapse in court
Synergy Scaffolding Services – the company at the centre of the Macquarie Park scaffolding collapse that killed one worker – is being sued over an incident in which falling scaffolding
Working at heights blitz by SafeWork NSW
Over the past three years, SafeWork NSW has revealed that the most serious falls were from two to four metres – or about a single storey. In November 2017, in
Focus on working at heights safety
There have been a number of incidents recently where lack of fall prevention systems contributed to worker injuries and there were limited practical solutions to safely erect, alter and dismantle
Employer found guilty after death of worker in freezer
Following an extensive investigation by SafeWork SA, it has been found that SA Police failed to carry out required routine maintenance checks on a walk-in freezer and subsequently did not
Calls for industrial manslaughter laws after death of NSW scaffolding worker
Following our article about the Federal Government principally supporting industrial manslaughter laws, there have been increased calls for implementation following the death of a young scaffolding worker in Sydney this
One worker killed and another injured in Macquarie Park scaffolding incident
Around 12:30pm AEDT on April 1, two men were completing work from a scaffolding platform on a building site at Sydney’s Macquarie Park when the structure collapsed. Nine ambulance units,
Up to 5 years jail for importers of asbestos materials
Importers who knowingly or recklessly import goods containing asbestos can now be imprisoned for up to 5 years, under increased penalties announced by the Federal Government. The Customs Legislation Amendment (Asbestos)
