An organisation that failed to act on a serious risk identified in an audit has been fined $160,000 over a death, while two related businesses have been fined a total of $250,000 for unsafely failing to comply with engineering drawings for a major project, and disregarding a regulator's request for information.
An appeals court has rejected a PCBU's claim that its fine over a fatality involving a ladder was manifestly excessive. The PCBU contended the evidence did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that the death was a manifestation of its WHS breach.
A worker who was charged with the manslaughter of another worker, in a runaway-forklift incident, has been convicted and fined for a section-28 contravention of WHS laws, in a first-of-its-kind case highlighting the potential multifaceted consequences of safety failings.
A court has convicted and fined an employer $450,000 for failing to provide a safe workplace, resulting in an "entirely foreseeable" death, and reminded companies that safety laws require them to proactively prevent and address safety risks, rather than waiting for near misses to alert them to dangers.
Ahead of Workers' Memorial Day, and in light of the recent stabbing deaths at Westfield Bondi Junction, employers have been urged to ensure they always have clear emergency safety plans in place, and provide workers with access to psychological support services.
