If It’s in Your Risk Assessment, You Must Implement It
A recent Queensland court decision has reinforced a critical principle in work health and safety: identifying hazards and documenting control measures is not enough. Controls must be implemented, supervised, and enforced in practice. The matter arose from an incident at a worksite in Queensland involving interaction between mobile plant and pedestrian workers, a well-regarded high-risk activity. A pedestrian worker sustained serious injury when struck by operating machinery
Three Categories of WHS Offences and a Table of NSW Penalty Units (2025-2026)
The NSW WHS Act 2011 has recently been amended. These amendments have included an increase in the penalty rates for WHS breaches. ....
Lack of Proactive Officer Duties Drives a 30 % Higher Workplace Fatality Rate
Victoria’s workplace health and safety regulator, WorkSafe Victoria, recorded 12 workplace fatalities in the 12 months to 21 November 2025. Twelve preventable deaths in one year, in industries where the hazards and controls are well known is an unacceptable toll by any measure. The causes remain unchanged: structural collapses, unguarded machinery, falls from height, fatigue-related vehicle incidents, and chemical explosions, concentrated in construction, agriculture, manufac
Chemical Hazards – The Hidden Risk Across All Industries
Chemical risks are not confined to laboratories or manufacturing plants, they exist in workplaces across every industry, from hospitality and cleaning services to healthcare, construction, and community care. Whether it’s a cleaning product, disinfectant, or industrial sealant, hazardous chemicals can cause serious injury, illness, or even fatalities if not handled, stored, or supervised correctly. Under the WHS Regulation , the business has a legal duty to provide adequat
Workplace fatality sees directors personally charged for breaches of duty under WHS Law
In many small businesses, directors are not only decision-makers but are also directly involved in day-to-day activities. This hands-on involvement brings unique advantages, but it also increases accountability under Work Health and Safety (WHS) law. Directors are recognised as “officers” of a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) and, as such, carry significant legal obligations. Their foremost responsibility is to ensure the business maintains an effective WHS
Business owners and Directors: Questions to ask yourself
Business owners, company directors and CEOs have mandatory legal requirements to ensure that the business they manage is meeting its...
This term "Officer"
When talking about the highest level of management people in a business, those individuals who are entrusted with ....
What are the Key Components of Non-delegable WHS Duties for Businesses?
Non-delegable WHS duties are specific responsibilities that cannot be passed on to others. ...
“We have a health and safety committee” does not mean “We have Consultation covered”
A health and safety committee doesn't replace other consultation systems or procedures. Consultation must be able to occur any day ....
WHS duties are non-delegable
Not Only are WHS Duties “Not Transferrable” … but it is also illegal to subcontract out WHS duties too!
Enforceable Undertaking $1.4 Million with Industry & Community Benefits
When a PCBU (business, organisation, corporation) has entered into an enforceable undertaking with SafeWork NSW it means that SafeWork...
Doing a gap analysis may save you from prosecution
In the unfortunate event of there being a WHS incident in your workplace, SafeWork NSW may come out to investigate. When SafeWork NSW...
Officer ordered to have "Due Diligence" training
Up until this time it has been rare to see an Officer of a business or organisation prosecuted, fined and given an order to do WHS training.