Consultation as the fundamental failure in serious work health and safety incidents
Serious workplace incidents, worker fatalities, and life‑altering injuries rarely occur in the absence of prior warning signs. Repeatedly, investigations, coronial inquiries and court decisions show that the most common systemic failure is not the absence of written safety systems, but the failure of those systems to be informed by meaningful consultation. Consultation failures are consistently identified as a root cause of serious harm.
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
What does it take to be an HSR trainer?
Courtenell put considerable effort into expanding its scope of WHS services in 2023. Being one of the oldest training providers in New...
Liabilities of Directors in new Industrial Manslaughter laws
From 16 September 2024, industrial manslaughter has been a formal offence under New South Wales work health and safety (WHS) legislation.
Employer convicted and fined for failure to provide information
A recent case in New South Wales serves as a stark reminder of the importance of workplace health and safety (WHS) compliance and the...
Construction company fined $270,000 after fatal fall
13 March, 2025. 3 minute read. In February 2025 a family-operated Victorian construction company was convicted and fined $270,000 after a...
Foreign businesses must abide by Australian Work Health and Safety Laws
Many commercial businesses operating in Australia are owned and managed by overseas companies. In most cases, a company from another...
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...
Worker amputation leads to two businesses prosecuted and fined
A manufacturing facility in Victoria was fined following an incident in which a worker’s finger was amputated while working ...
Is vaping in the office ok?
SafeWork NSW states that environmental e-cigarette vapour, second-hand e-cigarette vapour or passive vaping should be treated ...
Should an HSC be involved in issue resolution or health and safety disputes?
If a business has not arranged its own issue resolution process it must follow the default procedure outlined in the WHS Regulation ....
Labour hire workers and WHS
Labour hire involves a host organisation using workers from a labour hire agency, for a temporary period of time. The first company ....
Man’s hand crushed in machine
On 27 May 2021, a worker of a metal recycling company in South Western Sydney suffered serious hand injuries while attempting to remove...