A recent incident highlights the critical importance of effective supervision, risk assessment, and control measures when engaging young or inexperienced workers in higher-risk environments.   At a mechanical workshop, a 15-year-old work experience student was assigned a task involving the draining of a vehicle radiator. Prior to this, the vehicle had been running to assess overheating. The student was instructed to loosen a hose clamp to release pressure from the cooling sys

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

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 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

For some time now, there has been a steady stream of news reports where food delivery riders in our major cities have been involved in accidents with buses, trams, cars, and pedestrians. It is common for foreign students to do this kind of work while they study in Australia. During February 2021, SafeWork NSW undertook field inspections and compliance assurance activities of food delivery riders. There were 287 inspections. The inspections revealed that the riders were pred

15 January 2025. 5 minute read. Fatalities caused by falling from heights remains the second highest cause of workplace deaths in...

A warehousing company in Victoria has just been fined $40,000 for repeatedly failing to follow its traffic management system.

A manufacturing facility in Victoria was fined following an incident in which a worker’s finger was amputated while working ...

SafeWork NSW states that environmental e-cigarette vapour, second-hand e-cigarette vapour or passive vaping should be treated ...

Labour hire involves a host organisation using workers from a labour hire agency, for a temporary period of time. The first company ....

Weekly WHS Article 15th May 2024 While the procedures for identifying, assessing, and controlling or eliminating workplace risks and...

In New South Wales, ensuring the safety of workers and the public is vital. To support this goal, there are clear guidelines for...

Audiometric testing is defined in clause 58 (3) of the NSW WHS Regulation 2017 as: "audiometric testing means the testing and measurement...