"Bullying" versus "Reasonable Management" actions
Two recent bullying cases addressed by the Fair Work Commission highlight a need to understand the difference between bullying and “reasonable management actions.” In these two cases the FWC had to determine whether the actions alleged to be bullying actually amounted to bullying or were appropriate reasonable management actions. What is “bullying”? “Bullying” is when a person or group of people repeatedly behave unreasonably towards another worker or group of workers, and t
Food Delivery Riders Need To Be Inducted
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
Recent prosecutions show ongoing inadequacies in warehouse safety training
2025 so far has seen the courts in New South Wales handing down eight major convictions involving forklift-related incidents. These cases involved both companies and sole traders and have resulted in substantial fines and public scrutiny. A worker was fatally pinned by a 7-tonne forklift after alighting the forklift at an Electrical contracting site. The business was convicted and fined $150,000, with a project order imposed. A 43-year-old forklift operator was struck and
Warehouse risk management failures lead to $35,000 fine
It is important that warehouses have correct control measures to mitigate risks from hazards that exist in the workplace. A common hazard...
Fire Training does not have to be delivered only by an RTO
It comes up from time to time, the question of what WHS training can or should be done by a Registered Training Provider (RTO), or by...
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...
Menopause is not a "WHS matter"
17 April, 2025. 5 minute read A company (that shall remain unnamed) recently advocated for including menopausal staff on their workplace...
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...
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...
How the Model WHS laws came to be
Safe Work Australia is an advisory body of the Australian government that advises and develops laws concerning workplace health and...
Business owners, Directors, and CEOs may face up to 25 years imprisonment under new Industrial Manslaughter laws
From 16 September 2024 Industrial manslaughter is now an offence in New South Wales. This means that business owners, directors and CEOs...
Can Workers be prosecuted under the WHS Legislation?
Under Section 28 of the WHS Act, workers are required to follow reasonable instructions from their supervisors and managers.