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

WHS consultation has always been a major focus for SafeWork NSW as it is a major part of WHS Law. Consultation and communication ...

The Model WHS laws, in force since 2011, describe how a business may organize its workplace into workgroups and then have representatives...

We often get questions from clients about what they have to do to comply with WHS consultation requirements. Two common questions are...

Ladders are often used at work and at home to get access to higher or lower levels in order to carry out light tasks. But every year many...