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

Work health and safety (WHS) is most effective when it is built on shared understanding, clear roles, and genuine collaboration. One of the key strengths of the WHS framework in Australia is the way it brings together the business, management, workers, and Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) to manage risks collectively.   Understanding the role of HSRs in risk management is essential, not just for compliance, but for creating workplaces where safety systems actually wor

The NSW WHS Act 2011 has recently been amended. These amendments have included an increase in the penalty rates for WHS breaches. ....

The following is from our associates at Kingston Reid Lawyers in Sydney. This article is written by Special Counsel Kate Curtain who is...