Short news items about work health and safety developments, regulator updates and practical lessons for Australian businesses.
SafeWork NSW has released new online tools to help officers better understand and meet their due diligence obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, supporting stronger WHS leadership and safer workplaces.
The Minns Labor Government has expanded the SafeWork NSW inspectorate with 27 new inspectors, reinforcing the state’s focus on preventing both physical and psychological harm in workplaces across New South Wales.
Fresh analysis from Safe Work Australia has spotlighted significant work health and safety (WHS) risks affecting more than 2.3 million Australians employed in sales and service roles, particularly across hospitality, retail and food trades.
Two construction companies and a director have been fined a combined $205,000 in the Industrial Court of NSW after a worker suffered serious injuries in a six‑metre fall from an inadequately constructed scaffold. The case reinforces the critical need for robust WHS management systems, safe work method statements (SWMS) and effective supervision on construction sites.
Safe Work Australia is seeking feedback on proposed changes to health and air monitoring requirements for hazardous chemicals under the model WHS Regulations, aiming to improve clarity, consistency and compliance across Australian workplaces.
Reducing stigma around workers’ compensation is essential to safe, timely recovery and sustainable return to work. Safe Work Australia has released practical resources to help organisations strengthen their WHS management systems and foster supportive reporting and claims cultures.
Safe Work Australia has released an upgraded Hazardous Chemical Information System (HCIS) to help workplaces prepare for the introduction of workplace exposure limits (WELs) from 1 December 2026. The system provides improved access to classification, labelling and safety data sheet (SDS) information to support WHS management systems and chemical safety compliance.
A NSW District Court has fined Fenner Dunlop Australia Pty Ltd $212,500 following a serious workplace incident in which a worker was struck by falling metal debris from fixed plant. The case underscores the critical importance of robust WHS management systems and safe work procedures when working with conveyors and other machinery.
Safe Work Australia has released three new guidance documents to help businesses manage exposure to airborne contaminants and prepare for upcoming workplace exposure limits, reinforcing WHS duties and the need for robust WHS management systems.
SafeWork NSW is strengthening engagement with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) construction workers, partnering with industry bodies to promote safer worksites, clearer WHS obligations and better use of practical controls such as SWMS and WHS management systems.
