Short news items about work health and safety developments, regulator updates and practical lessons for Australian businesses.
SafeWork NSW has begun its largest ever state-wide compliance campaign targeting psychosocial hazards, reinforcing the legal duty on businesses to actively manage psychological health and safety at work.
A New South Wales demolition recycling company has been fined $187,500 following a fatal mobile plant incident, underscoring the critical need for robust WHS management systems and safe work procedures when operating heavy machinery.
SafeWork NSW has launched a targeted compliance blitz on abattoirs and meat processing facilities across regional NSW, reinforcing the need for robust WHS management systems, effective SWMS and strong safety leadership as Safe Work Month gets underway.
National Safe Work Month 2026 is underway, spotlighting why work health and safety (WHS) is critical to protecting workers’ lives, health and futures. The ‘Safe work is for life’ campaign calls on Australian workplaces to embed WHS into everyday decisions, supported by strong WHS management systems, SWMS and policies.
A New South Wales scaffolding company and its sole director have been convicted and fined a combined $48,000 after an unsecured mobile scaffold exposed members of the public to serious safety risks, underscoring the need for robust WHS management systems and documented safe work procedures.
Safe Work Australia has released a new national guide to help PCBUs and employers identify, control and monitor slip, trip and fall risks, reinforcing legal duties under WHS laws and supporting safer workplaces across all industries.
SafeWork NSW has intensified its focus on lead safety in Broken Hill, carrying out targeted workplace visits, stakeholder meetings and a proactive mining sector operation to help employers manage lead exposure risks and meet their WHS obligations.
A New South Wales construction company has been fined $225,000 following the death of an e‑bike rider who collided with an inadequately managed road plate at a stormwater drainage worksite. The case underscores the critical importance of robust WHS management systems, safe work method statements (SWMS) and effective risk controls in public work areas.
Matilda Walking Floors Pty Ltd has been convicted and fined $140,000 in the Industrial Court of NSW after a worker was seriously injured when a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) tipped from the back of a truck trailer. The case highlights the critical importance of robust WHS management systems, safe systems of work and clear policies when using plant and equipment.
The Minns Labor Government has launched a dedicated Psychosocial Advisory Service to address the sharp rise in psychosocial incidents across NSW workplaces, providing practical, trauma‑informed guidance to both workers and employers.
