Short news items about work health and safety developments, regulator updates and practical lessons for Australian businesses.
A Sydney-based sand and cement supplier has been fined $135,000 in the Industrial Court of NSW after a truck‑mounted crane contacted live overhead powerlines on a Dundas construction site. The case highlights the critical need for robust WHS management systems and safe work method statements (SWMS) when operating mobile plant near electrical hazards.
A New South Wales building and maintenance company has been fined $390,000 after a worker suffered serious injuries in a fall of nearly three metres through a skylight void, highlighting the critical need for robust WHS management systems and safe work method statements (SWMS) when managing work at heights.
A North Coast farm owner has been convicted and fined $21,000 after SafeWork NSW inspectors found a grain auger in operation without essential guarding, highlighting the need for robust WHS management systems and safe systems of work around plant and machinery.
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.
