On 15 Jun 23, a 16-year-old worker at RPC Surface Treatment Pty Ltd in Welshpool, WA, was crushed to death when a 425 kg steel beam fell from a monorail. Two years later, on 27 Oct 25, the Perth Magistrates Court handed down a record $975,000 penalty, the highest fine ever imposed under Western Australia’s work health and safety laws. This was not a freak accident. It was a foreseeable, preventable system failure. The Incident The company utilised a monorail system to transp

On October 8, 2025, a concrete manufacturing business in Queensland was sentenced in the Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor’s (OWHSP) report after a worker suffered amputation of his leg. The company was fined $110,000  for breaching its primary health and safety duty under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) (WHS Act) by failing to control a clearly foreseeable risk. This article unpacks what happened, why it matters, and the lessons companies must draw.

In October 2025, a manufacturing company in Queensland was fined $60,000  after a serious injury occurred due to exposed machinery. The case, reported on the Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor (OWHSP) website, serves as a stark reminder of how predictable risks, when left unaddressed, can lead to human harm, regulatory sanctions, and reputational damage. This blog explores the facts of the case, the regulatory context, the lessons for manufacturing and broader i

The NSW District Court has fined Wrigley Metal Roofing Co Pty Ltd $225,000 after a worker fell almost 4 m from a roof at Avalon Beach in 22. The conviction under s32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) underscores the importance of implementing safe systems for roof work. The incident On 25 Jul 22, a roof worker engaged by Wrigley Metal Roofing Co Pty Ltd fell 3.8 m while re-sheeting and cladding a residential roof at Avalon Beach. A principal contractor had subcontr

Here is a concise, practical playbook for handling medical assessments and claim reopenings, so you can protect yourself, maintain momentum, and stay calm under pressure. Why this matters Insurers and agencies often change case handlers, reopen claims, or add requirements. A clean paper trail gives you legal protection, faster resolution, and mental clarity. What to document every time Who you spoke with, when, how, and why Exact requests made of you and any deadlines What y

On 14 Jul 22, a forklift reversed inside the chilled stack-down area of JBS Australia’s Yanco feedlot, striking a 57-year-old worker. The collision caused catastrophic crush injuries that led to the amputation of the worker’s left leg. This month, the company was convicted and fined $330,000 under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) after pleading guilty to failing to ensure the health and safety of its workers. What Went Wrong Investigators found that key engineering c

Inspectors from SafeWork SA discovered a dangerous situation at TRG Transport's Wingfield depot. Eleven freight containers packed with over 100,000 litres of dichloropropene and 13,000 litres of chloropicrin were onsite without a valid licence, emergency plan, or proper signage. On 10 October 2025, the South Australian Employment Tribunal handed down its decision, fining TRG Transport Pty Ltd $47,600 for breaches of sections 11 and 14 of the Dangerous Substances Act 1979 (SA

31 Oct 25 Across two very different worksites last week, both the ground and gravity again proved unforgiving teachers. In one, a bridge worker fell almost four metres while stripping formwork. In another, a vehicle struck and killed a woman at a country showground. The common theme: control measures existed in theory, but not in verified, living practice. The Bridgeworks Case – $150 000 for a 3.85m Fall SafeWork NSW confirmed Bridgeworks (Aust) Pty Ltd was fined $150 000 af

For some of us, travel is more than a work requirement. It is a way of life. Between site visits, training camps, and activities with organisations such as the Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) and Bush Search & Rescue (BSAR), I have clocked more kilometres than I care to count. Airports, roadhouses, gravel car parks and remote bivouacs all blur into one. While the variety keeps things intriguing, it also brings unique safety and well-being challenges that must be manage

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