The Australian Skills Quality Authority will undertake a strategic review of the entry-level occupational health and safety training required to work on construction sites in Australia, commonly known as the White Card.

There has been wide spread concern…  Read more

On 24 May 2004, a client attended the employer place of work a community service centre for the purpose of an access visit to her three children, who had been removed from her care the week prior. An interview was conducted between the client and two of the employees. During the interview the client stabbed one of the employees and threatened other staff present. The client was arrested, subsequently found guilty of intent to maliciously wound and sentenced to a term of…  Read more

Builder fined $180,000, Subby fined $180,000 and Supervisor fined $18,000 after a trainee was pinned by a elevated work platform causing his death. The killed worker was tightening bolts over the joints of the metal roof purlins. The task was carried out…  Read more

On July 2006, a 37-year-old employee working alone commenced operating a Pallet Paint Line De-stacker (plant), almost 1 hour later the employee was found in an unconscious state trapped between a stack of 20 pallets. The employee died 3 days later from the injuries he received. The supplier pleaded guilty for failure “to ensure that a person who designs, manufactures or supplies any plant or substance for use by persons at work must ensure that the plant or substance is safe and without…  Read more

A worker bent down under the head of the conveyor, which had stopped to retrieve a parcel of meat which had fallen onto a steel rack. Suddenly the conveyor started and the worker’s right arm was dragged into a shear hazard at the head of the conveyor. At the time of the accident the conveyor had insufficient guarding to prevent persons gaining access to the shear hazard at the head of the conveyor. The maximum penalty which the company faces is $550,000. However, in the absence of prior convictions the company was entitled…  Read more

A company has been fined $275,000 for failure to ensure that people other than its employees were not exposed to risks to their health or safety and welfare at their workplace. At the time of the incident a crane crew had been working in close proximity to 11000V over head power lines. As the crane jib came close to the power lines an employee received an electric shock as he was holding onto the chain or hook – he later died in hospital. The company had failed to provide a spotter and obtain a safe work method…  Read more