Health & Safety Handbook

03/10/2025

CASE LAW: An employee of a care provider lodged an application with the Fair Work Commission, seeking anti-bullying orders against her employer and a manager.

https://www.healthandsafetyhandbook.com.au/case-law/conduct-alleged-to-be-bullying-found-to-be-reasonable-management-action/

30/09/2025

National Safe Work Month kicks off today. This year’s theme is ‘Safety: every job, every day’, which reinforces that everyone has a right to be safe in their workplace. For assistance this month, and all year round, consult the Health & Safety Handbook: https://www.healthandsafetyhandbook.com.au/
For more information about National Safe Work Month, visit Safe Work Australia’s site: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/national-safe-work-month

29/09/2025

BULLETIN: A Victorian video production company was fined $40,000 with conviction for failing to provide a safe working environment or minimising the risk to employees, after an employee reported being sexually harassed.

A Victorian video production company was fined $40,000 with conviction for failing to provide a safe working environment or minimising the risk to employees, after an employee reported being sexually harassed (WorkSafe Victoria v Indimax Film Productions Pty Ltd [2025]). The incident Indimax Film Pr...

23/09/2025

CASE LAW: A case was dismissed against a company that was charged for failing to ensure the safety of a worker, after the Court found the worker in question wasn’t the company’s worker in accordance with the legislation.

https://www.healthandsafetyhandbook.com.au/case-law/case-thrown-out-after-prosecutor-brings-the-wrong-charge-against-company/

16/09/2025

Q&A: If you engage labour hire workers and they are injured at work, would they claim workers’ compensation through your policy? Find out in the Health & Safety Handbook.

https://www.healthandsafetyhandbook.com.au/question-and-answer/can-a-labour-hire-worker-make-a-claim-against-our-workers-compensation-policy/

12/09/2025

BULLETIN: An NSW construction company was fined $135,000 after it failed to ensure the health and safety of workers by preventing or minimising the risk of workers falling from a height.

An NSW construction company was fined $135,000 after it failed to ensure the health and safety of workers by preventing or minimising the risk of workers, including an independent contractor and fourth-year apprentice, falling from a height (SafeWork NSW v Aria Carpentry and Construction Pty Ltd [20...

05/09/2025

BULLETIN: A Victorian freight transport business was fined $40,000 this week after a forklift collided with a worker inside one of its warehouses.

A Victorian freight transport business was fined $40,000 this week after a forklift collided with a worker inside one of its warehouses (WorkSafe Victoria v Mainfreight Distribution Pty Limited [2025]). Incident Mainfreight Distribution Pty Ltd operates several warehouses. As part of its operations,...

02/09/2025

Q&A: What should be included in an issue resolution procedure for work health and safety matters? Find out in the Health & Safety Handbook.

https://www.healthandsafetyhandbook.com.au/question-and-answer/what-do-we-need-in-a-work-health-and-safety-issue-resolution-procedure/

29/08/2025

BULLETIN: A contractor was fined nearly $70,000 last week after it failed to ensure the health and safety of workers by preventing or minimising the risk of a subcontractor worker falling from a height.

An NSW contractor was fined nearly $70,000 last week after it failed to ensure the health and safety of workers by preventing or minimising the risk of a subcontractor worker falling from a height (SafeWork NSW v Menai Civil Contractors Pty Ltd [2025]). The incident Stockland Developments Pty Ltd

26/08/2025

Q&A: How do you determine whether a zero-tolerance approach to drugs is inappropriate for your workplace? Find the answer in the Health & Safety Handbook.

https://www.healthandsafetyhandbook.com.au/question-and-answer/when-will-a-zero-tolerance-approach-to-drugs-not-be-appropriate/

22/08/2025

BULLETIN: A Melbourne-based building company was fined $65,000 for exposing workers to a risk of electrocution, even though no injury was sustained.

A Melbourne-based building company was fined $65,000 for exposing workers to a risk of electrocution, even though no injury was sustained (WorkSafe Victoria v Willoworks Pty Ltd [2025]). As the principal contractor of the site, the building company, Willoworks Pty Ltd, was found to have breached sec...

19/08/2025

CASE LAW: An employer that dismissed an employee for breaching its zero-tolerance alcohol policy appealed the Fair Work Commission decision ordering reinstatement.

https://www.healthandsafetyhandbook.com.au/case-law/appeal-denied-after-employee-wins-reinstatement-following-alcohol-related-dismissal/