Short news items about work health and safety developments, regulator updates and practical lessons for Australian businesses.
Safe Work Australia has confirmed the 2026 National Safe Work Month theme, underscoring that effective work health and safety is a lifelong commitment, not a one-off activity.
Melbourne Health has been charged under Victoria’s Occupational Health and Safety Act following the death of a patient who took their own life after presenting for an emergency mental health assessment.
A New South Wales construction company and its sole director have been convicted and fined a combined $500,000 after a worker fell around three metres from a residential site, highlighting the critical need for robust WHS management systems and safe work method statements (SWMS) when managing work at heights.
An NDIS provider has been fined $675,000 in the NSW District Court following the death of a client who was placed in excessively hot bathwater while under supported care, highlighting critical failures in WHS management and worker training.
A 58‑year‑old Victorian worker has been ordered to repay more than $117,000 in workers’ compensation after a WorkSafe investigation uncovered he was secretly running a chilli sauce business while claiming he had no capacity to work.
Victorians are being urged to nominate local farmers who champion safety on the land and at their local footy and netball clubs, with $20,000 in prizes on offer to boost farm safety and community sport.
A New South Wales recycling business has been fined $472,500 following the death of a worker who was fatally injured while attempting to clear a blockage in a green waste grinder. The case highlights the critical importance of robust WHS management systems, safe systems of work and clear procedures when operating plant and machinery.
SafeWork NSW is inviting employers, workers and the broader community to provide feedback on its proposed regulatory priorities for the 2026–27 financial year, helping to shape the next Annual Regulatory Statement and guide work health and safety (WHS) efforts across the state.
A young worker has died after being struck by a reversing front end loader while cleaning a semi-trailer in a warehouse, prompting a WorkSafe investigation and renewed focus on WHS management systems and traffic control procedures.
SafeWork NSW has launched a targeted compliance program to ensure construction and utilities businesses are managing the risks of working near overhead powerlines and underground services, reinforcing the need for robust WHS management systems and clear safe work procedures.
