Bullying boss convicted and fined
In April 2015, an 18-year-old apprentice carpenter made a complaint to WorkSafe that he had been bullied for more than 2 years by Mr Dennert, a sole trader, trading as Quality Carpentry and Building Maintenance.
Case Law
Placement service fined following injury to apprentice
A prosecution was brought against Trainee and Apprentice Placement Service Inc, a not-for-profit organisation that places apprentices in the construction industry with host employers.
Labour hire company fined $150,000 after worker crushed in machinery
A labour hire company, Fix Force (Qld) Pty Ltd (Fix Force) failed to ensure that its worker was not exposed to unsafe equipment in the workplace. As a proper guard was not in place, the worker suffered significant injuries as a result of being crushed.
Consistent disciplinary treatment is required in relation to safety breaches
In July 2015, Jetstar terminated Mr Gill’s employment as a mechanical engineer at Avalon Airport in Melbourne because he drove a tow tug vehicle on a public road to pick up some lunch.
Fine for failing to visually identify or communicate a hidden risk to others
On 5 April 2012, a concrete pumping truck set up its outriggers on a capping beam next to a construction site where Ducon Pty Ltd was principal contractor for a 36-storey apartment building project.
Failure to update safe work method statement leads to near miss
In May 2015, a construction company engaged demolition contractor, Bernie Leen & Sons Pty Ltd (Bernie Leen), to demolish a section of old buildings.
Impersonating safety inspectors results in $15,000 fine
Samuel Narroway was charged with seven separate breaches of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (WHS Act) by impersonating a safety inspector in South Australia. This included posing as a SafeWork inspector at:
Failure to provide and maintain a safe system of work
On 28 August 2014, a labour hire worker of Orrcon Distribution Pty Ltd (Orrcon) was operating a bridge crane to move a load of steel at the workplace.
Fined by court despite no injury to workers
On 25 March 2015, Fountain Downs Pty Ltd was constructing a two-storey residential house when a WorkSafe Victoria inspector attended the workplace and observed that workers on the second level balcony were not protected from a fall risk.
Companies fined $1.5 million after worker death
On 28 May 2011, an employee of Frankipile died after falling approximately 40 metres when the mast of a piling rig collapsed at a construction site.
Failure to provide support person results in hefty fine
Glencore is an international mining company. In 2010, a worker at Glencore’s Bulga mine in NSW was crushed beneath a moving roof support.
Construction company fails to control risks
A construction company twice failed to properly identify workplace risks or to provide adequate safety structures for a safe system of work.
Failure to follow industry code of practice
As part of a pearling operation, workers of Paspaley Pearling Company Pty Ltd (Paspaley) collected pearls from the ocean floor in a specialised form of diving, known as drift diving. This required the workers to dive underwater for up to 45 minutes at a time.
Construction company and director fined for failing to exercise due diligence
E&T Bricklaying Pty Ltd (E&T), a construction company, was contracted to install besser blocks in a two-storey building. During installation of vertical steel reinforcement bars into the besser block wall,
Two employers held liable for fatal accident
On 4 April 2009, Daniel Hill was killed while working at Longwall Panel 9, in the Integra Coal Underground Mine at Glennies Creek.