Three PCBUs and a director that failed to comply with basic height and machine operation requirements have been handed penalties totalling more than $300,000, after workers sustained life-changing injuries.
A company director, whose reckless WHS conduct involved a degree of planning and reflection, has been handed a six-month suspended jail sentence, while his business has been fined $500,000, in the second case on a work incident.
In an "unusual" case, two related companies have successfully sued a worker for their losses, after his use of a mobile phone while driving caused a serious accident. A judge rejected the worker's claim that the companies breached their WHS duties to him.
An employer negligently caused a worker's injuries by failing to properly train his co-worker on a task variation, a court has ruled in awarding the worker nearly $500,000 in damages.
An appeals court has confirmed a firefighter's "career-ending PTSD", from fighting what is believed to be Australia's worst ever house fire, did not result from any alleged acts of negligence by his employer, including its decision not to rotate crews.
In the latest major case on a WHS provision for "resolving" disputes, a union and eight of its officials have been fined for right-of-entry breaches at an incident-strewn infrastructure project.
A doctor's role in "one of the most stressful occupations" did not excuse his conduct in bullying and denigrating workers during a complex procedure, a commission has found in upholding a sanction against the man.
