Browsing: Young/inexperienced workers | Page 5

A PCBU has been handed a pre-discount penalty of $300,000, after its "unexplained disregard" for guarding requirements led to the amputation of five of a teenage worker's fingers. Meanwhile, a repeat offender's latest safety fines have been increased significantly, after a regulator appealed.

A company director and a worker in his 20s have been charged with breaching workplace health and safety laws by allegedly s-xually harassing seven workers aged as young as 14.

Poor sleep in workers starting new roles significantly impacts their first few months of employment, and can lead to the development of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, a new Australian study has shown.

A company and its sole director, who failed to take specific steps to protect workers from falling, have received significantly reduced fines, because of the director's inexperience and the company's limited capacity to pay penalties.

A PCBU has been handed a pre-discount WHS fine of $600,000, after a worker suffered fatal head injuries in an incident involving an unsafely modified work box and a forklift operated by an inexperienced apprentice.

The mother of a young worker impaled on a steel rod has been awarded more than $200,000 for post-traumatic stress linked to the incident, while her son has been awarded $520,000, and two negligent companies have been ordered to foot most of the bill.

A PCBU and its director have failed to overturn their WHS recklessness penalties of $500,000 and suspended jail time, with a superior court highlighting the director's failure to exercise due diligence and his high moral culpability.

A commissioner has upheld the sacking of a supervisor who failed to investigate reports that a subordinate was breaching conduct and safety policies by regularly s-xually harassing co-workers by rubbing his genitals at work.

Employers have been told to map out and prevent access to workplace water hazards, after a local council was successfully prosecuted over the drowning death of a child. Another employer has been penalised for failing to respond to a near miss by ensuring workers wore personal protective equipment.

• $300k safety fine sends warning on pre-start checks;
  
• Three safety Codes of Practice revoked in WA; and
  
• Comcare and WA safety awards open.