A magistrate "impermissibly reasoned backward", and misapplied the reasonable practicability test, when she found an employer guilty of amputation-related safety breaches and fined it nearly $200,000, a superior court has found.
An employer that could have prevented a fatality by using more appropriate machinery for a high-risk task has been fined $650,000. Meanwhile, an individual has been fined for failing to prepare a health and safety coordination plan, which contributed to a three-metre fall.
> Two individuals fined over fatal fall from mobile plant; > Nearly 1,000 improvement notices issued in safety blitz; and > Australia's first occupational dust diseases register commences.
> Two-year exemption from new WHS clauses granted in NSW; > Vic passes controversial cancer Bill, offers more WorkWell grants; and > Alerts issued after fatalities, traumatic amputations and other incidents.
> Four entities including manager charged over teenager's death; > OHS improvement notices maintained after quad case withdrawn; and > New drug testing rules commencing under RSNL.
Duty holders that engage in reckless conduct during the manufacture, transport or storage of dangerous goods could be fined $6.4 million or jailed for 10 years, under new Victorian laws. The move comes after firefighters called for tougher penalties and a "pro-charge" policy to crack down on the "stash and burn business model" in the waste industry.
> Australia transitioning to new edition of GHS; > CSIRO charged with four category 2 WHS breaches after explosion; > Employer charged with failing to ensure the safety of at-risk patient; and > Labour-hire scheme with WHS test revived in SA.
> New OHS infringement notices coming to Vic; > Complete WRA accreditation boosts safety cultures in Qld; and > Tas tackles a leading cause of workplace fatalities.
