On 26 September 2025, a worker was sentenced in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for four offences of breaching section 180(3) of the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act (‘the Act’), having made an entry in a relevant document, knowing the entry to be false or misleading.

On four separate occasions, over a four-month period, the defendant made fraudulent entries on health assessment documents for his workers, which were then provided to a number of coal mines. The entries indicated that the workers had undergone health assessments, when they had not.

The defendant was the executive officer and director of the company and was responsible for the onboarding of coal mine workers, which included making sure that workers had undergone relevant health assessments.

In sentencing, Her Honour noted that it was an early plea of guilty and the matter was listed for sentence at the first opportunity. The defendant had good references, took part in community activities, and is otherwise of good character, which were all factors in his favour. Her Honour found that the fact there were multiple offences was an aggravating feature to the offending and that general deterrence was an important factor.

Her Honour sentenced the defendant to the following:

• Charge 1 - $1,000
• Charge 2 - $1,000
• Charge 3 - $1,000
• Charge 4 - $1,000

A total fine of $4,000 plus professional costs of $1,500 and $101.40 for filing, which was referred to SPER. No conviction was recorded.

The defendant was also ordered to pay $1,210.67 to Resources Safety and Health Queensland. The defendant was given 4 months to pay.

OWHSP contact: enquiries@owhsp.qld.gov.au