On 15 August 2023, an apprentice electrician was sentenced in the Richlands Magistrates Court for six offences under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (‘the Act’). The defendant, not being the holder of an electrical work licence, performed electrical work contrary to section 55(1) if the Act (charge 1). The defendant conducted a business which included the performance of electrical work without holding an electrical contract licence, contrary to section 56 of the Act (charge 2). Additionally, the defendant, as a person who held a duty pursuant to section 30 of the Act, failed to ensure the business was conducted in a way that was electrically safe, and exposed individuals to a risk of death or serious injury on four separate occasions (charges 3-6).

On 10 August 2023, a company engaged in the business of supplying electrical services was sentenced in the Holland Park Magistrates Court for a Category 3 offence pursuant to section 33 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with its primary health and safety duty pursuant to section 19(1) of the Act.

On 10 August 2023, a company which conducted slashing and mowing work and its director were sentenced in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court for breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with their health and safety duties pursuant to sections 19(1) and 27(1) respectively. The corporate defendant was fined $70,000, and the individual defendant was fined $10,000.

On 8 August 2023, in the Mackay Industrial Magistrates Court, a mine operator pleaded guilty to failing to discharge a safety and health obligation by failing to ensure that the site senior executive at the mine developed and implemented a safety health management system for all persons at the mine. The mine operator was fined $70,000 by Industrial Magistrate Hartigan. The mine operator was also ordered to pay $110,000 in investigative and prosecution costs. No conviction was recorded.

On 4 August 2023, a company engaged in the business of manufacturing bedding and foam was sentenced in the Ipswich Magistrates Court for breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (“the Act”), having failed to comply with its primary health and safety duty pursuant to section 19(1) of the Act.

On 27 July 2023, a sole trader conducting business as a builder and construction project manager was sentenced in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for a Category 3 offence pursuant to section 33 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (“the Act”), having failed to comply with his primary health and safety duty under section 19(1) of the Act.

On 10 July 2023, a shed company was fined $100,000 in the Bundaberg Magistrates Courts for a section 32 (Category 2) offence pursuant to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with its primary health and safety duty pursuant to section 19(1) of the Act.

On 22 June 2023, a stone benchtop manufacturer and installation company was sentenced in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for two offences under section 33 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with its primary health and safety duties pursuant to section 19(1) and (2) of the Act.

On 20 June 2023, a partner in an unincorporated partnership, which ran a business which provided elevated work platforms (EWPs) and operators for hire, was sentenced in the Townsville Magistrates Court. The defendant was fined in relation to two offences; the first offence related to a breach of section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with his duty to ensure that plant was without risks to the health and safety of any person, the second offence related to a failure to advise Workplace Health and Safety Queensland of a notifiable incident, pursuant to section 38(1) of the Act. The defendant was fined a total of $12,000.

On 16 June 2023, a specialist lighting company and one of its directors were sentenced in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’). The company pleaded guilty to failing to comply with its primary duty to ensure workers’ health and safety, thereby exposing them to the risk of death or serious injury. The director pleaded guilty to failing to exercise due diligence to ensure the company complied with its duty, thereby exposing workers to the risk of death or serious injury.