On 3 June 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Townsville Magistrates Court for breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with its health and safety duty. The horticulture business held a duty under section 20 of the Act, as a person with management or control of a workplace, namely a produce farm.

On 28 May 2021, a specialised crane and transport service company pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with its health and safety duty pursuant to section 19(1) of the Act.

An employee of a Registered Training Organisation (‘RTO’) conducted two competency assessments for high risk work licenses without being accredited to do so, contrary to section 113 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011. The defendant was charged with two offences pursuant to section 43(1) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 for carrying out work without authorisation. On 26 May 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Caboolture Magistrates Court.

On 25 May 2021, the defendant, a sludge dewatering specialist, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Gympie Magistrates Court for breaching section 33 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 Act (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with its primary health and safety duty under section 19(1) the Act.

On 18 May 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Gatton Magistrates Court for breaching section 40C of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with its health and safety duty, exposing an individual to a source of electrical risk. The family-owned edge protection company breached its duty under section 30(1) of the (the ‘Act’) to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, that its business undertaking was conducted in a way that was electrically safe.

An Ipswich caravan park failed to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that all asbestos or Asbestos Containing Material (‘ACM’) at the workplace was identified by a competent person, contrary to section 422 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011. On 28 April 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Ipswich Magistrates Court.

On 28 April 2021, a labourer was convicted and sentenced in the Atherton Magistrates Court for a category 2 offence arising from his failure to take reasonable care to ensure his actions did not adversely affect the health and safety of another worker, contrary to section 28 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’). Magistrate Kevin priestly imposed a fine of $2,500 and no conviction was recorded.

A beekeeping business was charged with carrying out work involving asbestos contrary to section 419(1) of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011. On 23 April 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Redcliffe Magistrates Court.

On 20 April 2021, Ezystone Benchtops Pty Ltd was sentenced in the Redcliffe Magistrates Court for failing to ensure the health and safety of its workers contrary to sections 19(1) and 32 Work Health and Safety Act 2011. The offending occurred between 1 January 2012 and 1 November 2018. The defendant failed to appear and was sentence ex parte. Acting Magistrate Paul Byrne imposed a fine of $240,000. A conviction was recorded.

On 20 April 2021, a plastic waste company, a labour hire company and the director of both companies were sentenced in the Richlands Magistrates Court for category 2 offences under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’). The plastic waste and labour hire companies failed to comply with their primary health and safety duties under section 19(1) of the Act, and the defendant director failed to exercise due diligence to ensure the companies complied with its duty. Magistrate Aaron Simpson imposed fines of $60,000 and $40,000 on the plastic waste and labour hire companies respectively. His Honour also imposed a fine of $10,000 on the director. No convictions were recorded.