On 31 March 2021, an engineering company was convicted and sentenced in the Ipswich Magistrates Court for failing to comply with its duty under section 22(2) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘WHS Act’) to ensure their design of a structure was without risks to other persons. This failure exposed an individual to a risk of death or serious injury contrary to section 32 of the WHS Act. Magistrate MacCallum imposed a fine of $100,000 and no conviction was recorded.

On 23 March 2021, a produce business was sentenced in the Bowen Magistrates Court for failing to comply with its primary health and safety duty, pursuant to section 19(1) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘WHS Act’), and exposing an individual to a risk of death or serious injury, contrary to section 32 of the WHS Act. Magistrate Morton imposed a fine of $150,000 and declined to record a conviction.

On 18 March 2021, a sand mine worker pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court for failing to ensure his acts did not risk the health and safety of other persons, which exposed others to a risk of death or serious injury contrary to section 32 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘WHS Act’). Magistrate McLaughlin imposed a fine of $7,500 and no conviction was recorded.

On 8 March 2021, following a hearing in the Southport Magistrates Court, a Gold Coast-based jumping castle rental company was found guilty of an offence against section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (the ‘Act’). The prosecution alleged the company, which pleaded not guilty, failed to meet its primary safety duty under section 19(1) of the Act.

On 25 February 2021, the defendant company and two individuals pleaded guilty in the Emerald Industrial Magistrates Court to breaches of safety and health obligations under the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999. The offending resulted in the death of a 21-year-old worker. Magistrate Robert Walker convicted and fined all three defendants for offences against section 31 of the Act. The defendant company was fined $180,000, the site senior executive $45,000, and a supervisor $10,000. The court ordered the convictions not be recorded.

On 12 February 2021, a Central Queensland abattoir pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court for breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (the ‘Act’), having failed to meet its duty under section 19(1) of the Act. The defendant company was convicted and fined $75,000. No conviction was recorded.

On 5 February 2021, a flooring system company and its director pleaded guilty and were sentenced in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for contraventions of section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘Act’). The defendant company failed to comply with its duty under section 19(2) of the Act, and the defendant director failed to exercise due diligence to ensure the company complied with its duty. Magistrate Suzette Coates imposed a fine of $35,000 on the company. In relation to the director, her Honour imposed a 12-month court ordered undertaking pursuant to section 239 of the Act, with a recognisance of $5,000.

On 2 February 2021, the defendant company entered a guilty plea and was sentenced in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court for breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (the ‘Act’), having failed to meet its duty under section 21 of the Act to ensure plant at a workplace, over which it had management and control, was without risks to the health and safety of any person.

On 29 January 2021, the defendant company pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for breaching s 699 of the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004, having failed to discharge an obligation imposed under the safety management system for the operating plant. The defendant failed to take all reasonable steps to ensure no person or property was exposed to more than an acceptable level of risk. The defendant was convicted and fined $60,000. A conviction was not recorded.

On 29 January 2021, Daniel William Dawes was sentenced ex parte in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for two offences pursuant to the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (‘the Act’) and eight offences pursuant to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (‘the Regulation’).