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.

On 7 June 2023, a company was fined $60,000 in the Warwick 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 6 June 2023, Seven Star Rubber Crumb Pty Ltd (‘the defendant’) was sentenced in the District Court at Brisbane for breaching section 31 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’) having failed to comply with its health and safety duty pursuant to section 19 of the Act. Judge Everson convicted and fined the defendant $650,000.

On 19 May 2023, a sawmill operator was sentenced in the Maryborough Magistrates Court for breaching s 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 for having failed to comply with its primary health and safety duty to its workers.

On 11 May 2023, a diving company and its sole director were fined a total of $110,000 in the Sandgate Magistrates Court for offences under section 22 of the Safety and Recreation Water Activities Act 2011 (‘the Act’) having failed to comply with their health and safety duties pursuant to sections 16 and 17 of the Act.

On 27 April 2023, a business in control of a sand dredging barge (‘the barge’) 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 primary health and safety duty pursuant to section 19(1) of the Act.

On 26 April 2023, a company (‘the PCBU’) and its sole director (‘the director’) were fined a total of $125,000 in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court for offences under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’) having failed to comply with their primary health and safety duties pursuant to sections 19(1) and 27(1) of the Act.

On 21 April 2023, a qualified electrician was fined $7,000 in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for breaching section 40C of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with his electrical safety duty pursuant to section 39(b) of the Act.

On 14 April 2023, a motorcycle racing organisation was sentenced in the Pine Rivers 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(2) of the Act.