On 17 April 2024, a heavy vehicle maintenance company (‘the corporate defendant’) and its director (‘the individual defendant’) were sentenced in the Brisbane Magistrates Court. Each defendant was sentenced in relation to a breach of section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’). The company failed to comply with its primary health and safety duty pursuant to section 19(1) of the Act and was fined $85,000. The director failed to comply with his duty pursuant to section 27 of the Act and was fined $8,000.

On 19 March 2024, a corporation pleaded guilty to a ‘Category 2’ offence contrary to s.32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the WHS Act’).

On 11 April 2024, a scaffold company was sentenced in the Cairns Magistrates Court for breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’) when its workers inadvertently dislodged a 2 metre scaffold plank whilst modifying erected scaffolding. The plank fell 7.5 metres, landing approximately 3 metres from a carpentry worker.

On 9 April 2024, a company was sentenced in the Southport Magistrates Court for breaching section 300(1) of the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (‘the Regulation’). The defendant company’s director pleaded guilty to failing to put in place arrangements to ensure high risk construction work was carried out in compliance with its safe work method statement (‘SWMS’) at its workplace.

On 8 April 2024, a company and two of its directors were sentenced in the Southport Magistrates Court for breaching section 40C of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld) (‘the Act’). The company failed to comply with its primary health and safety duty to ensure the health and safety of persons was not put at risk from its business or undertaking. The directors failed to exercise due diligence to ensure the company complied with its duty.

On 4 April 2024, a defendant pleaded guilty to a ‘Category 3’ offence contrary to s.33 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the WHS Act’).

On 21 March 2024, a timber company 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 20 March 2024, the defendant company was sentenced in the Cleveland Magistrates Court for failing to comply with an electrical safety duty, and in doing so, exposing an individual to a risk of death or serious injury.

On 15 March 2024, a company was sentenced in the Brisbane Magistrates Court in relation to two charges 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 (both under section 19(1) and under section 19(2)).

On 15 March 2024, a metal fabrication company was sentenced in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for breaching section 19 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with its primary health and safety duty.