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’).

On 20 January 2021 in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court, a formwork company pleaded guilty to two charges relating to their failures to comply with their primary health and safety duties held under sections 19(1) and 19(2) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’). Those failures exposed individuals to a risk of death or serious injury, contrary to section 32 of the Act. Magistrate Howard Osborne convicted and fined the company $40,000. No convictions were recorded.

On 11 December 2020, a manufacturing company was sentenced in the Southport Magistrates Court for an offence against section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘Act’), for failing to comply with their duty under section 19(1) of the Act. Magistrate Grace Kahlert convicted and fined the defendant $50,000.

A company conducting a business in remediation works of water and storm damaged residences was charged under s 43(2) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (the ‘Act’) and ss 419(1) and 446(3) of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (the ‘Regulation’), for allowing workers to carry out work involving asbestos whilst the defendant company was not a licensed asbestos removal contractor. The defendant pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced on 7 December 2020 in the Brisbane Magistrates Court. Magistrate Tina Previtera imposed a global fine of $6,000.

On 4 December 2020, the defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for an offence against section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’). The prosecution alleged the company failed to comply with their health and safety duty under section 21 of the Act. Magistrate Colin Strofield imposed a fine of $30,000 and no conviction was recorded.

On 17 November 2020, the defendant company pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Redcliffe Magistrates Court for failing to comply with its primary health and safety duty held pursuant to section 19(1) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (the Act) to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, the health and safety of its workers, in contravention of section 33 of the Act. Magistrate Mark Bucknall convicted and fined the defendant $6,000. The conviction was not recorded.