On 4 November 2020, an electrician was sentenced in the Townsville Magistrates Court for multiple breaches of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (‘ES Act’). Mr Steven Anderson pleaded guilty to one offence against section 56(1) of the ES Act for carrying out a business or undertaking that included performance of electrical work without holding an electrical contractor’s licence, and to four offences against section 55(1) of the ES Act for conducting work on several occasions without holding an electrical work licence.

On 2 November 2020, Holcim (Australia) Pty Ltd pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for breaching s 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011( (the ‘Act’). The company failed to comply with its work health and safety duty under s 19(1) of the Act.

On 2 November 2020, the defendant, an incorporated not-for-profit association, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court for failing to comply with its primary work health and safety duty held under section 19(2) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘Act’). The failure exposed an individual to a risk of death or serious injury in contravention of section 32 of the Act. Magistrate Trevor Morgan imposed a fine of $100,000 and no conviction was recorded.

A diesel mechanical repair and sugar cane harvesting business was charged with one offence pursuant to s 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (the ‘Act’) for breaching the duty it held under s 19(1) of the Act. On 2 November 2020, the defendant company pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Cairns Magistrates Court.

On 15 October 2020, the defendant company pleaded guilty in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court to an offence against section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’) for failing to comply with its duty to ensure the safety of its workers pursuant to section 19(1) of the Act. The company’s failure to provide adequate supervision exposed a worker to a risk of death or serious injury. Magistrate Clare Kelly convicted and fined the defendant $40,000. The conviction was not recorded.

On 9 October 2020, the defendant company pleaded guilty in the Wynnum Magistrates Court for failure to comply with its work health and safety duty under section 19(1) Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’), that exposed a worker to a risk of death or serious injury in contravention of section 32 of the Act. The company failed to provide a safe system of work, including the safe use of plant and provision of information, training or supervision. Magistrate Zachary Sarra fined the company $60,000. No conviction was recorded.

A construction and project management company, specialising in building and civil construction works was charged with one offence pursuant to s 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (the ‘Act’) for breaching the duty it held under s 20(2) of the Act. On 13 October 2020, the defendant company pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Holland Park Magistrates Court.

On 12 October 2020, a director of a demolition and asbestos removal company was sentenced in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for removal of over 10m2 of non-friable asbestos without authorisation from the appropriate licence, in contravention of section 43(1) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘Act’) and section 487(1) Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (‘Regulation’). Magistrate Mark Nolan fined the defendant $2,000. No conviction was recorded. His Honour also ordered that the defendant pay professional costs in the sum of $1,500 and court costs of $99.70, to be paid within 3 months.

On 7 October 2020, the defendant company was sentenced in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court for multiple offences against the Work Health and Safety

A produce picking business was charged with an offence pursuant to s 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (the ‘Act’) for breaching the duty held under s 19 of the Act. On 2 October 2020, the defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Townsville Magistrates Court.