On 13 May 2024, the defendant company, who supplies liquified petroleum gas to residential and commercial premises, pleaded guilty to two offences under section 708A of the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 (the Act).

On 13 May 2024, an asbestos removal company was sentenced in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court for three breaches of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’) (committed between 1 September 2021 and 11 September 2021). The defendant was charged with two breaches of section 33 of the Act, having failed to comply with its primary health and safety duty to both workers and other persons, and one breach of section 43(2) of the Act, having allowed a worker to carry out work they were not authorised to carry out.

On 1 May 2024, the defendant was sentenced in the Southport Magistrates Court for failing to comply with an individual duty (as a worker) to take reasonable care that their acts or omissions did not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons, and by failing to comply with that duty, thereby exposing an individual to a risk of death or serious injury.

On 23 April 2024, a worker was sentenced in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court for threatening or intimidating an inspector contrary to section 190 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

On 19 April 2024, an aluminium production 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.

On 17 April 2024, a long-standing director of a company engaged in the business of manufacturing and supplying bakery products was sentenced in the Townsville Magistrates Court for breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’). The defendant pleaded guilty to failing to exercise due diligence over a period of 18 months to ensure that the company complied with its health and safety duty, thereby exposing workers to the risk of death or serious injury.

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.