On 10 June 2021, Ryan Lloyd Grossberg pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Brisbane Magistrates Court in relation to five charges arising from unlicensed electrical work he contracted for and performed, which did not meet the required standards. He faced one charge pursuant to section 56(1) and two against 55(1) of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (‘the Act’), in addition to two charges under section 71(1) of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (‘the Regulation’). His Honour Magistrate Mark Nolan imposed a fine of $16,000 and recorded a conviction.

On 10 June 2021, a textiles merchant was sentenced in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for breaching their primary duty, under section 30 of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (‘the Act’), to conduct their business in an electrically safe manner, exposing individuals to a risk of serious injury or death. The defendant was also charged under section 147(6) of the Act for failing to comply with an electrical safety protection notice (‘ESPN’) by reconnecting electrical equipment that was deemed unsafe by an inspector.

On 3 June 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Townsville Magistrates Court for breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with its health and safety duty. The horticulture business held a duty under section 20 of the Act, as a person with management or control of a workplace, namely a produce farm.

On 28 May 2021, a specialised crane and transport service company pleaded guilty and 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 health and safety duty pursuant to section 19(1) of the Act.

An employee of a Registered Training Organisation (‘RTO’) conducted two competency assessments for high risk work licenses without being accredited to do so, contrary to section 113 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011. The defendant was charged with two offences pursuant to section 43(1) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 for carrying out work without authorisation. On 26 May 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Caboolture Magistrates Court.

On 25 May 2021, the defendant, a sludge dewatering specialist, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Gympie Magistrates Court for breaching section 33 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 Act (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with its primary health and safety duty under section 19(1) the Act.

On 18 May 2021, a family owned tile company pleaded guilty and 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 health and safety duty pursuant to section 19(1) of the Act.

On 18 May 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Gatton Magistrates Court for breaching section 40C of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with its health and safety duty, exposing an individual to a source of electrical risk. The family-owned edge protection company breached its duty under section 30(1) of the (the ‘Act’) to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, that its business undertaking was conducted in a way that was electrically safe.

An Ipswich caravan park failed to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that all asbestos or Asbestos Containing Material (‘ACM’) at the workplace was identified by a competent person, contrary to section 422 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011. On 28 April 2021, the defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Ipswich Magistrates Court.

On 28 April 2021, a labourer was convicted and sentenced in the Atherton Magistrates Court for a category 2 offence arising from his failure to take reasonable care to ensure his actions did not adversely affect the health and safety of another worker, contrary to section 28 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’). Magistrate Kevin priestly imposed a fine of $2,500 and no conviction was recorded.