Yatala based Oil Tech International Pty Ltd was recently fined $800,000 over a workplace incident in which a man was burnt to death. Read More

In July 2020, a farm worker died after he lost control of a quad bike. It appears he attempted to avoid a kangaroo and lost control of the vehicle. Read More

In July 2020, a truck driver received serious injuries after being struck by a hay bale. Early investigations indicate hay bales were being unloaded by a forklift while the truck driver was doing something else, when for reasons yet to be established, a bale fell and struck him. Read More

Following successful court action recently, the Electrical Safety Office is warning rogue operators against performing electrical work without an appropriate licence. Read More

Electricity Safety Week (7-11 September) is Queensland’s annual reminder that while electricity helps power up our everyday lives, it can also be deadly. Read More

The Queensland Government is stepping up its blitz on unlicensed operators advertising through online marketplaces like AirTasker to do home electrical tasks illegally. Read More

In June 2020, a worker suffered crush injuries to his arms and hands after an excavator bucket collided with waste oil drums while he was preparing to attach lifting equipment. Read More

In this edition: Ardent Leisure pleads guilty, New quad bike safety standard to reduce risks; Case study: All Access Crewing – managing on site traffic; $50,000 fine for Second Range Crossing concrete pump truck tip; New guidance on managing fatigue; New Work Health and Safety Board members; Respirable crystalline silica dust compliance campaign launch; and […] Read More

A sheet metal fabrication business and a company director have both appeared before Beenleigh Magistrates Court this week over a workplace incident in which a young work experience student had the tip of his finger amputated. Read More

The independent Work Health and Safety Prosecutor, Mr Aaron Guilfoyle, has commenced an industrial manslaughter prosecution against the owner of a Gympie business which sells and services electric motors. Read More

In June 2020, a grader was doing road works at a construction site when it struck a worker who suffered serious leg injuries. Read More

Ahead of Electricity Safety Week (7-11 September), a series of electrical safety awareness sessions have been scheduled around regional Queensland to coincide with local home shows. Read More

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The finalised rates for WorkCover Queensland’s industry classifications (WIC) for 2020–2021 have now been published in the Queensland Government Gazette dated 26 June 2020. Read More

The Palaszczuk Government will not increase the WorkCover premium rate, as businesses across the state battle to cope with the challenges of COVID-19. Read More

WorkCover Queensland has reviewed and updated the Allied health table of costs for 2020. The changes take effect from 1 July 2020. Read More

In April 2020, a young worker was injured after being struck by a lifting chain hook while helping a colleague move equipment. They were using a crane in a storage yard. Read More

If you’ve held your electrical contractor licence as an individual or partnership and have restructured your business as a company, you may need a new electrical contractor licence in the name of the company. Read More

In April 2020, a man suffered serious injuries after being crushed by a frontend loader. Initial enquiries found the operator got out of the cabin to untie a hay bale when the vehicle started rolling down a slope. It appears the operator was attempting to re-enter the cabin when he was trapped between the moving […] Read More

We’ve released our new Electrical contractor guide – Developing a safe system of work for electrical work. This guide will assist electrical contractors, qualified technical persons and qualified business owners to develop a safe system of work for their business. Read More

We know it’s a difficult time and you’ve got a lot on your mind. It’s hard to not worry about providing for your family, how to keep your business running and keep your licences and how to pay for it. Read More

In this edition: Farm safety calendar has lessons for all; Working safely with pesticides; Seasonal workers and harvest season; COVID-19 horticulture guide; Fencing contractor fined $25,000; Health and wellbeing tips for challenging working times; and more… Read More

A Brisbane construction company has been fined $85,000 for failing to ensure a work site in Lutwyche was electrically safe. Read More

We have received a number of reports from members of the public who have been contacted by a person purporting to be from WorkCover and asking they contact him about the claim they have lodged with WorkCover. Read More

In May 2020, two men were seriously injured after falling approximately 1.5m after a trestle and plank system failed while performing housing construction work. In a separate incident, a contractor suffered serious injuries as a result of falling around 3m to the floor below when the makeshift work platform he was working on collapsed. Read More

The Medical Items Table of Costs has been updated to reflect MBS changes up to 17 March 2020, which include amendments to intensive care and emergency medicine and new COVID-19 telehealth items. New diagnostic imaging fees have also been released, effective 1 April 2020. Read More

In January, an interstate truck driver suffered multiple leg fractures when a stone slab fell off the back of a truck. It appears the stone was secured to an ‘A’ frame with straps. Early investigations indicate that when the driver removed the straps, the stone slabs toppled and struck him. In February, a truck driver […] Read More

After a hearing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court last Wednesday, an edge protection company has been fined $50,000 for failing to comply with its primary safety duty under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, exposing workers to risk of serious injury or death from roof falls. Read More

The impacts of COVID-19 continue to evolve across Queensland, Australia and the rest of the globe. WorkCover Queensland is focussed on the health, well-being and safety of our own staff, our customers and our stakeholders. Read More

There is currently a shortage of disposable particulate respirators in Australia due to an increase in demand from health care workers and from the public and because many Chinese manufacturers have temporarily shut down. Read More

In December 2019, a worker suffered serious injury after falling approximately 5m through a roof whilst doing maintenance on a shed. In a similar incident in February 2020, a man died after falling through the roof of a building. Early investigations indicate he was repairing a skylight. Read More

A $50,000 fine was handed out in a Brisbane court this week over an incident in which a nine-year-old boy was injured when he fell off an inflatable amusement device he was riding. Read More

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In December 2019, a worker suffered serious injury when his arm was caught in a hopper. Early investigations indicate the open hopper contained metal shafts and stainless-steel rods that rotated to mix dough ingredients. Read More

In this edition: Kids urged to be Ride Ready on quad bikes over busy holiday period, Registrations open for 2020 MSD Symposium, $75,000 fine after serious sugar mill injury leads to amputation, Work safely with asbestos after summer storms, Latest innovations targeting sun safety, New report on work-related musculoskeletal disorders, and much more. Read More

Coroner James MacDougall conducted an exhaustive inquest following the tragic deaths of Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett and Roozi Araghi on the Thunder River Rapids Ride at Dreamworld on 25 October 2016. Read More

The Queensland Government accepts the coroner’s findings. The matter has been referred to the independent Work Health and Safety Prosecutor to decide whether action will be taken against Dreamworld’s owner, Ardent Leisure, under the Work Health and Safety Act. Read More

WorkCover Queensland has now completed the open tender process to appoint a new return to work services panel. Read More

Electrical Safety Office inspectors are visiting Queensland workplaces and will take enforcement action if they identify un-managed fire and explosion risks. This action can include compliance notices or immediately prohibiting the use of electrical equipment in hazardous areas until risk controls are implemented and verified. Read More

A sole trader operating as a fencing contractor has been sentenced and fined $25,000 in the Mount Isa Magistrates Court for breaches relating to duty of care under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. Read More

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has conducted another meeting of Queensland’s Disaster Management Committee, the third in as many days. The group, including Queensland’s Chief Medical Officer, is co-ordinating the state’s Coronavirus response. Read More

In this edition: Bushfire damage and asbestos; Unlicensed labour hire provider in Emerald fined $60,000; Agri-workers reap benefit of award-winning safety campaigns; Review into 2,4-D recommends handling changes; Case study: A team approach to the welfare of all workers; Get in early and book your free Safety Advocate visit for 2020; Electrical Safety Codes of […] Read More

Chinese New Year is one of the busiest times of year for Queensland’s dive and snorkel industry. Many people are visiting the Great Barrier Reef and other destinations to dive or snorkel, often for the first time. Read More

The new year is a great time for a quick safety check of your business before things get busy. Read More

Continued guidance on electrical safety standards remains available following the automatic expiry of three electrical safety codes of practice on 1 January 2020. Read More

In October 2019, a man died on a rural property died after being crushed by the tractor he was operating. Initial findings suggest he was reversing the tractor into a deep excavation, when for reasons yet to be established, the tractor rolled. Read More

In this edition: Kids urged to be Ride Ready on quad bikes over busy holiday period, Registrations open for 2020 MSD Symposium, $75,000 fine after serious sugar mill injury leads to amputation, Work safely with asbestos after summer storms, Latest innovations targeting sun safety, New report on work-related musculoskeletal disorders, and much more. Read More

In November 2019, a truck driver sustained serious lacerations to his leg when he was struck by building materials which had fallen off a pallet. Read More

In November, a young child was submerged underwater for less than two minutes at a supervised public pool. On-duty lifeguards administered CPR until QAS officers arrived and took over. The child was taken to hospital and later passed away. Read More

Following a review of restricted electrical work licences (RELs), you will see a few changes to how it looks when you renew and receive your new licence card. Read More

In October 2019, a compact track loader (commonly known as a posi-track or bobcat) was moving spoil on a construction site when it reversed into a worker who suffered serious leg injuries. Read More

A qualified carpenter working on a Gold Coast house has been fined $20,000 over a workplace incident which left his apprentice with a fractured leg. Read More

With many workplaces about to get together for Christmas break up parties, employers are reminded that the “silly season” is not an excuse to disregard safety, including the responsible service of alcohol. Read More

Queenslanders have been reminded to keep their kids safe on quad bikes as the school holidays and weeks of free time approach. Read More

New guidance for tenants and property owners about electrical safety in rental properties is now available. Read More

The purpose of this safety alert is to inform zip line owners, operators, engineers and riggers of the risk of failure of zip line terminations and to provide guidance to help prevent the failure of zip lines. Read More

AS/NZS3012:2019 Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites was published on 4 November 2019. The new edition contains several changes from the 2010 edition. Read More

A Brisbane builder was fined $24,000 this week over breaches of Queensland work safety laws which posed a serious risk to workers. Read More

In October 2019, a patron died, and another was seriously injured while using a zipline attraction as part of a rainforest adventure tour. Read More

The Electrical Licensing Committee has disqualified an electrical worker from holding an electrical work or contractor licence for five years. He had advertised his services online to perform unlicensed electrical contracting work. Read More

A Brendale company and one of its officers have been fined $54,000 after a woman was injured when a water tank being delivered to her Morton Vale property struck her. Read More

A large national company with ties to an international entity which specialises in the manufacturing and supply of industrial gases was yesterday sentenced in the Richlands Magistrates Court. Read More

WorkCover Queensland has reviewed and updated the table of costs for medical treatment applicable for workers’ compensation in Queensland. The changes are effective 1 December 2019 and impact the Medical items table of costs and the Supplementary services table of costs for GPs and Specialists. Read More

During September 2019, the Electrical Licensing Committee held disciplinary hearings against five licence holders. Read More

A qualified electrician with an interest in asbestos, House Rules winner Luke Cook will preside over the first ever Healthy Lungs Forum in Brisbane on Wednesday 27 November 2019. Read More

This safety alert concerns the collapse of a Callaghan 37 metre concrete placing boom and includes actions to be taken by boom owners to avoid similar incidents. Read More

The purpose of this health and safety alert is to inform workers, employers, builders and designers of the risk of failure of lifting clutches associated with tilt-up and pre-cast concrete erection. Read More

In July 2019, a worker was manually handling goat carcasses when he was trapped by a hydraulically operated stainless-steel bucket, sustaining fatal crush injuries. Read More

In June 2019, two people used a high-pressure water blaster on a corrugated asbestos cement roof (super six roof). As a result, asbestos contaminated dust and debris (ACD) ended up on neighbouring residential properties. Read More

In this edition: More successful prosecutions under Queensland’s labour hire laws, Queensland Safe Work Awards honour innovators; Scissor hoist death leads to fine and guarding improvements; Audits to target sprain and strain hazards; Reduce sedentary work and BeUpstanding!; and much more. Read More

Logan/Browns Plains sparkies in particular should keep an eye out for Dielle YK78 Model Residual Current Device (RCD) recalled by the supplier due to a risk of electrical fire and electric shock. Read More

The purpose of this safety alert is to highlight the risk of elastic energy being released when wear plates on excavator buckets or similar parts on other equipment are being removed or repaired. Read More

In a first for Queensland, the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor has commenced a prosecution against Brisbane Auto Recycling Pty Ltd for industrial manslaughter under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. Read More

A Brisbane building company has been fined $110,000 after a worker fell and was impaled on a steel bar while constructing a Balmoral house. Read More

A Nerang poultry producer has been fined $90,000 after a worker was run over by a forklift that had its reverse warning beepers switched off because of noise complaints. Read More