On 27 October 2022, the director of a tyre recycling company was sentenced in the Brisbane 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 to ensure the company complied with its primary health and safety duty, thereby exposing workers to the risk of death or serious injury.

On 26 October 2022 an individual (as a person conducting a business or undertaking) was sentenced in the Maryborough Magistrates Court for breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) (“the Act”), having failed to comply with his primary health and safety duty under section 19(1) of the Act.

On 10 October 2022, the sole director of a family owned company was sentenced in the Proserpine Magistrates Court for breaching section 43 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, having operated a forklift without having obtained the relevant licence, as required by 81 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011. The defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $2,160. No conviction was recorded.

On 28 September 2022, a 49-year-old worker was found guilty by a jury in the Brisbane District Court for breaching section 31 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with his health and safety duty pursuant to section 28 of the Act. The following day, on 29 September 2022, Judge Cash KC sentenced the worker to four months’ imprisonment, which he wholly suspended for an operational period of four months.

On 21 September 2022, an agricultural worker was sentenced in the Roma Magistrates Court for breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with his health and safety duty pursuant to section 28 of the Act.

On 16 August 2022, a hardware store company and its sole director were 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 primary health and safety duty. The company pleaded guilty to failing to comply with its primary duty to ensure workers’ health and safety, thereby exposing them to the risk of death or serious injury. The director pleaded guilty to failing to exercise due diligence to ensure the company complied with its duty, thereby resulting in the exposure to risk.

On 11 August 2022, a worker 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 his health and safety duty under section 28(b) of the Act. No conviction was recorded.

On 11 August 2022, a company who runs a business supplying educational materials throughout Australia was sentenced in the Holland Park Magistrates Court for breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with its primary health and safety duty under section 19(1) of the Act.

On 9 August 2022, a company running a business which specialised in building and selling portable buildings, together with its director, were sentenced in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court for breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’). The company pleaded guilty for failing to comply with its primary duty to ensure workers health and safety, thereby exposing them to the risk of serious injury. The director pleaded guilty to failing to exercise due diligence to ensure the company complied with its duty, thereby exposing workers to the risk of serious injury.

On 8 August 2022, the owner of a commercial premises was sentenced in the Southport Magistrates Court for breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (‘the Act’), having failed to comply with its duty to ensure the structure is without risks health and safety.