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A review of 2023-24 by WorkSafe Victoria has revealed that there were more than 170 prosecutions and fines for safety breaches in the last financial year. WorkSafe is warning employers who continue to ignore well-known safety measures, that they risk joining these companies and directors who have been fined for flouting workplace safety laws.
Ten of those companies were hit with six-figure penalties for breaching the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act. This included the first prosecution for the offence of workplace manslaughter. $11,293,675 in fines were imposed by the courts.
Sadly, 50 workers lost their lives (compared to 69 in the previous financial year) causing devastating impact for all concerned, families, friends and work colleagues alike.
WorkSafe inspectors undertook 50,177 visits within the timeframe issuing 13,943 improvement notices.
With a heavy focus likely on managing psychosocial risks it will be interesting to see how this affects the prosecution landscape going forward.
Focus areas for WorkSafe Victoria have included the following
- Construction
- Major infrastructure projects
- Falls from height
- Renewable energy
- Mining and earth resources
- Public administration and safety
- Manufacturing
- Manual handling
- Forklift safety
- Healthcare and social assistance
- Small business
- Agriculture
- Beef industry safety
- Telehandler safety
- Dangerous goods
- Major hazard facilities
- Occupational illness and disease
- Silica
- Asbestos
- Asbestos related prosecutions
- Victorian Asbestos Eradication Agency
- Mental injury
- Workwell
- Leadership
- Vulnerable workers
- Young workers
- Apprentices
- Culturally and linguistically diverse workers
- Labour hire workers
Click here to view the WorkSafe Victoria Annual Report 2023-2024
Looking ahead into 2025 in Victoria, there remains the expectation (or hope) of new legislation, and an accompanying compliance code that covers psychological health at work as well as a revised Compliance code on silica dust and guidance on notifiable incidents. Work has already commenced on the redrafting of the OHS Regulations (due mid 2027).
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