Weekly WHS Round-Up  

Weekly WHS Update (10th to 18th February 2026)

Here are the top Australian WHS updates for Feb 10–18, 2026. Key highlights: authorities continue to crack down on supervision failures, and they’re emphasising risk controls for young or vulnerable workers. High-risk tasks (crane work, material handling, working in heat) and young workers are in focus. We recommend reviewing the actions below this week to stay ahead.

What You Should Do This Week:

• Review Supervision & Training: Check licences and training for any high-risk work (cranes, forklifts, EWPs, etc.). Ensure less-experienced or agency workers have adequate oversight.
• Audit Controls: Walk through sites to verify physical safeguards (machine guards, fall protection, emergency stops) are in place. Use regulator guidance (e.g. EWP Code, fall hierarchy) to improve systems.
• Update Policies: Ensure WHS procedures address heat stress and fatigue, provide water/cool zones in hot work, and educate shift workers on managing tiredness.
• Engage Workers: Consult apprentices and young staff about safety concerns; remind all staff to report hazards. Use available resources (SafeWork SA fact sheets, SWA guides) to raise awareness.
• Communicate Alerts: Share these findings and tips with supervisors and teams. Consider toolbox talks covering recent incidents (pallet rider, conveyor) and the simple heat safety measures.
  
  

Key Updates This Week:

National

• National/All (SWA) 10 Feb 2026 – “New research examines pathways to secondary psychological injury”. New Monash funded study (initiated by Safe Work Australia) finds that long injury claims can lead to secondary psychological injury (anxiety, depression) due to uncertainty and stress. Affects insurers, employers, HR and return to work coordinators across all industries.

  Action: Review workers’ comp and rehab processes to ensure early psychosocial support, clear communication and health monitoring for injured employees.

• National/All (SWA) 4 Feb 2026 – “Mobile plant: New interactive guide on managing ground condition risks”. Safe Work Australia launched an interactive e-learning tool to help operators assess ground stability under cranes, forklifts and other mobile plant, plus a new Code of Practice for elevated work platforms. Affects any workplace using mobile plant (e.g. construction, mining, logistics).

  Action: Integrate the new guide and EWP COP into safety training and plant risk assessments; audit sites to ensure compliance with ground-condition and anchoring requirements.

Victoria

• Victoria (WorkSafe Vic) 18 Feb 2026 – “Campaign shows farm safety and success go hand in hand”. WorkSafe launched a farm safety campaign, noting ~55 fatalities/year in agriculture. Affects Victorian farms (all sectors of agriculture).
  
  Action: Distribute farm safety resources to rural managers and workers; reinforce safe vehicle and equipment practices and fatigue management in farming operations.
  
  
• Victoria (WorkSafe Vic) 17 Feb 2026 – “$218,000 safety spend for builder”. West urban Construction (Donvale) agreed to spend $218k on safety after inspectors found unprotected edges and clutter causing fall hazards. Affects construction principal contractors.
  
  Action: Examine fall prevention controls using the hierarchy of controls (e.g. scaffold, guardrails) and enforce strict housekeeping on all sites.
  
  
• Victoria (WorkSafe Vic) 12 Feb 2026 – “Employers urged to do more to protect apprentices”. WorkSafe reports 66 prosecutions and $7.38M in fines over 5 years for apprentice related breaches (including 5 fatal incidents); many injuries (especially falls and bullying) occurred within 6 months of start. Affects all employers of apprentices/trainees (notably in construction, trades).
  
  Action: Strengthen apprentice induction and supervision; implement anti-bullying/harassment policies; consult with apprentices on safety. Use available guidance for young workers.
  
  
• Victoria (WorkSafe Vic) 10 Feb 2026 – “$200,000 fine after unsupervised worker’s crane injury”. A Geelong crane contractor was fined for a serious incident where an unlicensed truck driver was crushed by a load after inadequate supervision. (URGENT): Affects transport/logistics and any high-risk work.
  
  Action: Immediately verify that all crane and high-risk equipment operators hold current licenses, receive adequate training and supervision. Review SWMS for crane lifts and enforce “stop work” rights.

New South Wales

• NSW (SafeWork NSW) 18 Feb 2026 – “Company fined $120,000 after worker injured on conveyor rollers”. Painting and Blasting Industries (Boilermaker) fined after a worker was “caught between conveyor rollers” while loading material. Affects manufacturing and warehousing employers.
  
  Action: Audit all conveyors and material handling equipment: ensure emergency stops and guarding are in place, and that lock-out/tag-out procedures are rigorously followed. Review training for equipment operation.
  
  
• NSW (SafeWork NSW) 17 Feb 2026 – “Company fined $125,000 after motorised pallet rider incident”. Labour hire firm Momentum Consulting fined for failing to identify forklift risks and provide adequate supervision to a worker injured in 2022. Affects labour hire and warehousing/logistics sectors.
  
  Action: Ensure host employers and labour providers coordinate to manage forklift/vehicle risks: provide training on operating pallet jacks, and supervise inexperienced or agency workers on moving-plant tasks.

Queensland

• Queensland (WHSQ) – No new updates found this week (last checked yesterday at 13:30 AEST).

Western Australia

• Western Australia (WorkSafe WA) 10 Feb 2026 – “Abattoir safety standards sharpened thanks to inspection program”. State inspectors audited 19 regional abattoirs, issuing 562 improvement and 6 prohibition notices. Common issues: unguarded machinery (81 notices), poor site layout/housekeeping, and mishandling of knives. Affects meat processing plants and regional abattoirs.

  Action: Abattoir managers should promptly address all safety notices, with focus on machine guarding and safe knife systems (e.g. check-in/out of knives at shift start/end). Maintain clear work and waste removal systems as per inspections.

Northern Territory

• Northern Territory (NT WorkSafe) – No new updates found this week (last checked yesterday at 13:30 AEST). (The only 2026 item is an ICAC-related media statement, not directly relevant to WHS controls in workplaces.)

Tasmania

• Tasmania (WorkSafe Tas) – No new updates found this week (last checked yesterday at 13:30 AEST).

South Australia

• South Australia (SafeWork SA) 12 Feb 2026 – “Sleep research is an eye opener for shift workers”. Study funded by SafeWork SA finds early career paramedics have poor sleep health knowledge, leading to fatigue and performance risks. Affects shift workers (healthcare, emergency services).

  Action: Integrate fatigue management training into shift work induction programs (especially for young or new shift workers). Provide resources on sleep hygiene and allow scheduling flexibility or mentoring as suggested.

• South Australia (SafeWork SA) 18 Feb 2026 – “Seven tips to survive a hot day at work”. New guidance on heat stress (hydration, breaks, sunscreen, acclimatisation etc.). Affects any outdoor workers in summer (construction, utilities, agriculture).

  Action: Update heat stress policies now: ensure workers have cool water, schedule heavy tasks to cooler times, provide shade/rest areas, and train teams to recognise heat injury symptoms.

Australian Capital Territory

• Australian Capital Territory (WorkSafe ACT) – No new updates found this week (last checked yesterday at 13:30 AEST).

Standards Watch (summary): No status changes detected this week for the tracked WHS standards families (AS/NZS ISO 45001, AS/NZS 4801, AS 3745, AS 2293, AS 2444, AS 1670.1, AS 1851, AS/NZS 3000, AS/NZS 3012, AS/NZS 3760, AS 1657, AS/NZS 1891, AS/NZS 1576.1, AS 4576, AS/NZS 4024, AS 1418 series, AS 2550 series, AS 2865, AS/NZS (IEC) 60079, AS/NZS 1269 parts0-4, AS 1319, AS/NZS 1715, AS/NZS 1716, AS 2210.3/2210, AS/NZS 1337/1338, AS 3788) – none were published, amended or opened for comment in the past week.

Please feel free to reach out if you need further details on any of these items or assistance implementing the recommended actions. Stay safe and have a great week ahead!

Compiled by: Work Safety Hub – Helping organisations build safer, stronger workplaces.
🔗 worksafetyhub.com.au