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Georgina Mercer02/12/2025 11:01:18 AM9 min read

Weekly WHS Round-Up 24 - 30 November 2025

 

Weekly WHS Round-Up  

 

Weekly WHS Update (24–30 November 2025)

National / Federal

  • 26 Nov (Safe Work Australia) – High-risk profile for truck drivers: A new data profile highlights that truck drivers have consistently recorded the highest rates of work-related injuries and fatalities over the past decade. Long hours, heavy vehicle operation, manual handling of freight, and time pressures contribute to elevated physical and psychosocial risks in trucking. Managers: In transport/logistics, reinforce fatigue management, vehicle safety checks, and manual handling training to address these risks. Source: Safe Work Australia safeworkaustralia.gov.au

  • 24 Nov (Safe Work Australia) – National Return to Work Survey results: The 2025 NRTW Survey shows Australia’s return-to-work rate fell to 88.9% (down from 91.6% in 2021). Workers with psychological injuries had significantly lower return rates (76.5%) than those with physical injuries. Only ~53% of injured workers resumed their previous hours upon return. Early employer support before claim lodgment was linked to better return outcomes. Managers: Review your injury management and support practices – especially for psychological injuries – to improve return-to-work outcomes. Source: Safe Work Australia safeworkaustralia.gov.au

  • (Comcare) – Upcoming event: Comcare hosted a Rehabilitation Case Manager Forum on 25 Nov 2025 to build capability in supporting injured workers’ recovery and return to work comcare.gov.au. (No major Comcare policy or alert updates were published this week.)

Victoria (VIC)

  • 25 Nov (WorkSafe VIC) – Holiday season safety blitz: WorkSafe Victoria warned employers to “resist the rush” and avoid shortcuts as end-of-year workloads spike. In the past five years, 71 Victorian workers died in November–December, and ~20,700 injury claims were made in those months. Inspectors will target retail and hospitality (customer aggression, fatigue) and construction (securing sites before shutdown). Managers: Schedule realistic workloads, reinforce safe work procedures, and ensure new or temp staff are properly trained during the festive season. Source: WorkSafe Victoria worksafe.vic.gov.au

  • 26 Nov (VIC) – Falls from height prosecution: Two companies were fined a total of $60,000 after a worker fell ~2.5m from an incomplete scaffold in 2023. The jumpform scaffold lacked secure hanger fixings and had no handrails, leading to a collapse that caused the worker serious injuries (fractured spine, knee injuries). The supplier (Lubeca Pty Ltd) failed to provide instructions for safe installation, and the contractor (SG Formwork) failed to ensure the scaffold was complete with guardrails. Managers: Treat working-at-heights as a top priority, use only properly installed scaffolds with all safety features and demand clear installation guidance from equipment suppliers. Source: WorkSafe Victoria worksafe.vic.gov.au

  • 27 Nov (VIC) – URGENT: Charges over fatal mine incident: WorkSafe VIC has charged two mining companies (Ballarat Gold Mine’s operator and a contractor) after a March 2024 rockfall killed one worker (37) and critically injured another. Each faces multiple counts under OHS Act section 21(1) for failing to provide a safe system of work, allegedly not installing adequate ground support in the mine where air-leg mining was underway. A court filing hearing is set for 18 Dec 2025. Managers: In mining and construction, ensure geotechnical risks are rigorously controlled, implement required ground support and supervise that critical safety procedures (e.g. ground control plans) are followed to prevent collapses. Source: WorkSafe Victoria worksafe.vic.gov.au

  • 28 Nov (VIC) – Student injury leads to charges: The Department of Education was charged under OHS Act s.23(1) after a 15-year-old student’s fingertips were severed by a metal cutting guillotine during a school class. WorkSafe alleges the school failed to guard the rear of the guillotine, provide adequate supervision, and implement a safe system of work (training, signage, restricted access) for that equipment. A mention hearing is set for 20 Jan 2026. Managers: If your business involves education or young workers, ensure all machinery (even in educational settings) has proper guards and that clear procedures and supervision are in place. Source: WorkSafe Victoria worksafe.vic.gov.au

New South Wales (NSW)

  • 24 Nov (SafeWork NSW) – Asbestos Awareness Week – “Leave it to the experts”: NSW’s WHS Minister launched National Asbestos Awareness Week (24–30 Nov) with a reminder that 1 in 3 Aussie homes contain asbestos and ~4,000 Australians die each year from asbestos-related diseases. SafeWork NSW urged employers, tradespeople and DIY renovators to get accredited asbestos training and never disturb suspect materials, when in doubt, call a licensed asbestos professional. A free online asbestos safety course (TAFE NSW) is available in multiple languages, free until end of 2025. Managers: Ensure any worker who may encounter older building materials has up-to-date asbestos awareness training and follows proper procedures (e.g. check the asbestos register before work on pre-2004 buildings). Source: NSW Government (Minister’s release) nsw.gov.au

  • (NSW Legislation) – No WHS Act/Reg amendments noted this week in NSW. (Note: The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 package is under development safework.nsw.gov.au but no new changes commenced during 24–30 Nov 2025.)

Queensland (QLD)

  • 28 Nov (WorkSafe QLD) – Safety Alert – Vehicle hoist anchor failure: A workplace health and safety alert was issued after a vehicle hoist collapsed due to anchor bolt failure. The alert provides guidance on proper installation, inspection and maintenance of vehicle hoists to prevent catastrophic failure of anchor bolts in concrete floors. Managers: If you have vehicle lifts or heavy equipment anchored to floors, have a competent person inspect the anchors for wear or incorrect installation, and ensure you’re following the manufacturer’s specifications (torque settings, embedment depth, periodic re-tightening, etc.). Source: WorkSafe QLD alert worksafe.qld.gov.au

  • 28 Nov (QLD) – Incident Alert – Contact with overhead powerlines: WorkSafe QLD reported two recent incidents of mobile plant contacting overhead powerlines (one involving a skip bin, another a vehicle loading crane). In one case a worker received an electric shock; these incidents highlight the ongoing risk of electrocution when operating cranes, trucks, or elevating equipment near live lines. Managers: Review and enforce “No Go Zone” rules, maintain mandated clearance distances from powerlines, use spotters for high-risk work, and utilise tools like “Look Up and Live” maps before any work near overhead lines. Source: WorkSafe QLD (Incident Alert) worksafe.qld.gov.au

  • (QLD Regulatory) – No WHS legislation changes noted. (WHS Act/Reg amendments ongoing via national harmonization – none commenced in QLD this week.)

Western Australia (WA)

  • 25 Nov (WorkSafe WA) – New Confined Spaces Safety Checklist: WorkSafe WA published a Confined Spaces Safety Checklist tool to help duty holders identify and control confined space hazards (e.g. tanks, pits, silos). This checklist, first released 25 Nov 2025, covers risk assessment, entry permits, atmosphere testing, standby communication, rescue plans, and more. Managers: If your workers enter confined spaces, use this checklist to audit your confined space program, ensure all required controls under AS 2865 (Confined Spaces) are in place and practiced. Source: WorkSafe WA (guidance publication) worksafe.wa.gov.au

  • (WA Asbestos) – (21 Nov note: WorkSafe WA is investigating asbestos contamination in imported decorative sand, with a safety alert issued 21 Nov 2025. Although outside this week’s window, WA businesses should heed recall notices and remove affected craft sand products from use.)

  • (WA Legislation) – No WHS Act/Reg updates noted this week. (WA’s WHS Act 2020 and regulations remain current; no new codes or amendments between 24–30 Nov.)

South Australia (SA)

  • 25 Nov (SafeWork SA) – Electrical safety – “Shocking” powerline stats: SafeWork SA highlighted the danger of working near powerlines, noting 59 incidents of contact with overhead or underground lines were reported over the last 3 years. Over 40 incidents involved machinery (trucks, cranes, excavators) hitting lines, and others involved cutting live cables or carrying long metal materials into lines. With summer construction activity high, the regulator urges strict adherence to clearance distances and planning before digging or elevating equipment. Managers: If your worksite has overhead lines nearby or involves digging, ensure all supervisors and workers use dial-before-you-dig services, mark exclusion zones, and always assign a spotter when operating near powerlines. Source: SafeWork SA / SA Power Networks sapowernetworks.com.au

  • (SA Retail Trading) – Shops in SA got approval for midnight trading on Fri 28 Nov (Black Friday) under temporary shop hours regulation safework.sa.gov.au. Ensure any extended hours are managed with adequate staffing and fatigue controls.

  • (ReturnToWorkSA) – No scheme updates this week. (Premium rates and fee schedules effective 1 Nov 2025 remain unchanged rtwsa.com.)

Tasmania (TAS)

  • (No new regulator bulletins 24–30 Nov.) WorkSafe Tasmania continued monitoring asbestos-in-products issues (see 17 Nov alert on decorative sand worksafe.tas.gov.au) and issued guidance earlier in Nov for asbestos in schools and labs. No additional safety alerts or publications were released this week.

  • (Tas. Legislation) – No WHS legislative changes noted. (Tasmania’s WHS Act 2012 and regs unchanged this week. Refer to WorkSafe Tasmania for upcoming regulatory review outcomes if any.)

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

  • 27 Nov (ACT) – New Psychosocial Hazards Code in force: Effective 27 Nov, the ACT Government launched a new Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work. This aligns with the ACT’s recently updated WHS Regulation 2023, which now explicitly requires managing risks to psychological health. The code provides guidance on identifying psychosocial risks (like bullying, fatigue, trauma exposure) and implementing controls (e.g. workload management, support programs). Managers: ACT businesses must comply with this code, review your workplace policies on mental health, consult with workers on psychosocial risks, and document control measures. Even outside ACT, consider using this code as best practice guidance for psychosocial risk management. Source: WorkSafe ACT worksafe.act.gov.au

  • 30 Nov (ACT) – Holiday worksite safety campaign: WorkSafe ACT, in partnership with the Suburban Land Agency, rolled out a “Put safety first – get home safe” message for the holiday season. They are focusing on large residential construction developments in new suburbs (e.g. Jacka and Whitlam) to ensure site safety is maintained as projects rush to year-end milestones. Managers: In ACT construction and development projects, expect increased inspector presence, proactively secure your worksites (fencing, trench covers, signage) and reinforce safety with contractors as the Christmas shutdown approaches. Source: WorkSafe ACT (Media Release) worksafe.act.gov.au

  • (ACT Legislation) – No additional WHS reg changes this week (beyond the psychosocial code above). Note: An engineered stone ban in ACT commenced 1 Nov 2025 worksafe.act.gov.au – ensure compliance if relevant (no processing or installation of high-silica engineered stone).

Standards and Codes

  • WHS Standards – No changes detected (24–30 Nov 2025): There were no new editions, amendments, adoptions, withdrawals, or open public consultations announced this week for the tracked Australian/New Zealand standards families: AS/NZS ISO 45001 / AS 4801 (OHS Management), emergency planning (AS 3745), exit lighting (AS 2293), fire equipment (AS 2444), fire detection/alarm (AS 1670.1), fire protection maintenance (AS 1851), electrical safety (AS/NZS 3000, 3012, 3760), working at heights (AS 1657, AS/NZS 1891, scaffolds AS/NZS 1576.1, AS 4576), machinery safety (AS/NZS 4024 series), cranes/lifting (AS 1418 / AS 2550 series), confined spaces (AS 2865), hazardous areas (AS/NZS 60079 series), occupational noise/hearing (AS/NZS 1269 series), safety signs (AS 1319), respiratory protection (AS/NZS 1715 & 1716), safety footwear/eyewear (AS/NZS 2210, 1337, 1338 series), and pressure equipment inspection (AS 3788). (If you require details on any pending changes or have subscriptions for standard updates, please verify with Standards Australia or Standards New Zealand catalogues. No relevant updates were published during this week.)

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Stay safe and informed! This concludes the WHS weekly update for 18–24 November 2025. For more detail on any item, refer to the linked sources, and look out for the next update covering December developments. Remember: better practice is always evolving, a great safety leader is one who evolves with it. Stay compliant, and stay healthy.

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

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