Weekly WHS Update (28th April to 11th May 2026)

Executive Summary

This week’s WHS updates are dominated by fatal and serious incidents involving mobile plant, fixed plant, working at heights, traffic management, heat stress, mining maintenance and high-risk care settings. Urgent items include a Victorian warehouse fatality involving a reversing front end loader, NSW prosecutions following fatal incidents in disability care and recycling plant operations, Queensland incident alerts on heat stress and roadwork traffic management, a WA prosecution after a young apprentice became paraplegic, and ABC media labelled updates on a Marine Rescue tragedy and the Crinum mine industrial manslaughter sentence.

Key action themes for WHS managers: refresh mobile plant / pedestrian segregation, verify lockout and blockage clearing procedures, review falls controls and officer due diligence, check traffic management plans near roads and utilities, update psychosocial risk planning, and ensure young/inexperienced workers and labour hire workers receive clear task specific supervision.

Standards watch: No changes detected this week for the monitored WHS standards list. The Standards Australia public comment portal showed current drafts, but no direct public comment draft or status change for the specified standards was detected in the monitored list.

A) Summary — by jurisdiction

Commonwealth / Comcare

• May 2026 — Commonwealth / Comcare — People at Work tool decommissioning notice
  Comcare’s People at Work page now notes that the People at Work psychosocial risk assessment tool will be decommissioned in 2026, with changes starting from 1 June 2026. Key dates include the final date for new accounts on 1 June 2026, final date for new surveys on 1 July 2026, and final access to extract reports by 2 October 2026.
  Who it affects: Employers, WHS teams, HR teams, psychosocial risk leads and any organisation using People at Work survey data.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Export existing PAW reports and data, pause plans that rely on PAW as a long-term tool, and identify an alternative psychosocial risk assessment process aligned to applicable codes of practice.
  Link: Comcare People at Work update.
• No Comcare enforcement/news release detected within the window
  Comcare’s news page listed the latest news item as 14 April 2026, outside the 28 April–11 May window.
  Who it affects: Commonwealth scheme employers and claims/WHS managers.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Note no new Comcare enforcement media release in this period, but action the PAW decommissioning dates if relevant.

ACT

• No WorkSafe ACT update detected within 28 April–11 May 2026
  WorkSafe ACT’s news/media page listed the latest 2026 media item as 24 April 2026, and its 2026 safety alerts list showed the latest alert as 7 April 2026, both outside this reporting window. Last checked: 11 May 2026, 1:35 PM AEST.
  Who it affects: ACT PCBUs, WHS managers, HSRs and return-to-work / workers compensation stakeholders.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: No new ACT specific regulator action this fortnight; continue monitoring WorkSafe ACT alerts and compliance/enforcement updates.

New South Wales

• URGENT — 7 May 2026 — NSW — SafeWork NSW: “National Disability Insurance Scheme provider fined $675,000 after customer fatally injured during care”
  SafeWork NSW reported that LiveBetter Services Limited was fined $675,000 after a client died from injuries sustained after being placed in hot bathwater while in the care of disability support workers. The regulator highlighted duties owed to NDIS participants and the need for appropriate worker training and education.
  Who it affects: NDIS providers, disability support services, aged/community care providers, care supervisors and frontline support workers.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Review client care risk assessments, bathing/thermal injury controls, competency records, worker supervision, escalation procedures and onboarding for support workers.
  Link: SafeWork NSW media release.
• URGENT — 6 May 2026 — NSW — SafeWork NSW: “Recycling Centre fined $472,500 after worker fatally injured by a green waste grinder”
  Northwest Recycling Centre Pty Ltd was fined $472,500 after a worker was fatally injured while attempting to clear a blockage inside a green waste grinder feed chute. SafeWork NSW linked the case to known controls for moving plant and fixed machinery.
  Who it affects: Recycling facilities, waste contractors, organics/green-waste operators, maintenance workers and plant operators.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Audit lockout/isolation procedures, blockage-clearing methods, guarding, emergency stops, permits to work, supervision and refresher training for fixed plant.
  Link: SafeWork NSW media release.
• URGENT — 1 May 2026 — NSW — SafeWork NSW: “Construction company and director fined after worker injured in a fall”
  Acon Projects Pty Ltd and its sole director were convicted and fined after a worker fell about three metres at a residential construction site. SafeWork NSW again identified falls from heights as a primary cause of traumatic injuries and fatalities in NSW workplaces.
  Who it affects: Builders, principal contractors, directors/officers, residential construction supervisors and subcontractors.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Re-check fall-prevention systems, scaffold/edge protection, void protection, SWMS quality, site supervision and officer due diligence evidence.
  Link: SafeWork NSW media release.
• 5 May 2026 — NSW — SafeWork NSW: “Have Your Say on SafeWork NSW Annual Regulatory Statement and regulatory priorities”
  SafeWork NSW opened consultation on proposed 2026–27 regulatory priorities: falls from heights, psychosocial risks, hazardous chemicals including asbestos/silica/welding fumes, and mobile plant, vehicles and fixed machinery. Feedback closes 29 May 2026.
  Who it affects: NSW employers, workers, HSRs, industry bodies and WHS professionals.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Compare your FY27 WHS plan against the proposed priorities and consider lodging feedback before 29 May.
  Link: SafeWork NSW consultation release.
• 4 May 2026 — NSW — SafeWork NSW: “Know what’s above and below when around overhead and underground services”
  SafeWork NSW is running a compliance program targeting work near live electrical, gas, water and telecommunications assets, especially in construction and utilities work involving excavators, EWPs and front-end loaders.
  Who it affects: Construction, civil, utilities, excavation, plant operators and principal contractors.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Verify Dial Before You Dig / Before You Dig Australia processes, service locating, exclusion zones, spotters, permit-to-dig systems and worker briefing records before ground or overhead work.
  Link: SafeWork NSW media release.
• URGENT — MEDIA-LABELLED — 5 May 2026 — NSW — ABC News: Ballina Marine Rescue boating tragedy
  ABC News reported that three people died after a boating accident at Ballina, including Marine Rescue NSW volunteers responding to a yacht in difficulty. No WHS regulator source was located in this search, so this item is included as a media-labelled WHS-adjacent volunteer/rescue incident.
  Who it affects: Volunteer emergency services, marine rescue organisations, emergency response planners and organisations operating in hazardous marine conditions.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Review volunteer risk controls for emergency response, dynamic risk assessment, vessel deployment thresholds, PPE, communications, fatigue and post-incident support.
  Link: ABC News report.

Northern Territory

• 6 May 2026 — NT — NT WorkSafe: “Approved wholesalers for Territory Day 2026”
  NT WorkSafe published the list of approved fireworks wholesalers for Territory Day 2026. This is a dangerous goods / fireworks safety item rather than a general WHS alert.
  Who it affects: Fireworks wholesalers, retailers, event organisers, dangerous goods licence holders and Territory Day fireworks participants.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: For any work involving fireworks or event support, verify supply chain authorisation, storage/transport controls, permits, exclusion zones and emergency arrangements.
  Link: NT WorkSafe approved wholesalers page.
• No NT WorkSafe safety alert detected within the window
  NT WorkSafe’s safety alert list showed the latest safety alert as 9 March 2026, outside this reporting period. Last checked: 11 May 2026, 1:35 PM AEST.
  Who it affects: NT PCBUs and WHS managers.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: No new NT safety alert action this fortnight; continue monitoring electrical, plant and dangerous-goods updates.

Queensland

• URGENT — 1 May 2026 — Queensland — WorkSafe Queensland: “Fatality of rider in motorcycle tour group”
  WorkSafe Queensland issued an incident alert after a rider participant died during an organised motorcycle tour group, with investigations ongoing into potential heat stress illness. The regulator emphasised heat stress controls for tourism and outdoor recreational activities.
  Who it affects: Tourism operators, adventure/recreation businesses, outdoor work teams, guides and event/activity organisers.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Review heat stress risk assessments, client screening, scheduling, hydration/rest arrangements, worker training, emergency response and cancellation thresholds for heat conditions.
  Link: WorkSafe Queensland incident alert.
• URGENT — 1 May 2026 — Queensland — WorkSafe Queensland: “Multi-vehicle incident”
  WorkSafe Queensland issued an alert about a head on traffic crash on an unsealed road undergoing roadworks, where dirt mounds reportedly forced traffic onto the incorrect side of the road. The alert reinforces duties around roadwork traffic management, traffic guidance schemes and safe systems around vehicles and mobile plant.
  Who it affects: Civil construction, road maintenance, traffic controllers, principal contractors, mobile plant operators and rural worksites.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Audit traffic management plans, traffic guidance schemes, sign placement, speed controls, road geometry, line-of-sight hazards, temporary obstructions and accredited traffic controller arrangements.
  Link: WorkSafe Queensland incident alert.
• URGENT — MEDIA-LABELLED — 1 May 2026 — Queensland — ABC News: Mastermyne Crinum Operations fined $7m after worker death
  ABC News reported that Mastermyne Crinum Operations was fined $7 million after being found guilty of industrial manslaughter over the 2021 death of Graham Dawson in a roof collapse at the Crinum underground mine. No regulator media release was located in this search, so this is included as an ABC media-labelled WHS prosecution update.
  Who it affects: Mining operators, mine contractors, statutory position holders, geotechnical/strata control teams and senior executives.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Review strata/ground control risk management, change management for support methods, consultation before method changes, escalation of warning signs and executive due diligence records.
  Link: ABC News report.

South Australia

• 6 May 2026 — SA — SafeWork SA: “You know the drill, clean up that spill”
  SafeWork SA launched a campaign targeting slip and trip hazards, noting that slips and trips caused five workplace deaths and more than 190 serious injuries in South Australia between 2022 and 2025. The campaign focuses on practical housekeeping, spill response and trip-hazard controls.
  Who it affects: Construction, healthcare, manufacturing, transport, retail, offices and any workplace with pedestrian movement or changing floor conditions.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Refresh housekeeping inspections, spill-response expectations, footwear/PPE requirements, stair safety, lighting and floor-condition reporting.
  Link: SafeWork SA campaign release.
• 29 April 2026 — SA — Return To Work SA: “New labour hire licensing laws capture all industries in SA”
  Return To Work SA advised that all labour hire providers must now become licensed under South Australia’s expanded labour hire licensing laws, with a grace period for remaining providers to become licensed by 29 July 2026.
  Who it affects: Labour hire providers, host employers, procurement teams, HR teams and WHS managers using labour supply arrangements.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Audit labour hire supplier arrangements, add licence checks to onboarding/procurement, and confirm host employer WHS consultation, induction and supervision arrangements.
  Link: Return To Work SA article.
• 29 April 2026 — SA — ReturnToWorkSA: “Promoting good psychosocial working environments”
  Return To Work SA published guidance linked to World Day for Safety and Health at Work, highlighting psychosocial hazards, the South Australian psychosocial code of practice that commenced in February 2026, and practical steps for employers.
  Who it affects: SA employers, managers, HR teams, WHS managers, RTW coordinators and HSRs.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Review psychosocial hazard identification, worker consultation, workload/role clarity controls, change management and supervisor capability.
  Link: Return To Work SA article.

Tasmania

• No WorkSafe Tasmania WHS news or safety alert detected within 28 April–11 May 2026
  No WorkSafe Tasmania WHS news/safety alert dated within the reporting window was located. The official WorkSafe Tasmania items surfaced in the search were standing or older pages, including Cracker Night permit guidance last updated 5 May 2025 and public holiday guidance last updated 23 January 2026. Last checked: 11 May 2026, 1:35 PM AEST.
  Who it affects: Tasmanian PCBUs, WHS managers, fireworks/event organisers and workers compensation stakeholders.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: No new Tasmania specific regulator update this fortnight; continue monitoring WorkSafe Tasmania news, fireworks/dangerous goods guidance and public holiday/trading obligations where relevant.

Victoria

• URGENT — 5 May 2026 — Victoria — WorkSafe Victoria: “Young worker killed in warehouse incident”
  WorkSafe Victoria reported that a 21-year-old worker died at a Lara storage warehouse after being struck by a reversing front end loader while using an air compressor to clean fertiliser from the back of a semi trailer. WorkSafe is investigating.
  Who it affects: Warehousing, transport/logistics, bulk materials, agriculture/fertiliser operations, front end loader operators and site traffic controllers.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Immediately review mobile plant/pedestrian segregation, reversing controls, exclusion zones, spotters, trailer cleaning procedures and pre-task planning for mobile plant areas.
  Link: WorkSafe Victoria news release.
• 29 April 2026 — Victoria — WorkSafe Victoria: “Have your say on the draft Code of Claimants’ Rights”
  WorkSafe Victoria opened public comment on a draft Code of Claimants’ Rights for the Victorian workers compensation scheme. The draft code sets expectations around support persons, communication, information, fair treatment, service standards, complaints and remedies.
  Who it affects: Victorian employers, injured workers, self insurers, claims agents, RTW coordinators and workplace rehabilitation providers.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Review claim handling, RTW communication templates, support person processes and complaint pathways; consider submitting feedback before 27 May 2026.
  Link: WorkSafe Victoria news release.
• 6 May 2026 — Victoria — WorkSafe Victoria: “Celebrate your local farming legend with $20,000 in prizes”
  WorkSafe Victoria opened nominations for Footy’s Favourite Farmer, with the winning farmer receiving funding toward farm safety improvements and the local football/netball club receiving upgrade funding. WorkSafe noted agriculture is about 2% of Victoria’s workforce but regularly accounts for about 10% of workplace fatalities.
  Who it affects: Farmers, agricultural contractors, regional employers and local sporting/community groups.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Use the campaign to revisit farm vehicle, quad bike/SSV, machinery guarding, lone worker and emergency response controls.
  Link: WorkSafe Victoria news release.
• 8 May 2026 — Victoria — WorkSafe Victoria: “Manual handling basics”
  WorkSafe Victoria’s manual handling basics program is open for registration, with online workshops covering hazardous manual handling, musculoskeletal injury prevention, risk assessment and practical controls for small to medium businesses.
  Who it affects: Victorian small and medium businesses, supervisors, managers and workers exposed to hazardous manual handling.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Book relevant supervisors into the program and compare current manual handling risk assessments against workshop guidance and early warning injury indicators.
  Link: WorkSafe Victoria manual handling basics page.

Western Australia

• URGENT — 30 April 2026 — WA — WorkSafe WA / LGIRS: “Mining company fined $575,000 over permanent spinal injury”
  Wiluna Operations Pty Ltd was fined $575,000 after an 18 year old apprentice mechanical fitter suffered a permanent spinal injury and became paraplegic when a wheel assembly weighing more than 750 kg fell on him. WorkSafe highlighted the need for clear, specific operating procedures for high risk tasks.
  Who it affects: Mining operators, labour hire hosts, workshops, maintenance crews, apprentices, supervisors and mobile plant/tyre handling teams.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Review procedures for wheel/rim assembly handling, exclusion zones, telehandler use, securing suspended/upright loads, young worker supervision and competency assessment.
  Link: WorkSafe WA / LGIRS media release.
• 7 May 2026 — WA — WorkSafe WA / LGIRS: “Lunch and Learn session for HSRs — Common electrical hazards in the workplace”
  WorkSafe WA listed a free online HSR session on common workplace electrical hazards, presented by Building and Energy and WorkSafe inspectors.
  Who it affects: HSRs, WHS managers, maintenance teams, facilities teams and PCBUs managing electrical risks.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Share the session with HSRs and use it as a prompt to review electrical inspection, isolation, RCD, test-and-tag, damaged lead and contractor management controls.
  Link: WorkSafe WA upcoming events page.

National / All jurisdictions

• 28 April 2026 — National — Safe Work Australia: “NRTW Strategy Year 6 Key Achievements and Scorecard report”
  Safe Work Australia published the Year 6 scorecard report for the National Return to Work Strategy 2020–2030, assessing progress toward minimising the impact of work related injury and illness and supporting timely, safe and durable return to work.
  Who it affects: National employers, workers compensation teams, RTW coordinators, insurers, self-insurers and WHS leaders.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Benchmark RTW performance, early intervention, injury trend data and durable RTW outcomes against the national strategy direction.
  Link: Safe Work Australia resources page.
• Current through May 2026 — National — Safe Work Australia Consultation Hub
  Safe Work Australia’s Consultation Hub listed current consultations on crane licensing, crowd platform arrangements and quad bike safety. The crane licensing consultation closed on 4 May 2026, while crowd platforms and workplace quad bike safety remain open later in May/June.
  Who it affects: Crane operators, construction and high risk work licence holders, platform/crowd work businesses, agriculture and quad bike users.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Review whether your organisation should submit feedback on open SWA consultations and update internal watchlists for likely model WHS law or guidance developments.
  Link: Safe Work Australia Consultation Hub.
• Standards watch — National / All — monitored WHS standards list
  No changes detected this week. I did not detect a new, amended, superseded, withdrawn or public comment draft status change for the monitored WHS standards list: AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018; AS/NZS 4801:2001; AS 3745; AS 2293 series; AS 2444; AS 1670.1; AS 1851; AS/NZS 3000; AS/NZS 3012; AS/NZS 3760; AS 1657; AS/NZS 1891; AS 1576.1; AS 4576; AS/NZS 4024; AS 1418; AS 2550; AS 2865; AS/NZS IEC 60079; AS/NZS 1269 Parts 0–4; AS 1319; AS/NZS 1715; AS/NZS 1716; AS/NZS 2210; AS/NZS 1337/1338; and AS 3788:2024. The public comment portal showed other drafts, but not a direct monitored standard change.
  Who it affects: WHS managers maintaining legal registers, standards registers, procurement requirements, audit tools and critical control standards references.
  Recommended action for WHS managers: Record “no change detected” in this week’s WHS standards/legal register and continue monitoring Standards Australia public comment and sector update pages.

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