Below is your comprehensive update on Australian WHS developments over the past week. This provides practical implications and clear actions. Use it for team briefings, board reports or safety committee reviews.
Week 2 of National Safe Work Month focuses on risk assessment (13 Oct)
SWA released Week-2 materials on assessing risks, building on Week-1 hazard identification.
Who it affects: All industries, all jurisdictions
Action: Run a short risk-assessment workshop; update your risk register using SWA’s toolkit
Source: Safe Work Month 2025 – Week 2: Assess risks
Model WHS Law Review – submissions close 3 Nov
SWA’s Best Practice Review of the model WHS Act/Regulations remains open for public input.
Who it affects: All PCBUs under the model laws; legal/compliance teams
Action: Review the discussion paper and decide whether to lodge a submission
Source: Best Practice Review – Have your say
Plumbing company fined $225,000 after trench collapse (10 Oct)
A 2-metre excavation collapsed on a worker; the company and director were fined.
Who it affects: Construction/civil contractors; excavation and plumbing businesses
Action: Enforce shoring/benching/shields; prohibit entry to unprotected trenches; brief supervisors
Source: Company fined $225,000 after worker injured in excavation collapse
Forklift safety blitz launched – 250+ inspectors (10 Oct)
Statewide unannounced checks targeting forklift safety and other high-risk activities.
Who it affects: Warehousing, manufacturing, transport
Action: Implement plant–pedestrian separation, refresh licensing/training, verify spotters and SOPs
Source: Forklift safety blitz as part of Safe Work Month
Builder fined $150,000 after 5m fall injures three workers (10 Oct)
Worker fell from an internal lift-shaft platform without fall protection; two others injured.
Who it affects: Construction and contractors working at height
Action: Re-audit all height work; ensure edge protection, harness systems, and platform integrity
Source: Company fined $150,000 after workers injured in falls from heights incident
$150,000 fine after hand crushed in tissue machine (8 Oct)
Worker’s hand was drawn into unguarded rollers during feeding.
Who it affects: Manufacturing and any site with hazardous machinery/rollers
Action: Guard/interlock moving parts; enforce lock-out for jams; run a guarding audit
Source: Company fined $150,000 after worker injured in tissue manufacturing machine
New psychosocial safety regulations commence 1 Dec (announced 1 Oct)
OHS (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 confirmed, plus a compliance code.
Who it affects: All Victorian employers
Action: Conduct a psychosocial risk assessment; implement higher-order controls; brief leaders/HSRs, review our guide
Source: Protecting the Mental Health of Workers – New Regulations
Chemical company charged after fatal factory explosion (2 Oct)
Alleged failures with flammable liquids management; major prosecution underway.
Who it affects: Chemical/process industries; any site handling flammable liquids
Action: Verify bonding/earthing, ignition control, supervision and training for decanting/transfer
Source: Company charged after worker killed in chemical fire
$295k enforceable undertaking after forklift crush (7 Oct)
National Masonry to invest in safety tech, training and industry education following a tip-over.
Who it affects: Manufacturing/logistics using forklifts and truck interfaces
Action: Strengthen traffic management and exclusion zones; review loading/unloading controls
Source: Deer Park company’s work safety pledge after forklift incident
Demolition fatality under investigation (10 Oct)
Worker killed during mechanical demolition; WorkSafe investigating.
Who it affects: Demolition/structural contractors
Action: Pause and verify demolition plans/engineering, exclusion zones, and sequencing controls
Source: WorkSafe Victoria – News
Public consultation: high-risk plant outside workplaces (closes 27 Oct)
Proposal to regulate certain plant in public/residential settings via WHS Regulation.
Who it affects: Amusement devices, lifts, cooling towers, LPG cylinders; owners/operators/maintainers
Action: Review the discussion paper and consider a submission; prepare for possible registration/inspection duties
Source: Consultation – high-risk plant at premises other than workplaces
Safe Work Month – events and resources
State campaign aligned to “Every job, every day” with webinars and the Work Well Conference.
Who it affects: All QLD workplaces
Action: Register your teams; roll weekly toolbox talks aligned to SWA themes
Source: Safe Work Month Queensland
Toll Transport fined $625,000 after pedestrian–forklift collision (8 Oct)
Serious leg injuries after a reversing forklift struck a worker on light duties at a depot.
Who it affects: Warehousing/logistics; sites with shared forklift/pedestrian areas
Action: Physically segregate pedestrians; formalise one-way systems; enforce reversing/spotter rules
Source: Transport company fined $625,000 over worker injury
WHS Excellence Awards finalists named (10 Oct)
42 finalists announced across categories highlighting innovative risk controls.
Who it affects: WA employers seeking proven solutions/ideas
Action: Review case studies when published; adopt/adapt relevant innovations; recognise internal champions
Source: WHS Excellence Awards 2025 – Finalists announced
Year-long agriculture safety campaign launched (1 Oct)
SafeWork SA targeting recurring farm risks: vehicles, machinery guarding, confined spaces.
Who it affects: Farms and ag-supply chains across SA
Action: Request an advisory visit; brief seasonal staff; audit quad bikes/tractors, augers, silos, electrical
Source: SafeWork SA targets agriculture safety risks
Builder fined for hindering WHS investigation (Oct)
Conviction and $7,500 fine for obstructing inspectors and failing to preserve an incident site.
Who it affects: All SA PCBUs; especially construction
Action: Train managers on incident-response obligations; preserve scenes; cooperate with inspectors
Source: Building company fined after hindering investigation
WorkSafe Month: ~60 free safety events across Tasmania (2 Oct)
Workshops and webinars covering manual handling, mental health, and more.
Who it affects: All TAS employers; SMEs in particular
Action: Register staff for relevant sessions; run weekly internal safety activities
Source: WorkSafe Month 2025 highlights safety and wellbeing
Battery fire safety urged during Electrical Safety Week (Oct)
NT WorkSafe warns of lithium-ion battery fires linked to unsafe charging.
Who it affects: Any workplace charging tools/devices (e-bikes, radios, power tools)
Action: Set up a safe charging station; retire damaged/swollen batteries; train for Li-ion fire response
Source: Electrical Safety Week 2025 – NT WorkSafe
Psychosocial hazard identification in focus (2 Oct)
WorkSafe ACT emphasises identifying and controlling psychosocial hazards during NSWM.
Who it affects: ACT employers (public and private), especially offices/health/education
Action: Conduct a psychosocial risk assessment; implement higher-order controls; consult HSRs
Source: National Safe Work Month 2025 – WorkSafe ACT
Free Battery Storage Safety Guide released (10 Oct)
Standards Australia published a free best-practice guide for Li-ion battery systems in homes/businesses.
Who it affects: Solar installers, electricians, facility managers, emergency responders
Action: Download the guide; align installation/maintenance and emergency plans with recommendations
Source: Standards Australia releases free battery safety guide
Height safety standards updated (late Sep)
Changes to AS/NZS height-safety standards strengthen requirements for anchors, harnesses and lanyards.
Who it affects: Any industry with work at height; PPE suppliers/installers
Action: Check compliance of fall-arrest gear/anchors; update procedures and worker training
Source: Changes to height safety standards support safer workplaces
Mobile plant & forklifts: Enforcement is targeting plant–pedestrian separation and licensing.
Psychosocial risk: New duties (VIC) and active campaigns (ACT/NSW) push higher-order controls.
Silica & dust: Rising cases and tighter rules; expect more surveillance and material restrictions.
Separate people and mobile plant (barriers, walkways, spotters; refresher training).
Re-verify fall prevention (edge protection, harness/anchor compliance; platform/void controls).
Run a risk-assessment session using SWA Week-2 materials; update your risk register.
Psychosocial risk check-in (quick survey/toolbox; implement one control now; brief leaders).
Standards check (heights and battery safety): confirm equipment and procedures align with latest guidance.
Compiled by: Work Safety Hub – Helping organisations build safer, stronger workplaces.
🔗 worksafetyhub.com.au