Legal Compensation News

Employer Safety Fines For Worker Injuries

Victoria's highest safety fine imposed after fatality; Strike pay "a thing of the past" - CFMEU fined; NSW air-conditioning company fined 0K after vehicle explodes; and WA business fined over failing to report worker injury.

Personal Injuries, Forklift Work & Nightclub Safety Failings

Two employers fined over forklift injuries; Nightclub operator ordered to publicly acknowledge safety failings; and Employer fined ,000 after series of safety breaches.

Unsafe lifting in the absence of instruction is foreseeable: Court

It was foreseeable that a worker might try to move an unsafe quantity of meat in one movement in the absence of specific training and instruction on lifting, the Queensland Supreme Court has ruled in awarding him 5K in damages.

The worker, employed by Consolidated Meat Group, was injured on a day when the meatworks were under-staffed and there was a build up of meat at his station. He was instructed by a foreman to "put the meat on the [conveyor] belt" and endeavoured to do this in one movement, by reaching one arm around the pile and twisting to the left. He experienced a sharp pain in his upper back and chest and was able to continue working for only a short period before seeking medical attention.

Over 280K damages awarded over failure to resolve ongoing malfunction

The Queensland Supreme Court has awarded a worker close to 0K in damages, finding the employer breached both common law and duty of care in failing to correct an ongoing issue with a machine.

The worker was employed as an A grade slaughterman for Thomas Borthwick & Sons (Australia) Pty Ltd when he suffered an injury to his spine in 2006. He said he felt a "sharp shooting pain" when he operated a carcass saw.