Record penalties for health and safety breaches in WA are a sign of things to come

By Shannon Walker on June 5, 2018 Posted in Asia Pacific, Australia

Penalties imposed under Western Australia’s Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 (Act) have been kicked up a notch with the Perth Magistrates Court recently fining a company and its director more than double the previous record. In setting this new high water mark, the Court has sent a clear message that failing to ensure a … Continue reading

Possibility of higher WHS fines for “well known” offenders

By Annika Martz on November 1, 2016 Posted in Asia Pacific, Australia

Well known organisations that are convicted for work health and safety offences may face higher fines, following a recent decision of the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal. Tho Services Limited pleaded guilty to three breaches of section 19 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), after a work experience student sustained … Continue reading

Complying with Safety Orders Not Factor in Mitigating Sentence Says Court of Appeal

By Michael Torrance on November 14, 2014 Posted in Canada

In, Ontario (Labour) v. Flex-N-Gate Canada Company, 2014 ONCA 53, an employer was fined $50,000 after an employee badly injured her foot and the employer was found to have breached two provisions of the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), R.S.O 1990, c, O.1. This decision was an appeal, in part, from the Ontario Court of … Continue reading