Employment lawyer warns of fines reaching millions under workplace safety laws
Employers across Australia have been called out for their shortfalls on workplace health and safety duties ahead of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April.
Joel Hayden, employment practice group leader at LegalVision, said many small and medium businesses are still failing to meet basic health and safety regulations at work despite tightening enforcement action on workplace hazards.
"The consistent issue is poor systems. Businesses rely on informal processes rather than structured risk management, which creates gaps when conditions change," Hayden said.
"Many SMEs also rely on generic policies or one-off assessments that are not updated or properly tailored. A further issue is failing to consult employees, despite this being a core legal requirement."
Most common workplace risks
Data from SafeWork Australia revealed that 188 workers lost their lives due to traumatic injuries in 2024, while there were 146,700 serious workers' compensation claims involving at least one week of working time lost in 2023-24.
"That's more than 400 serious claims a day across Australia," SafeWork said.
Among the most common workplace risks are injuries from lifting, falls, and machinery in the construction, manufacturing, and logistics sectors.
"The most common risks are still basic and preventable, particularly around manual handling, unsafe equipment, and poor supervision," Hayden said.
But beyond the physical risks, the employment lawyer also underscored the impact of psychosocial issues in the workplace, such as stress, burnout, and excessive workloads.
In Australia's hospitality and retail sectors, fatigue, understaffing, and customer aggression emerged as the most common workplace risks.
In office-based industries, common workplace risks include psychosocial hazards driven by workload pressure and long hours.
Consequences of poor workplace safety
Employers neglecting their workplace health and safety responsibilities may face enforcement actions that could significantly affect their organisations.
Hayden warned that fines for corporations can reach millions under harmonised laws on workplace health and safety.
He also pointed out that directors and officers may be held personally liable where due diligence obligations are not met.
Organisations can also receive improvement or prohibition notices, and may be subject to increased inspections, enforceable undertakings, and regulatory action for serious breaches.
"Businesses that actively identify risks, implement practical controls, and regularly review them through consultation are significantly less likely to face enforcement action," Hayden said.
