Skip to content
Industrial Relations

SafeWork warning follows upward trend in failure to notify and disturbance of scenes

SafeWork NSW 2 mins read
  • Media:

31 October 2023 

SafeWork NSW is warning businesses they will face fines and potential prosecution if they fail to report incidents after the workplace regulator this year issued 140 compliance notices and over $55,000 in fines for breaches with one-third of all offences occurring in the construction industry. 

If there is a serious injury or illness, a death or a dangerous incident, there is a legal obligation to report it to SafeWork immediately as an urgent investigation may be needed.  

However, with two months still to go in the year, SafeWork has already issued 37 more improvement notices for non-notification than in 2022, and 52 more than 2021. 

The person conducting a business or undertaking must also take care not to disturb the incident scene until a SafeWork inspector arrives at the site, or until direction is given by an inspector. Non-disturbance of the scene does not prevent any action to provide assistance to an injured person or make the site safe. 

A number of serious incidents this year are under investigation, including:

  • On April 20 in Box Hill a man fell three metres on a construction site suffering spinal injuries and nerve damage. The incident was not notified to SafeWork for seven weeks, resulting in an incident scene which was significantly disturbed. 

  • On June 2 in Matraville, an 18-year-old on his second day of employment was seriously injured when an existing boundary wall collapsed and landed on him, pinning him to the ground. SafeWork NSW is investigating several issues, including late notification and site disturbance. 

  • On 7 August in Dunmore a male worker was seriously injured when he fell from a heightSafeWork NSW is investigating a number of issues including late notification and site disturbance. 

Incidents can be notified 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 13 10 50. Penalties of up to $50,000 for a body corporate and $10,000 for an individual apply for not notifying incidents. 

Any worker who feels their workplace is unsafe can also anonymously report their concerns, including photographs, directly to SafeWork NSW via the “Speak Up Save Lives” app.   

Quotes to be attributed to Head of SafeWork NSW Trent Curtin: 

“The obligations on people conducting a business or undertaking are clear - if there is a serious injury or illness, a death or a dangerous incident you must report it to SafeWork NSW immediately 

“For SafeWork inspectors tasked to assess or investigate an incident where the scene has been disturbed due to a lack of notification represents an unjust treatment of the injured party and an unacceptable breach of legislation. 

“If you have seen an incident or unsafe work and if you are worried about raising it at work, SafeWork’s Speak Up Save Lives app lets you report an unsafe work situation, while giving you the choice to remain anonymous.”

Further information is available on the SafeWork NSW website www.safework.nsw.gov.au. 

MEDIA: media@customerservice.nsw.gov.au | 0438 108 797  

More from this category

  • Industrial Relations, Medical Health Aged Care
  • 10/03/2025
  • 07:01
Monash University

Study raises concern about opioid prescribing to injured Australian workers

Thousands of injured Victorian employees are receiving high-risk opioid prescriptions, Monash University-led research has found. Published in the peer-reviewed journal CNS Drugs, the study investigated opioid prescriptions for injured employees funded by the Victorian workers’ compensation system, and for the first time measured the number with early high-risk prescribing patterns. Researchers analysed data from 30,590 employees with back and neck injuries from 2010 to 2019, who had time off work due to their injury and made a workers’ compensation claim. Of these, 6,278 (about 20.5 per cent) were prescribed opioids in the first three months of their claim. It is…

  • Education Training, Industrial Relations
  • 07/03/2025
  • 16:08
Independent Education Union of Australia NSW/ACT Branch

New chapter begins for Brindabella Christian College

Friday 7 March 2025 The union representing staff in non-government schools met with Brindabella Christian College and a representative of the College’s administrators at the Fair Work Commission this afternoon. Staff have today received back pay for the pay period ending 21 February. Regular wages that are due today were processed at midday today. “Today’s conference was productive and reassuring, and staff are reporting that they are receiving the pay that is due to them,” said Independent Education Union of Australia NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Carol Matthews. “This is a huge relief after a fortnight of uncertainty, and with administrators now…

  • Contains:
  • Education Training, Industrial Relations
  • 07/03/2025
  • 12:54
Independent Education Union of Australia NSW/ACT Branch

Union celebrates hard-won pay rises on International Women’s Day

Friday 7 March 2025 On the eve of International Women’s Day 2025, the Independent Education Union of Australia NSW/ACT Branch continues tofight for equity for women in salaries and conditions. With a total membership of almost 32,000, three-quarters of whom are women, the IEU is proud to have achieved substantial pay rises for teachers and support staff in the Catholic systemic and independent school sectors in 2024. In the early childhood education and care sector, the IEU is pursuing pay rises for teachers in community preschools. These teachers have the same qualifications as their colleagues in schools, but they are…

  • Contains:

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.