$13m in Vic Fines for Safety Breaches in 2024

Victorian employers coped $13,318,433 in fines, costs and enforceable undertakings for breaching Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Dangerous Goods Act in 2024.

Throughout the year WorkSafe Victoria completed 119 successful health and safety prosecutions and enforceable undertakings. This includes 17 prosecutions for unsafe machinery, 14 due to the risk of being crushed by or between objects, and 10 involving powered mobile plant such as forklifts.

Sadly 12 prosecutions and $4.76million in fines and costs related to workplace fatalities. This included the first conviction under Victoria’s workplace manslaughter laws with LH Holding Management Pty Ltd being convicted and fined $1.3m in relation to the death of a worker who was fatally crushed at a Somerton factory.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety, Sam Jenkin, said “the safest workplaces are those where employers proactively engage with workers and health and safety representatives, where available, to identify and address health and safety risks by making safety a priority for everyone”.

“Employers who turn a blind eye to health and safety risks in their workplace play a deadly game that can lead to horrific injuries or loss of life, as well as costly legal consequences” Mr Jenkin said.

Visit WorkSafe for the full report.

For assistance with improving safety in your workplace contact our consultants at Safety Action on 03 8544 4300 or email.