Monthly Roundup — September 2026
Work Health & Safety — Monthly Roundup
Monthly Roundup — September 2026
Everything published in the WHS Legislative Brief during September 2026, condensed into one read. Four weekly editions across nine Australian jurisdictions plus New Zealand, Standards and the courts — reduced to the changes that mattered.
Week 37 of 2026
Three to watch
- Victoria — Myer and its warehouse robotics supplier GeekPlus have been charged after a worker was killed by an energised automated robot at Ravenhall, on guarding, isolation and supervision failures.
- Queensland — The Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 commenced 1 September, replacing the expired 2013 regulation, and seven approved codes of practice were varied the same day.
- National — Consultation on health and air monitoring for hazardous chemicals closes 21 September, three months before Workplace Exposure Limits replace Workplace Exposure Standards.
New Tunnels and shafts in construction Code of Practice takes effect
Replaces the 2006 version and, under section 26A, is now the minimum standard rather than guidance.
Aluminium welding fume exposure standard drops to 1 mg/m3
A fivefold cut from 5 mg/m3 that dates any ventilation or respiratory protection assessment built on the old figure.
Container operator fined $800,000 after a reversing reach stacker killed a pedestrian
Found guilty after a defended hearing rather than pleading.
Week 38 of 2026
Three to watch
- Western Australia — The falls from height transitional period for construction ends 30 September, and the requirements apply in full from 1 October under a six-month education-first Statement of Regulatory Intent.
- National — Three new air monitoring and diesel emissions guides are out ahead of Workplace Exposure Limits on 1 December, and the hazardous chemicals monitoring consultation closes 21 September.
- New South Wales — A horticulture blitz in Coffs Harbour and the Riverina issued 50 notices across 60 businesses, including five prohibition notices, over plant, electrical and chemical risks.
John Holland charged again, over a 450kg distribution board that fell on an electrician
A second Comcare charge in a month, this time over a Sydney Metro tunnel wall at Rozelle.
Worker killed at Truganina when a bridge crane he was servicing moved and toppled his scissor lift
Victoria's 32nd workplace death of the year, and a sharp isolation lesson.
Workplace Protection Orders Act 2026 becomes law for retail and transport workers
Civil orders against repeat abusers, expected to start in 2027.
Week 39 of 2026
Three to watch
- Western Australia — Nine days remain on the falls from height transitional period for construction. From 1 October the requirements apply in full under a six-month education-first Statement of Regulatory Intent, not another extension.
- Queensland — A Chinchilla heavy vehicle repair business was fined $550,000 and its sole director $100,000, with a conviction recorded, over a 16-year-old apprentice crushed under a truck body.
- National — Comcare has published practical guidance on preventing and responding to work-related suicide, covering risk management, trauma-informed response and incident notification.
First tranche of guidance lands for the 1 April 2027 HSWA changes
Explains the small versus large PCBU test and what counts as a critical risk.
Crane company charged after a chain touched 22kV and arc-flashed four workers
Operating within two metres of a protected line is itself an offence.
Grain mill operator fined $375,000 and hit with an adverse publicity order
The Industrial Court of NSW added a publicity order on top of the fine.
Week 40 of 2026
Three to watch
- Victoria — WorkSafe inspectors will soon be able to issue on-the-spot fines for falls from height, an offence class the 59-offence infringement scheme does not cover today. No amounts or start date yet.
- National — The 2026 Australian Worker Exposure Survey finds 68% of workers exposed to a physical or chemical hazard, with apprentices and trainees more exposed to heat, silica, lead and asbestos.
- New South Wales — SafeWork NSW has launched a Psychosocial Advisory Service after psychosocial requests doubled to 20.5% of all requests, and its largest blitz issued more than 80 improvement notices.
HSR rights and digital Provisional Improvement Notices bill passes both houses
Commences by 10 September 2027 at the latest.
Fake high risk work licences are now police matters
Verify licences through the online check, not by looking at the card.
Commonwealth department fined over a Questacon plasma globe burns incident
The sixth incident at the exhibit in five months.