A construction company and plumbing contractor have been fined a total of $720,000 (and ordered to pay $35,000 in costs) over an incident in which a worker drowned in a trench when a water main burst in 2018. Ryan and Melissa Pty Ltd (trading as Vivian Plumbing and Civil) pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment and, by that failure, causing the death of an...

A company involved in steel importation and land development has been fined a total of $240,000 (and ordered to pay $30,581 in costs) over an incident in which a 19-year-old worker had seven fingers amputated by forklift chains. PT Supplies Group Pty Ltd pleaded guilty after trial to failing to provide a safe work environment and, by that failure, causing serious harm to a worker and was fined $...

The Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission varied the state Electrical Contracting Industry Award to increase allowances on 24 November 2022. The variations take effect from the first pay period on or after 24 November 2022. Wageline’s WA award summary has been updated with the new allowance rates and can be viewed at www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/awardsummaries A full copy of the award can be...

Higher penalties have been introduced for employers who contravene state employment laws or do not provide employees their legal employment entitlements. Under the new penalty provisions: maximum penalties for contravening an entitlement provision (for example, a provision of a WA award) have increased from $2,000 to $65,000 for bodies corporate and $13,000 for individuals maximum penalties for...