News & Alerts
Current safety alerts and information relevant to schools 

🔗Risk of SECONDARY PSYCHOSOCIAL INJURY after work-related injury

Monash University has published research identifying and examining the KEY DRIVERS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO AN INJURED WORKER DEVELOPING A SECONDARY PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY, in which new or worsening mental health symptoms arise during a workers’ compensation claim (when workers' usual capacity to cope with stress is reduced). Uncertainty, financial pressures, lack of clarity and low interpersonal communication and support all increased the likelihood of secondary injury.  

🔗New ASBESTOS GUIDE FOR HSR's from SafeWork Australia

SafeWork Australia with the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency have released NEW ASBESTOS RISK GUIDANCE AND HELP FOR HSRs, designed to help them recognise asbestos-containing materials and their risks; communicate their concerns; advocate for safe measures and practices; and contribute to a safer work environment.  

🔗ALERT: Review of EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS in Emergency Procedures urged

Following the recent Optus emergency communication system catastrophic failure, the National Safety Council of Australia (NSCA) is urging all workplaces to REASSESS THE COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES IN THEIR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANS & PROCEDURES and include redundancy in critical communication systems, since in light of repeated recent telecommunications failures, relying solely on mobile phones for emergency contact may not be sufficient to obtain emergency assistance when and where needed. 

🔗NSW Dept of Education EU after alleged ASBESTOS EXPOSURE 

The NSW DoE has entered into an Enforceable Undertaking following an alleged failure in its primary duty of care at a NSW High School. it is alleged that WORKERS WERE EXPOSED TO ASBESTOS FIBRES over a period of time, and workers compensation claims related to the exposure arose. The activities of the EU will be far reaching, with an expected cost of over $2 million.  

🔗Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools sentenced - SCHOOL MOBILE PLANT incident

Following the injury of a teenager who was part of a Scout group hiring a school campus and was DRIVING THE SCHOOL'S BATTERY-POWERED TRAY TRUCK when he lost control of the vehicle, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Ltd (MACS) has entered a guilty plea and been sentenced and fined without conviction. The school, operated by MACS, had no written procedures for safely driving the vehicle, so none had been given to the party hiring the venue who allowed the teenager to drive the vehicle. 

🔗NEAR-DROWNING DURING FREE-SWIM in school pool

Following the NEAR-DROWNING OF A 3-YEAR-OLD CHILD DURING A FREE-SWIM ACTIVITY IN A SCHOOL POOL, the holiday camp operator overseeing the activity has been convicted and fined. The child, found face down and unconscious under a flotation board, was successfully resuscitated. There was inadequate activity safety and supervision documentation, and appropriate risk control measures were not communicated to staff, understood or implemented.    

🔗NEW NSW CODE: Managing the Risks of FATIGUE at Work

A new Code of Practice for MANAGING THE RISK OF FATIGUE AT WORK, based on the national model code, came into force in NSW on 26 February. The new Code defines fatigue, recognises its causes and effects on workers in every industry, and outlines the risk management measures that are required to minimise its risks and harms.   

🔗New HEARING TEST requirements from 1 Jan 2026

From 1 January 2026, NSW schools with workers that are frequently required to use  hearing protection PPE (to protect them from hazardous noise) must provide them with AUDIOMETRIC HEARING TESTS within three months of their commencing work, and at least every two years following. 

🔗NSW WHS Amendment Bill (DIGITAL WORK SYSTEMS) passed 

NSW Parliament assented to the WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY AMENDMENT (DIGITAL WORK SYSTEMS) BILL 2025 on 18 February. The Bill amends the NSW WHS Act 2011, creating a new duty for PCBUs to identify and manage risks created by digital work systems (including through online platforms, artificial intelligence, automation, and algorithms). Amendments to the Act have yet to commence.