News & Alerts
Current safety alerts and information relevant to schools 

► NEWS: AUSTRALIAN WORKFORCE [WELLBEING] TRENDS REPORT 2024 RELEASED

The 2024 Australian Workforce Trends Report includes an analysis of EMPLOYEE WELLBEING and its role in WORKPLACE POSITIVITY, SAFETY, AND EFFECTIVENESS. Flexible work arrangements, professional training, and career development have been found to have high positive impact on employee wellbeing and therefore, productivity.   

►CASE (QLD): DEPT of EDUCATION ENFORCEABLE UNDERTAKING - WOOD TECH STUDENT SERIOUSLY INJURED

The QLD Department of Education has entered into an Enforceable Undertaking at a minimum cost of $2.6 million following the severe injury of a YEAR 12 STUDENT who was using a COMPOUND MITRE SAW to make coasters from an offcut piece of timber. The student's left thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers were amputated by the saw, and only his ring finger could be surgically reattached. 

►CASE (SA): DEPT for EDUCATION ENFORCEABLE UNDERTAKING - WORKER SERIOUSLY INJURED in FALL FROM HEIGHT

The SA Department for Education has entered into an Enforceable Undertaking following the fall of a volunteer working on an ELEVATED WALKWAY near a temporarily UNPROTECTED EDGE. While carrying a load, the worker fell more than 3m from the edge to the ground and suffered serious injuries that required treatment in hospital for over a month. The Undertaking has a minimum initial cost of $550K.  

►CASE (VIC): DEPT of EDUCATION and VENUE SENTENCED - STUDENT DROWNED on SCHOOL CAMP EXCURSION

​A Victorian pool operator and the Department of Education have been convicted and fined for failing to manage easily foreseeable risks that allowed the drowning of an EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOY while on a school camp. The boy's parents had advised the school of the boy's weak swimming ability in PRE-CAMP DOCUMENTATION but their advice HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. 

►CASE (VIC): SCHOOL CHARGED - STUDENT DIED after DIABETES- RELATED ILLNESS on OVERSEAS EXCURSION

​​WorkSafe VIC has charged a Melbourne school and an adventure travel company for their OVERSEAS EXCURSION RISK MANAGEMENT FAILURES that led to the AVOIDABLE DEATH OF A STUDENT from complications of a diabetes-related illness that occurred during the excursion.  

►CASE (NZ): SCHOOL BOARD CHARGED - STUDENT DROWNED during CAVES EXCURSION

WorkSafe NZ has charged the Whangārei Boys High School Board of Trustees for health and SAFETY FAILURES RELATED TO THE DROWNING DEATH OF A 15-YEAR-OLD STUDENT on a school excursion to Abbey Caves. Unprecedented rains leading up to the excursion caused rising floodwaters in the caves while the students were inside, sweeping the boy away. He could not be rescued.