New data from Safe Work Australia’s 2024 WHS prosecutions dashboard reveals some hard truths: workplace incidents are not just costly, they’re increasingly common. And largely preventable.
Across Australia, 317 WHS prosecutions were recorded this past year. That’s up again from previous years, reflecting a worrying trend: safety breaches are still happening at scale, and organisations are being held accountable.
What the 2024 data shows:
- 317 prosecutions across Australian jurisdictions
- Construction (47%), manufacturing (21%) and transport/warehousing (5%) were the top three industries involved
- 49% of cases involved a serious injury, and 16% resulted in a fatality
- 97% of all prosecutions led to a financial penalty
- The average financial penalty was $116,979, down slightly from $138,724 in 2023
What’s going wrong?
The data makes one thing clear: too many employers are still falling short of their duty of care.
It’s not just about industries known to be high-risk. Many of these prosecutions involved businesses that failed to assess hazards properly, provide the right tools, or respond fast enough to an incident. Often, lone and isolated workers are at the greatest risk: working unsupervised, without support, and out of view.
When something goes wrong and no one knows, it’s already too late.
Why the penalties don’t tell the full story
While the average fine per case has dipped slightly, the financial cost is just the tip of the iceberg. The reputational damage, operational downtime, staff turnover, and emotional toll following an incident can be far greater.
And let’s not forget: lives are at stake.
So what can employers do?
Every business with employees working alone or in high-risk environments should treat this as a wake-up call.
This means:
- Reviewing lone worker safety strategies
- Identifying gaps in response processes
- Ensuring the right monitoring and emergency support systems are in place
- Investing in technology that alerts you when someone is in trouble – before things escalate
It’s not enough to have a safety policy on paper. You need a solution that works in the real world, when someone’s working alone, behind closed doors, or facing a threat.
Takeaways for businesses:
- Don’t assume you’re covered just because you’ve provided training or a phone.
- Audit your lone worker risks, and fix the gaps.
- Look at prosecutions in your industry to learn from others’ mistakes.
- Prioritise proactive tools that give you real-time visibility and help when it matters.
At SafeTCard, we exist to help prevent exactly these kinds of outcomes. Our technology is designed to support employers and protect people working alone, giving you visibility, fast response options, and peace of mind.
If you’re not sure whether your current safety setup would stand up in a crisis – or under prosecution – let’s talk.
