Case studies

Mandatory participation results in damages paid

Bagiante v Bunnings Group Limited. [2012] QSC, 31 May 2012. Employers should take care when arranging team events and participation in these activities should be on a voluntary basis.

No reason to anticipate misconduct might be dangerous

Pols v AME Products [2013] QDC 190 19 August 2013. There was no reason to anticipate misconduct might be dangerous to other employees.There was no reason to anticipate misconduct might be dangerous to other employees.

Not foreseeable for racial joking to cause psychiatric condition

Guorgi v Pipemakers Australia [2013] QSC 198 9 August 2013. It wasn’t reasonably foreseeable that the worker would suffer a psychiatric condition as a result of racial jokes.

Worker unsuccessfully appeals court's initial finding that she was not bullied at work

Robertson v State of Queensland, 7 May 2021. The Court of Appeal has dismissed a worker's appeal against the District Court of Queensland's judgement that she was not bullied during her time as a nurse.

Zero Harm at Work case study_Energex Sun Safety

This case study is on skin cancer prevention in an outdoor workplace.

The home: another place of employment where workplace injuries can occur

Working from home creates an additional place of employment in which the employer must take steps to do what is reasonably practicable to ensure the health and safety of their workers.

Employers need to consider the health and safety of those at work outside of normal hours

In the recent judgement of Walker v Greenmountain Food Processing Pty Ltd [2020] QSC 329, the Supreme Court of Queensland found an employer liable for the loss and damage suffered by a worker who sustained serious injuries after falling through a roof at dusk while investigating an issue with a boiler.

Accident not caused by failures

Wolters v The University of the Sunshine Coast [2012] QSC 298, 5 October 2012. This is another case where the legal term of causation has been examined. The court found the employer breached its duty at common law and in contract by failing to adequately manage the behaviour of the supervisor following the event with the previous worker. However, the court held that the breach did not cause the claimant's loss, as it could not find that any action by the employer would have prevented the supervisor's actions on the day.

Young Worker Training Initiative - Mirvac Construction

Zero harm at Work Leadership Program case study - Mirvac Construction (Queensland) Pty Ltd and their approach to the needs of young workers including trainees and apprentices.

Return on investment: CB group

Over five years the return on investment for the CB Group investment in an upgraded WHS system is $3.22 of benefit for every $1 of cost.

ROI Rexel electrical case study

Over a five year period, the investment made by Rexel is estimated to provide a return on investment of around $1.82 of benefits for every $1 of expenditure.

The Scooter Group - a case study on restructuring safety

A case study highlighing a top performing business and their safety practices following the MSBI.