Safety breaches led to hefty fines for Vic employers in 2023

Safety Breaches Led to Hefty Fines for Vic Employers in 2023

WorkSafe Victoria reminds employers that failure to comply with OHS regulations can lead to serious consequences, after 153 companies and individuals faced fines for safety breaches in 2023.

Courts imposed penalties totalling $16,182,957 last year for violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Dangerous Goods Act, according to WorkSafe. These figures highlight why robust safety management systems remain essential for organisations across every sector.

Key Findings from 2023 OHS Prosecutions

Working at height safety breaches resulted in 39 prosecutions, with fines totalling nearly $2 million. Poor risk management around height-related tasks continues to be a leading cause of serious incidents across Australia.

• Construction: 52 prosecutions
• Manufacturing: 38 prosecutions
• Transport, postal and warehousing: 11 prosecutions
• Wholesale trade: 10 prosecutions

Together, these four industries accounted for more than half of all OHS prosecutions in Victoria last year, underscoring persistent gaps in workplace risk management practices within high-hazard sectors.

Why Effective OHS Management Matters

Each case reinforces a simple truth: consistent OHS management reduces both incident rates and financial exposure. Employers who invest in proactive risk management, rather than reacting after a notice from a regulator, are far less likely to face prosecution.

Strong management practices also protect workers, reduce downtime, and demonstrate due diligence should WorkSafe investigate a workplace incident. For businesses reviewing their own systems, our guide on the 2025 Victorian fines update offers further context on how enforcement trends are evolving.

Related Case Studies

Similar enforcement action has occurred elsewhere in the country. Our coverage of a Victorian steel manufacturer penalised for various safety breaches and an NSW logistics company fined for safety breaches that led to worker death illustrate how inadequate management systems can escalate into tragedy and costly litigation.

For businesses seeking to strengthen their compliance frameworks, our Digital JSA template supports better risk management on the ground, while our World Day for Safety and Health at Work resources provide broader guidance on building a safety-first culture.

Read more here.