New strict legislation targeting industrial manslaughter now in operation in SA

South Australian employers could potentially receive a prison sentence of up to two decades if they are discovered to be responsible for a worker's death due to a reckless or extremely negligent violation of health and safety regulations, under the newly enacted industrial manslaughter laws.

Employers may face penalties of up to $18 million as well.

The new regulations, which came into effect on 1 July 2024, classify industrial manslaughter as a criminal violation, signalling to employers the significant consequences that accompany the most severe breaches of health and safety regulations.

SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell stressed the importance of employers upholding stringent standards to ensure the safety and health of their workers and others.

“The introduction of higher order penalties, including jail time, for acts of gross neglect and recklessness, should deter those who may disregard their work health and safety obligations and re-focus them on their duty to provide safe workplaces,” Mr Farrell said.

For more information, go to the Safe Work SA website.