Offences and Penalties Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011

The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) sets out four categories of offences. Each offence category attracts different penalties depending on the seriousness of the relevant conduct.

The WHS Act refers to penalty units. For ease of reference, the fine amounts are set out in dollar amounts below. For offences under the WHS Act, a penalty unit is $100.00.

Offences under the WHS Act relate to an ‘individual’ being exposed to risk. This includes anyone at the workplace, including workers, customers and visitors.

Industrial manslaughter offence under the WHS Act

Industrial manslaughter is the most serious offence under the WHS Act. Amendments to the WHS Act in 2024 extend the application of the offence to the death of an individual to whom a health and safety duty is owed, whereas previously, the offence was limited to the death of a worker.  

The offence only applies if the death of an individual is caused by the negligent conduct of a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) or a senior officer (e.g. an executive officer of a company or an executive who makes or takes part in making decisions affecting all of the company).

A worker cannot be charged with industrial manslaughter.   

The maximum penalties for industrial manslaughter are:

• for a senior officer: 20 years imprisonment;
• for an individual as a PCBU: 20 years imprisonment; or
• for a body corporate: $10,000,000 fine.

Category 1 offences under the WHS Act – negligent or reckless conduct

Category 1 offences under the WHS Act involve reckless conduct that exposes an individual to a risk of death or serious injury or illness without reasonable excuse.

Category 1 offences require the prosecution to prove a fault element of either recklessness or negligence in addition to proving the physical elements of the offence (i.e. the defendant’s conduct or a result of the conduct).

Workers can be charged with a category 1 offence.

Category 1 offences are criminal offences. The maximum penalties* for category one offences are:

• for an individual: $300,000 fine or 5 years imprisonment;
• for an individual as a PCBU or officer: $600,000 fine or 5 years imprisonment; or
• for a body corporate: $3,000,000 fine.

Category 2 offences under the WHS Act – failure to comply with health and safety duty

Category 2 offences occur when a person has a health and safety duty, and the person’s failure to comply with that duty exposes an individual to a risk of death or serious injury or illness.

Category 2 offences involve less culpability than category 1 offences because there is no fault element to be proved.

The maximum penalties* for category 2 offences are:

• for an individual: $150,000 fine;
• for an individual as a PCBU or officer: $300,000 fine; or
• for a body corporate: $1,500,000 fine.

Category 3 offences under the WHS Act – failure to comply with health and safety duty

Category 3 offences are the least serious category of offence. Category 3 offences occur when a person has a health and safety duty and fails to comply with that duty. However, they do not involve exposing an individual to a risk of death or serious injury or illness.

The maximum penalties* for category 3 offences are:

• for an individual: $50,000 fine
• for an individual as a PCBU or officer: $100,000 fine; or
• for a body corporate: $500,000 fine.

Which courts deal with WHS offences in Queensland?

A summary offence (also known as a simple offence) is considered a less serious offence. Examples of summary offences in criminal law include public nuisance and trespass. If a criminal offence is not otherwise designated (e.g. as a misdemeanour or crime), it is then a summary offence. Summary offences are heard and determined in the Magistrates Court. Category 2 and 3 WHS offences are summary offences.

Category 1 WHS offences and industrial manslaughter are indictable offences that commence in the Magistrates Court, however, must be prosecuted on an indictment (a written charge by a person authorised to prosecute serious criminal offences). These charges are prosecuted in the District Court before a judge and jury. In certain circumstances, a trial may proceed before a judge alone.

Sentencing options for WHS convictions

Following a plea of guilty or a finding of guilt after trial, matters proceed to sentencing. The penalties indicated above are maximum penalties that can be imposed by a court, and there are other sentencing options available.

Sentencing options in the Magistrates Court and District Court are determined by legislation, including the Justices Act 1886, the District Court of Queensland Act 1967, and the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (the PS Act).

When sentencing under the WHS Act, courts have the same range of sentencing options available as per other criminal offences, including:

• imprisonment (only in relation to individuals charged with industrial manslaughter and category 1 offences);
• probation community service orders (only in relation to individuals); and
• fines and restitution (can be imposed on individuals and businesses).

Under the WHS Act, there are specific sentences for WHS offences, including:

• adverse publicity orders;
• restoration orders;
• training orders;
• work health and safety undertakings (known as enforceable undertakings); and
• work health and safety project orders.

The PS Act provides that a Court may exercise a discretion to record or not record a conviction against an offender, having regard to all circumstances of a case, including:

• the nature of the offence;
• the offender’s character and age; and
• the impact of a conviction on the offender’s economic and/or social wellbeing.

Following a sentence for a WHS prosecution, the Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor (OWHSP) will publish a summary of the sentence proceedings on its website. If a conviction is not recorded, the defendant’s details will be anonymised. If a conviction is recorded, the OWHSP will publish identifying details of corporate and individual defendants.

Get help from a WHS lawyer

Gilshenan & Luton are specialist criminal defence and WHS lawyers. We have expertise in defending individuals and companies charged with offences under the WHS Act.

If you have been charged with an offence under the WHS Act, we can assist you by:

• reviewing the prosecution’s brief of evidence to assess whether the charge is established on the evidence;
• advising on your prospects of successfully defending the charge;
• negotiating with the prosecution in attempt to have charge(s) substituted or withdrawn; and
• representing you in Court at trial, sentence, and appeal if necessary.

* Penalties current as at November 2024