A refuelling incident at an underground metals mine has reinforced concerns about the placement of fuel delivery systems on mobile plant, after the fuel spray ignited on contact with a hot engine surface.

The incident occurred while a worker was refuelling an underground loader on the surface when fuel sprayed from a quick-fill nozzle and contacted the machine’s hot turbo, igniting immediately.

Although the loader’s onboard fire suppression system activated and initially extinguished the flames, the fire later re-ignited and had to be put out using handheld fire extinguishers.

The NSW Resources Regulator confirmed that no injuries were reported.

The incident highlights the risks associated with refuelling equipment when fuel delivery systems, tank components, and ignition sources are not adequately separated, particularly where fuel may be directed or splashed onto hot surfaces during filling operations.

According to the regulator, refuelling systems must be properly engineered and matched with the fuel tank, breather and delivery systems installed on the plant to prevent uncontrolled fuel release toward ignition sources.

Operators are urged to confirm that overflow piping and breathers are positioned to direct any escaping fuel safely away from hot surfaces and other potential ignition points. Maintenance, inspection and testing of refuelling systems should be carried out in line with manufacturer recommendations, with maintenance management systems also incorporating lifecycle maintenance of fuel tank level control vent assemblies and fuel tank caps.

Additionally, operators are advised to ensure that refuelling systems do not exceed the design limits for fuel tank flow and pressure, and to maintain an asset list of all fixed and mobile plant that require refuelling with liquid hydrocarbons such as diesel or petrol.

For identified assets, operators should assess breather locations, inspect fuel tank caps for liquid-tight integrity under expected service pressures, and check fuel tanks for cracks, leaks or fatigue damage.

Fuel delivery equipment, including hoses, quick-fill couplings, support booms and break-away safety devices, should also be inspected to confirm they remain fit for service and free from unauthorised modifications.

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245 people have died in quad bike related incidents in Australia since 2011. The majority of fatalities were the result of a collision or rollover and 43 of those killed were aged 19 or under. As at 9 April, 10 quad bike fatalities have been recorded so far in 2026.

Safe Work Australia is undertaking public consultation to seek feedback on a range of regulatory and non-regulatory options to manage the risks when operating quad bikes in the workplace and ultimately improve quad bike safety.

Regulatory options we are consulting on include:

• requiring operator protective devices (OPDs) to be fitted on all quad bikes when used in the workplace
• mandating helmets are worn on all quad bikes when used in the workplace
• restricting the carrying of passengers on operator-only (type 1) quad bikes when used in the workplace, and
• restricting the use of all quad bikes in the workplace to 16 years of age and over.

We are particularly interested in feedback on the practical impacts of these options, including benefits and costs, and whether there may be any unintended consequences.

Non-regulatory options include:

• improving quad bike data collection processes, and
• conducting targeted quad bike safety communication activities.

We also welcome stakeholder views on other options that could improve quad bike safety in the workplace.

Any stakeholders, industry representatives, WHS regulators and members of the public with an interest in quad bike safety in the workplace are encouraged to have their say.

Download the consultation paper on Safe Work Australia’s Consultation Hub and share your thoughts by uploading a submission or completing the online questionnaire.

The consultation is open until 11.59 pm (AEST) on Monday 1 June 2026.

Information gathered through the consultation process will be considered by Safe Work Australia Members.

More information about quad bikes is available on Safe Work Australia’s website and the Safe Work Australia interactive quad bike data dashboard.

Have your say

Fatigue can arise from both work-related and non-work-related factors. It’s important to understand how these factors, individually or together, can impair a workers’ physical, mental or emotional capacity and create risks to health and safety.

What is fatigue?

Fatigue is a state of physical, mental or emotional impairment. Fatigue can develop over the short or long term and can prevent people from functioning safely as well as have health impacts.

In a work context, fatigue is more than feeling sleepy, tired and drowsy. It is a state of impairment which can impair:

• physical abilities like coordination, strength and reaction time
• mental and cognitive abilities like decision making and concentration
• emotional abilities like engaging with others or regulate emotions.
• Or a combination of any of the above.

Causes of fatigue

Fatigue can be caused by a range of hazards broadly grouped as:

Note. Appendix C of the Model Code of Practice – Managing the risk of fatigue at work (PDF)provides guidance on identifying, assessing and

controlling fatigue risks for each of the categories above.

Refer to: La Trobe University (2024) Rapid review on evidence of managing the risks associated with fatigue(PDF). The report provides an overview of the current research evidence on fatigue.

Fatigue implication

Fatigue is a work health and safety risk that can impair a worker’s physical and psychological capacity to perform work safely. It may contribute to psychological harm (such as psychological distress) and physical harm (including musculoskeletal disorders).

Fatigue can also increase the likelihood of incidents and injuries due to reduced alertness, slower reaction times, impaired judgement and decreased concentration. These effects may compromise both health and safety outcomes and overall work productivity.

Managing the factors that may cause workers to become fatigued is generally more effective and reliable than attempting to deal with the consequences once a worker is fatigued. This approach reflects the risk‑management principles set out in the model Code of Practice.

Duties under WHS laws

A Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, workers and other persons are not exposed to risks to their physical and psychological health and safety, including the risk of fatigue. A PCBU must eliminate health and safety risks at work, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise these risks so far as is reasonably practicable. This duty aligns with the WHS requirement to manage fatigue as a hazard that can impair a worker’s ability to function safely

Workers must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and not do anything which could adversely affect the health and safety of other persons. Workers must also comply with any reasonable health and safety instructions given by the PCBU and cooperate with reasonable health and safety policies or procedures that have been communicated to them, including those related to managing fatigue. For example, this may include following policies on working second jobs or notifying the PCBU if they are becoming fatigued or are already fatigued.

Four-step risk management process

Manage fatigue risks using the same systematic process as other WHS hazards, as outlined in the Model Code of Practice.

1. Identify fatigue hazards

2. Assess fatigue risks

3. Control fatigue risks

4. Maintain and review control measures

Additional guidance and resources

• Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Fatigue at Work (Sept 2025)(PDF)
• Fatigue: a WHS issue – SafeWork SA(PDF)
• Managing fatigue in your workplace: for small business – SafeWork SA(PDF)
• Managing fatigue: for workers – SafeWork SA(external site)(PDF)
• HSR Assist Managing the risk of fatigue at work – SafeWork SA(PDF)
• Emergency services: guideline for risk managing fatigue – SafeWork SA(PDF)
• Managing fatigue risks from other WHS hazards
  • Psychosocial hazards
  • Hazardous Manual Tasks

Resources from other organisations

• Fatigue management | NHVR(external site) National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
• Managing fatigue | ONRSR(external site) – Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator
• Sleep and fatigue | Healthy Workplaces(external site) – Preventative Health SA
• Fatigue – THINK!(external site) Road Safety – Think Road Safety

08 April 2026

SafeWork SA is warning workers and employers of the dangers associated with mobile elevating work platforms following three deaths in South Australia in the past 15 months.

Mobile elevating work platforms (EWPs) are mobile items of plant designed to lift or lower people and equipment by a telescopic, hinged or articulated device, or a combination of these, from a base support. EWPs include scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts and telescopic boom lifts.

SafeWork SA has received 10 notifications involving mobile EWPs since the start of 2025. These have included five serious injuries and three fatalities, which are still under investigation.

The use of mobile EWPs to manage the risks associated with working at heights is common across many industries in South Australia and nationally.

While introducing mobile plant can reduce fall related hazards, it can also introduce new risks that must be managed. In particular, there is an increased risk of crush injury to workers operating from within an EWP work basket.

In the majority of incidents reported to SafeWork SA since 2025, the injured or deceased person was in the raised work basket when the incident occurred.

Workers have also been injured or killed in mobile EWP incidents while working at ground level and loading or unloading the EWP.

Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) and sole traders must, so far as is reasonably practicable, identify all hazards and eliminate any risks associated with the use of mobile EWPs in a workplace.

PCBU duties

A PCBU must provide workers with reasonable information, instruction, training and supervision to operate the mobile EWP in all of the foreseeable work situations which may arise.

A PCBU must also ensure that:

• the type of mobile EWP selected is appropriate for the task being performed
• provide workers with information, instruction and training specific to the type of EWP selected, including its operating controls, limitations, safe operating procedures, emergency functions, and the hazards associated with that particular model and task.
• the work is planned and conducted safely, including consideration of site‑specific hazards
• risks associated with crush, collision, overturning, and plant movement are identified, assessed and controlled so far as is reasonably practicable.
• workers are supplied with, and correctly use personal protective equipment (PPE)
• the mobile EWP is safe to use in that particular environment (e.g. structures in the area, proximity to other workers and powerlines, ground surface)
• the mobile EWP is inspected, serviced and maintained in a safe condition.
• workers operating a boom‑type EWP with a boom length of 11 m or more hold a valid High Risk Work Licence (WP class)
• effective emergency procedures are in place, including rescue plans, retrieval processes, and communication arrangements
• a competent ground support person (e.g. spotter or standby person) is available where required, capable of monitoring the task, maintaining safe exclusion zones, and initiating emergency response if needed

Worker duties

Workers must take all practical steps to keep themselves safe in the workplace and ensure they do not place others at risk of harm. This includes the actions they take and the actions they fail to take, such as not wearing appropriate safety gear.

Workers have a responsibility to:

• operate mobile EWPs only if they are trained, competent, and authorised to do so
• wear and correctly use personal protective equipment (PPE)
• follow the safe work procedures and instructions that are in place
• identify and report hazards as they arise
• maintain effective communication with ground support personnel (e.g. spotters) during EWP operations
• ensure they understand the emergency procedures, including how to initiate an emergency stop or call for assistance
• comply with exclusion zones and remain alert to crush, collision, overhead powerline and ground stability hazards when working in or around an EWP
• never override, bypass or misuse plant safety features, emergency controls, or interlocks
• report any incidents, near misses, plant defects or unsafe conditions immediately to their supervisor or appropriate person.

SafeWork SA’s Mobile elevating work platforms guideline(PDF)(external site)(PDF) can help PCBUs manage the risks associated with this plant.

In December 2025, Safe Work Australia released a model Code of Practice on elevating work platforms(external site)(PDF).

Visit SafeWork SA’s Mobile EWP page(external site) for more information.

16 April 2026

Employers are being urged to appropriately supervise and train inexperienced workers after a labourer was injured on a residential construction site in February.

The inexperienced worker was assisting with first fix carpentry wall frames at a single-story residential construction project when the wind caught the wall frame knocking them to the ground.

The worker, who had less than a year’s experience as a casual labourer, was taken to hospital and treated for fractures to their ribs and collarbone.

Inexperienced workers should be supervised to ensure they have adequate instruction to conduct tasks on site safely.

It is important that inexperienced workers and apprentices understand their work health and safety rights and responsibilities(external site) when they enter the workforce.

As new workers, they may lack the experience and knowledge to understand risks and so it is essential they are properly inducted, trained and supervised so they can work safely.

Wall framing poses a significant collapse and fall risk if not properly managed, requiring immediate safety measures.

Key risk factors include: wind loads, inadequate bracing and premature loading. Mandatory practices include using diagonal structure props, securing frames immediately, and implementing a strict no-go zone.

Critical Risk Factors & Measures

• Safe Systems: Timber wall framing is often high‑risk construction work and must be planned and carried out in accordance with a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) that addresses risk, including wind, stability, working at height, work sequencing and worker experience.
• Temporary Bracing: Wall frames must be stabilised immediately upon lifting to prevent collapse, using structural-grade materials on a diagonal to the floor structure.
• Wind and Weather: Check weather forecasts; windy conditions which are a major cause of frame collapse and can affect worker’s balance.
• Fall Protection: When working at heights, appropriate fall protection such as guardrails or fall arrest systems. Avoid walking on top plates.
• Material Loading: Do not lean materials against walls before they are permanently braced and secured.
• Safe Lifting: Wall frames can be unstable and heavy.Ensure enough workers are present to handle the weight and the height of the frames, which can be unstable.

Safety tips

• Plan wall framing work using a task‑specific risk assessment or SWMS that addresses wind, stability, work sequencing, working at height and worker experience.
• Ensure enough workers are present to handle the weight and the height of the frames.
• Confirm all workers have appropriate training and are competent for the work they are undertaking.
• Remember that apprentices/vulnerable young workers are relatively inexperienced so ensure they are always properly supervised.
• PCBUs are remindedtocheck weather forecasts; windy conditions which are a major cause of frame collapse, the safety of workers is paramount.
• Never rush framing work, safety must take priority over productivity.

Changes to South Australia’s labour hire licensing laws will help improve protections for workers.

From 29 January 2026 all labour hire firms and workers are covered by the same laws and regulations – subject to a 6-month transition period.

Previously, labour hire providers were required to be licensed in 5 sectors: horticulture processing, meat processing, seafood processing, cleaning and trolley collection. State Government amendments to the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2017(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site) largely reverts the Act to its original form – which required all labour hire providers be licensed.

SA’s labour hire licensing laws set minimum standards for labour hire providers with the aim of protecting workers from being exploited. Extending the law to cover all labour hire firms helps ensure that labour hire providers operate under the same scheme, while keeping administrative burdens to a minimum.

What you need to know

All labour hire providers – except those in industries that required licensing in the lead up to 29 January 2026 – have a 6-month grace period until 29 July 2026 to undertake requirements and become licensed by CBS.

Key requirements

• Provider responsibilities: Labour hire providers must adhere to strict standards or face penalties.
• Licensing is mandatory: Any business providing labour hire services in South Australia must hold a valid licence before operating.
• Host responsibilities: Host businesses must ensure the provider is licensed or risk penalties for using unlicensed providers.
• Worker protections: Identifiable licensees help SA and Commonwealth laws and authorities protect workers from exploitation. It supports fair pay and conditions, even when on-hired.

See more for:

• Labour hire providers and getting a licence (external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)
• Labour hire users(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)
• Workers(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)
• Report a problem(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site) – labour hire licensing

Frequently asked questions

From 29 January 2026, South Australia’s labour hire licensing laws have been extended to labour hire firms and workers across all industries.

Providers in the newly added industries have until 29 July 2026 to undertake the necessary requirements and become licensed.

Further information is available on the South Australian Government website.(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)

The following information is a general guide only. It does not constitute legal advice and is not a substitute for the legislation(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site).

Who needs a licence?

Do providers need to be licensed from 29 January 2026?

What industries required licenses before the change on 29 January 2026?

How long will my licence take?

What do I need before applying for a licence?

What is the objection period?

What are the licencing requirements for interstate or overseas providers?

How much is the annual licensing fee?

Can I get a subsidy or refund if previously licensed?

What are the penalties for not complying?

Can hosts also be held responsible for unlicensed providers?

How can I check if a labour hire provider is licensed?

How do I report a problem?

How to get help

CBS can investigate breaches of the labour hire licensing laws. For help with workers’ rights or to seek legal advice contact the following.

Fair Work Ombudsman(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site) – The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) provides advice and enforces worker pay and rights.

SafeWork SA(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site) – gives advice and checks that work health and safety standards are being met.

ReturnToWorkSA(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site) – ReturnToWorkSA provides work injury insurance and regulates the South Australian Return to Work scheme.

Legal Services Commission(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site)(external site) – provides free legal help (information, advice and representation) for South Australians, especially concerning pay and entitlements.

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We’ll keep you up to date with industry news, public warnings and CBS campaigns to help you stay safe and on top of any industry changes.

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New fact sheets to help workers and employers understand changes to work health and safety regulations relating to high-risk construction work have been published by SafeWork SA.

The changes to the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 will reduce the working at height threshold for high-risk construction work from three metres to two metres from 1 July 2026.

The fact sheets, specifically tailored to tailored to workers and Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), are available here:

• High-risk construction work changes – for workers(PDF)
• High-risk construction work changes – for PCBUs and principal contractors(PDF)

Whether you’re a sole trader, labourer, apprentice or contractor, any work at height above two metres will now be classed as high-risk construction work.

This means a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) must be in place before you start high risk construction work.

The change will align South Australia the national model WHS regulations and other Australian states and territories. It has been introduced to reduce the number of serious falls in construction and to ensure work at heights is properly assessed and controlled.

A transition date of 1 July 2026 will allow time for industry to be educated about the regulations before they come into effect.

ReturnToWorkSA data shows that since the 2016/17 financial year, falls from height in the construction industry have been responsible for about 1,585 workers compensation claims with a total claims cost of more than $64 million.

A significant proportion of falls from heights occur from above two metres. In South Australia, between 2020 and 2022, there were 149 instances where a person fell from over two metres.

More than 100 of those falls occurred in the residential construction sector and 68 per cent of those falls occurred between two and three metres – the height range that will now be covered by South Australia’s high risk construction work regulations.

The changes have been made in consultation with key unions and industry associations.

The building and construction industry is one of the most high-risk industries in Australia.

From July next year, construction businesses will be required to prepare and adhere to a Safe Work Method Statement for work that involves a risk of a person falling more than two metres.

A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a legally required document for high-risk construction activities. It clearly outlines the work to be undertaken, identifies potential hazards, and details the steps to control and manage those risks.

Before any high-risk work begins, the SWMS must be developed in consultation with workers and made readily available on site.

Changing the regulations does not impose any greater obligation on employers in relation to the practical steps they must take to ensure a safe system of work compared to their current obligations.

Attribute quotes to SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell

Falls from heights constitute a significant proportion of workplace injuries and deaths in the construction industry.

This change to the regulatory framework will mean employers can no longer erroneously rely on the higher height threshold to avoid providing adequate fall protection, particularly in the residential sector.

Further links:

• WHS (High Risk Construction Work) Amendment Regulations 2025
• High-risk construction fact sheet for workers(PDF)
• High-risk construction fact sheet for PCBUs(PDF)
• Construction
• Working at heights

20 March 2026

An Adelaide hotel has been fined $250,000 after a worker sustained serious burns to more than 80 per cent of his body while refuelling an ethanol burner.

Winona Way Pty Ltd, the operator of The Gully Public House & Garden in Tea Tree Gully, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the South Australian Employment Court on 13 March 2026 after a SafeWork SA prosecution.

The incident occurred on 2 June 2023 when a worker who had been employed at the hotel as a Food and Beverage/Gaming Attendant for less than two months was refuelling the ethanol burner.

Prior to the incident another worker refuelled and lit the burner about 4.50pm using a 25L plastic fuel container with a flow control nozzle retrieved from the storage room. By 5.10pm there was no visible flame emanating from the burner.

At 5.20pm a second worker was directed to refuel the burner. As the worker was refuelling the burner, the fuel ignited almost immediately, causing a flash flame that seriously burned the worker. The injured worker spent six months in the Royal Adelaide Hospital and has undergone surgery more than 25 times. His rehabilitation is ongoing.

Winona Way was charged with a category 2 offence under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 of failing to comply with a health and safety duty.

The SafeWork SA investigation found that:

• Workers required to refuel the burner were not provided with any form of documented safe work procedure in relation to the task.
• Winona Way failed to perform an adequate hazard identification and risk assessment process in relation to using the burner.
• Adequate information, training and instruction was not provided to workers to enable them to safely undertake the task.
• The burner was not refuelled in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.

The burner did not provide warmth but was purely for visual effect. It was purchased by the hotel in 2009 and had been used for 14 years.

The manual states that the burner should never be filled with a vessel that does not have a “Spill Proof Safety Spout” attached and should be shut off and allowed to cool for 60 minutes before refuelling.

In his sentencing remarks, His Honour Deputy President Judge Calligeros said the burner was “inherently dangerous to use in a hotel without its instructions being adhered to”.

“There was a failure to train employees in relation to how to refuel the burner, a failure to supervise the refuelling process and a failure to ensure or attempt to ensure that the manufacturer’s instructions were followed and any necessary accessories, such as the spill proof safety spout, were used,” Judge Calligeros said.

“Substantial harm was caused by the offending.

“The injuries sustained … are very serious and have altered almost every aspect of the life that he used to lead and would otherwise have continued to lead.”

A conviction was recorded and Winona Way was fined $250,000. The fine was reduced to $150,000 following a discount of 40 per cent for its cooperation with the investigation.

Winona Way was also ordered to pay a contribution to SafeWork SA’s legal costs of $1,210, and a Victim of Crime Levy of $451.

Attribute to SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell

These horrific injuries would have been prevented if the hotel simply followed the manufacturer’s instructions and provided staff with adequate training and supervision when refuelling the burner.

As a result of their failure, this young man’s life has been tragically and forever changed.

I urge anyone who owns or uses ethanol burners to visit SafeWork SA’s website and familiarise themselves with the safety warning(external site) about these devices.