If you run a production company, there is a wake-up call: Safework to Has already registered 22 deaths in the workplace this financial year, with the production of 18% of these deaths good. That is almost one in five deaths in the workplace in your industry and the authorities take knowledge.
The result is that Safework SA has announced that it will solve site visits and compliance audits to tackle non-compliance.
Prison time for negligence of safety
The bet has never been higher. Because industrial manslaughter laws were introduced in 2024, employers are no longer only confronted with fines, they may be confronted with prison time. “Since the introduction of the industrial manslaughter laws in 2024, employers could be confronted with steep fines or prison time if they have neglected the safety or well-being of employees,” warns Stephen Blackie, portfolio manager of the health and safety show at the workplace.
Safework SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell does not chop words about what these deaths caused: “Fatigue, short cuts and poorly maintained factory and equipment are all possible murderers, but the associated risks can all be eliminated or properly managed by strong commitment to safety.
The agency has announced that they split up site visits and compliance audits, specifically to tackle non-compliance.
The three most important perpetrators Farrell identifies, fatigue, shortcuts and poorly maintained equipment, tell. These are not freak accidents or unforeseen incidents. They are preventing deaths caused by systemic issues that many companies struggle with:
- Fatigue often comes from understaffing, overtime culture or bad shift management. To grow manufacturers who try to meet the demand with Lean teams, this is a particularly dangerous trap.
- Quick couplings usually happen when the production pressure weighs heavier than the safety protocols. When deadlines increase and costs pop up, safety procedures can become the first victim.
- Poorly maintained equipment is often a consequence of delayed maintenance, budget restrictions or simply not in place maintenance schedules.
For SME manufacturers, these problems can feel as inevitable considerations. But with industrial manslaughter laws that are now in force, they are considerations that you can give in prison.
Although the regulatory pressure is mounted, unprecedented innovation is also done in the workplace safety. During the recent Melbourne Workplace Health and Safety Show, in which a record-breaking 5,543 visitors were seen, companies presented game-changing safety solutions.
Festool launched their new exoactive portable exoskeleton, designed to reduce the physical pressure on employees. Trugard debuted what they call a world-first innovation in forklift truck-barrier technology. These are not only incremental improvements, they are fundamental shifts in how we think about protecting employees.
“Early seeing a new security innovation gives professionals the opportunity to assess its value, to influence their development and position themselves and their organizations as proactive leaders in safety,” Blackie explains.
For manufacturers it is not just about compliance with safety technology, it is about competitive advantage. Companies that can prove that advanced security measures can find it easier to attract talent, win contracts and to avoid the costs related to workplace incidents.
The Sydney Show: your chance to get ahead
The health and safety show in the workplace returns to Sydney from 22-23 October 2025 in the Dome, Sydney Showground. With more than 180 suppliers who present the latest safety equipment, technology, PPE and AI-driven safety solutions in the workplace, it positions itself as a must-tenting event for manufacturers who feel the pressure.
The timing cannot be better. As the authorities increase the compliance campaigns and the production sector is confronted with a larger study, the show offers more than just product demonstrations. It offers more than 40 hours of free educational content, including targeted seminars for risky industries.
The high-risk safety stop will cover everything, from autumn prevention and mental well-being to safety culture in the workplace and evolving safety standards. For manufacturers who have to deal with the reality of industrial equipment, length work and dangerous materials, these sessions can be the difference between compliance and catastrophe.
Beyond Equipment: The Culture Challenge
What becomes clear is that safety in the workplace is not only about better equipment or stricter protocols. It’s about culture. The Safety Leadership and Culture Summit on the Sydney Show will contain some of the most senior OHS leaders in Australia that share practical strategies for promoting effective safety cultures.
This cultural shift can be particularly challenging for SME manufacturers. When you compete with tight margins and the management of Lean teams, creating a safety culture can feel like a luxury that you cannot afford. But with industrial manslaughter laws now in force, it is a luxury that you cannot afford to not have.
The Wellbeing Summit in the workplace will tackle another often overlooked aspect: mental health and well -being of employees. Fatigue, one of the three most important murderers who identified Farrell, is not just about physical fatigue. It is often bound by stress, bad balance between work and private life and challenges in the field of mental health.
It comes down to manufacturers
This is what every owner of the production company must understand: the safety landscape has changed fundamentally. The combination of increased fatalities, new industrial manslaughter laws and raised compliance campaigns means that you are no longer an option as usual.
“It is essential for manufacturers to remain vigilant and proactive about changing safety regulations, emerging risks and innovative solutions,” Blackie emphasizes. “The Health and Safety Show workplace offers factory leaders and safety professionals everything they need to protect their workforce and to take on these challenges frontally.”
The good news? Registration is free if you register in advance. Wait for the door and it costs you $ 75. But given the potential costs of non-compliance, that can be the least of your worries.
The message is clear to manufacturers: invest now in safety, or face the consequences later. With 22 deaths in the workplace this year and the authorities who promise an increased control, the time for action is now.
“Show at the Health and Security workplace gives you the insights, strategies and connections to strengthen compliance and to protect your workforce,” concludes Blackie. “It is where you meet safety leaders, discover game-changing solutions and learn from others with the same challenges. There is no better place to exchange ideas and staying ahead, don’t miss it!”
The question is not whether you can afford to participate. It is as if you cannot afford it. More information is available here.
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