SafeWork SA’s presence on worksites is increasing with 7715 recorded site visits in 2024-25, up from 6813 in 2023-24 and 5122 in 2022-23.
We introduced cautionary expiations in November 2023 to add to our range of compliance and enforcement tools. We issued a record 427 cautionary expiations in 2024-25, up from 176 in 2023-24.
Where a SafeWork SA inspector identifies a breach that warrants an expiable offence they will consider issuing a notice which includes a fine.
Alternatively, they may issue a cautionary expiation notice, which doesn’t include a monetary fine.
The level of risk associated with a hazard and the safety history of the business, organisation or individual will determine the severity of any penalty.
Expiation notices can attract fines of up to $3600 for a business or organisation and $720 for an individual.
Expiations streamline the process of dealing with minor offences to reduce the burden on the courts.
Safety breaches where a prosecution is warranted will continue to be dealt with by the courts.
Improvement Notices
WHS Improvement Notices are issued when a SafeWork SA Inspector believes a PCBU is contravening a provision of the WHS Act. Improvement notices commonly involve an organisation being required to change the way it conducts an activity within a timeframe.
Prohibition Notices
WHS Prohibition Notices may be issued if an inspector reasonably believes that an activity is occurring or may occur at a workplace that involves a serious risk to the health or safety of a person.
The inspector may give a person who has control over the activity a direction prohibiting the carrying on of the activity, or the carrying on of the activity in a specified way, until an inspector is satisfied that the matters that give or will give rise to the risk have been remedied.
Dangerous Substance Notices
A Dangerous Substance Notice is concerned with the management and storage of dangerous substances including gases and petroleum.
| All notices | Total numbers | Change from 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Improvement Notices | 3831 | ▼14% |
| Prohibition Notices | 944 | ▼5% |
| Dangerous Substances | 392 | ▼24% |
| Explosives Notices | 18 | ▲125% |
| Expiation Notices | 53 | ▲15% |
Long service leave compliance
Inspectors from our Psychosocial Industrial Team (PIT) investigate industrial relations claims lodged with SafeWork SA throughout the state.
The vast majority of these claims relate to matters alleging non-payment or under-payment of long service leave entitlements.
Our inspectors helped workers recover $166,068.35 in unpaid long service leave during the 2024-25 financial year.