Work Health & Safety Defence Costs

Work Health & Safety Defence Costs cover meets the legal risk that officers and companies face under Australia's safety laws. The model WHS Act applies in most states and territories. It places a positive duty on 'officers' to use due diligence so their business meets its safety duties. Breaching this duty can bring large fines. It can also bring prison time for the most serious offences, such as a Category 1 breach or industrial manslaughter. This cover typically pays defence costs for a coronial inquest after a workplace death. It also covers a WHS prosecution, a formal SafeWork investigation, and talks over an enforceable undertaking. It does not usually pay the fine or penalty itself. Most WHS penalties are criminal fines. Several states, led by New South Wales, now ban insuring or paying out against any WHS penalty at all. WHS cases increasingly target individual officers, not just their companies. This cover gives directors and managers real help with their legal defence, even though it cannot pay the fine.

Work Health & Safety Defence Costs cover meets the legal risk that officers and companies face under Australia's safety laws. The model WHS Act applies in most states and territories. It places a positive duty on 'officers' to use due diligence so their business meets its safety duties. Breaching this duty can bring large fines. It can also bring prison time for the most serious offences, such as a Category 1 breach or industrial manslaughter. This cover typically pays defence costs for a coronial inquest after a workplace death. It also covers a WHS prosecution, a formal SafeWork investigation, and talks over an enforceable undertaking. It does not usually pay the fine or penalty itself. Most WHS penalties are criminal fines. Several states, led by New South Wales, now ban insuring or paying out against any WHS penalty at all. WHS cases increasingly target individual officers, not just their companies. This cover gives directors and managers real help with their legal defence, even though it cannot pay the fine.