Hall Payne Lawyers has extensive experience in Workplace Health and Safety law. We have acted for a range of unions and individuals in high profile investigations and prosecutions, as well as advising both employees and employers as to their obligations. We work closely with the Electrical Trades Union and the Mining & Energy Division of the CFMEU in applying and enforcing the specialist regimes that apply to electrical and mine workers.

The law provides mechanisms for employees, concerned about practices at their workplace, to make a complaint which, if made correctly, triggers protection from reprisal or adverse action. This extends to the prevention and reporting of bullying and harassment. If you have suffered in any way at work, workplace health and safety laws may assist in enabling you to obtain a remedy.

We are regularly called on to assist and advise individuals who are questioned or called as witnesses for investigations and prosecutions by the Department. Given the risk of exposure to penalty or even criminal charges, it is essential to obtain expert advice and know your rights in these situations.

Our lawyers regularly advise individuals and organisations in relation to:

• complying with obligations under State and Federal law;
• making a complaint relating to workplace health and safety;
• responding to adverse action by an employer or colleague once a complaint has been made;
• potential remedies where breaches of WHS result in injury;
• rights when being interviewed by a WHS inspector;
• rights of parties and witnesses to a WHS prosecution;
• defending and settling WHS prosecutions.