0 project has entered a not guilty plea to criminal charges alleging it exposed five employees to risks of death or serious injury. The case, brought by SafeWork NSW, marks a significant enforcement action on one of the country’s largest energy infrastructure projects.
Two incidents at the heart of the case
The safety regulator’s case centres on separate incidents at different project sites. The first occurred in 2022 at Tantangara Dam and involved a drill. The second took place in June 2023 at Lobs Hole, where a truck fell.
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SafeWork NSW — also referred to as WorkSafe NSW in legal filings — is pursuing the matter in the Sydney Industrial Court. A hearing was held earlier this week, during which Webuild entered its not guilty plea. A second court appearance has been scheduled for August 2026.
The legal challenges come as the Snowy Hydro 2.0 project faces an estimated cost of $12 billion, with completion currently projected for the end of 2028.
UK company fined after fatal scissor lift incident
In a separate case closer to home, Food Process Engineering Limited was fined £50,000 plus a £3,750 surcharge on 6 July 2026 at Paisley Sheriff Court. The penalty followed a November 2022 incident in Renfrew where a worker died after being thrown from a scissor lift when wall panels collapsed. The court found the company had failed to assess the risks associated with dismantling the structure.
Stone slabs accident leads to £300,000 fine
Earlier this week, Classic Quartz Stone Ltd was fined £300,000 at Reading Crown Court, and a company director received a 12-month suspended jail sentence. The penalties followed a June 2022 accident where a worker was struck by stone slabs and hospitalised for more than 50 days. Investigators identified 175 safety breaches at the firm in the five weeks preceding the accident.
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Safety alerts issued after mining incidents
Safety regulators in other regions have also issued warnings following recent incidents. WorkSafe WA released a preliminary investigation into a fatal fall at a mine processing plant that occurred in March 2026. The agency suggested the worker may have fallen through an opening in a grid mesh platform and recommended that companies review their risk assessments and contractor management protocols.
In Queensland, Resources Health and Safety Queensland issued an alert after a vehicle rollover at an underground mine in late June 2026. The incident, involving a tool carrier with a work basket, resulted in injuries to two workers. The regulator shared learnings with the industry to help prevent similar rollovers in underground operations.
