About Tom
Tom is a true Work Health and Safety (WHS) specialist lawyer.
He has a 15 year career working in WHS – first as a WHS inspector with the regulator, a WHS prosecutor and for the last decade focused on assisting business, government and their officers with managing WHS psychosocial, physical and regulatory risks. Tom’s experience includes all specialised safety regimes nationally, including the Rail Safety National Law, Heavy Vehicle National Law, electrical safety and Queensland’s resources safety laws (coal, petroleum and minerals). He has had carriage of, and been involved in, some of the country’s largest WHS prosecutions and coronial inquests. He is also (currently) undefeated in successful challenges to WHS regulator notices that overreach or simply do not make sense.
Complementing Tom’s WHS practice, is his Employment Relations (ER) experience. Tom regularly appears in the Fair Work Commission and Federal courts for employers in unfair dismissals, general protection claims and anti-discrimination matters. Tom has a specialised focus on managing senior executive issues, including for ASX listed companies, where he can skilfully navigate exits, resolve or defeat litigation and balance the commercial and reputational issues that often arise.
Tom’s employment experience covers all industries, with a focus on Food and Agribusiness, Transport (planes and trains) and Resources and Renewables. His clients appreciate his strategic insight to find the heart of the dispute and solve it.
Specialisations
Experience
Australian Rail Track Corporation Limited
Advising on the $10 billion dollar Inland Rail Project, including a 1700km freight rail line, which will see freight delivered from Melbourne to Brisbane, via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
Sydney Trains
Advising on one of the first reported external review applications of a SafeWork NSW inspector’s decision relating to Health and Safety Representatives. The decision dealt with untested provisions under the Model WHS Law relating to union provided HSR training.
Taronga Zoo
Acting as lead investigator for a SafeWork NSW investigation following a serious incident involving an African elephant crushing a zookeeper.
Rail Transport Operator
Advising on Comcare investigation following the amputation of a worker’s leg by a piece of moving plant.
Mining company
Advising on two separate fatal accidents, one double fatal fall from heights and a single fatal accident arising from a mud rush.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Acting in national review of construction and procurement contracts relating to the WHS Law, including drafting state specific schedules on state and territory WHS and OHS Law, and drafting clauses which practically manage the interaction of these laws with the Commonwealth WHS Law.