top of page



Who Pays for It? The Dirty Truth of Hair Testing in the FCFCoA
Hair testing in the Family Court is being weaponised against domestic violence survivors. My study of 133 cases found 80.8% of DV victims returned no evidence of illicit drug use, yet were forced to pay over $17,500 in costs. With Legal Aid NSW cutting funding and MPs Jodie Harrison and Janelle Saffin refusing to act, victims are left re-victimised through debt and coercion.

WHS Guardian
3 days ago3 min read
Pre-Employment Medicals: A Lifesaving Control, Not a Paperwork Exercise
In workplace safety, it’s often said that “you don’t know the value of a control until it fails.” Few things make that truth clearer than...

WHS Guardian
Jul 283 min read


Why police don't test for prescription drugs
Whenever police or media mention roadside drug testing, a wave of frustration inevitably follows in the comments. You’ve seen them. Maybe...

Toxicologist - Daniel Patterson MACTRA
Jun 293 min read


Jungheinrich to Pay Over $200,000 for Bypassing Safety Sensors in Customer Forklifts
Jungheinrich fined >$200,000 for bypassing forklift safety systems, exposing workers to risk of serious injury or death.

WHS Guardian
Mar 273 min read


Victoria’s New Cannabis Driving Laws: What Really Changed?
Victoria's new law doesn't legalize cannabis driving—it gives magistrates discretion in sentencing. THC limits still apply.

Toxicologist - Daniel Patterson MACTRA
Mar 143 min read


Fat people are at higher risk of reintoxication from cannabis
Is someone who fails a urine test despite claiming months of abstinence lying, or just unlucky? The answer is complicated. In some cases,...

Toxicologist - Daniel Patterson MACTRA
Mar 22 min read


Harassment or Following Procedure: Can Collectors watch a donor in the bathroom?
As a medico-legal toxicologist and drug testing expert, I often encounter complaints from individuals who have failed a drug test. This...

Toxicologist - Daniel Patterson MACTRA
Feb 164 min read


John Holland contractor convicted in First WHS Prosecution of 2025.
Silver Raven Pty Ltd fined $180K in 2025's first WHS case, highlighting the need for strict worker vetting & safety compliance.

WHS Guardian
Feb 73 min read


Crookes by name, crooked by nature
The sentencing of Richard Crookes Constructions Pty Ltd (RCC) in the New South Wales District Court last month shines a harsh light on...

WHS Guardian
Jan 12 min read


Neglect and Tragedy at the Hands of The Salvation Army: A Patient's Death in an Aged Care Facility
In a sobering case that underscores systemic failings in aged care, the Salvation Army (NSW) Property Trust was convicted and fined for...

WHS Guardian
Dec 22, 20242 min read


NSW Justice Department convicted for letting prison staff be kidnapped and tortured by known high risk inmates
Image: Peter Severin | LinkedIn (Commissioner at time of criminal conduct) A Preventable Tragedy On 19 December 2020, two inmates at the...

WHS Guardian
Dec 22, 20243 min read


Ezra Mam: A Case Study in Soft Police Prosecution (not soft courts)
The lenient sentence for Mam was the prosecutors fault, not the magistrates.

Dan the Safety Man
Dec 16, 20242 min read


Corporate Accountability: Why Imprisonment is Now a Key Feature of NSW WHS Laws
NSW introduces imprisonment for WHS violations. Is this the end of fines that barely dent corporate accountability for workplace deaths?

WHS Guardian
Oct 10, 20242 min read


Deviate from drug testing procedure – you might as well not test
Deviating from drug testing procedures can invalidate results and jeopardise prosecutions, warns Judge Scotting.

Dan the Safety Man
Sep 26, 20243 min read


Hair follicle testing Q&A
Hair Follicle Testing: A Clearer Understanding Hair follicle testing is often misunderstood, largely because it's less common than other...

WHS Guardian
Sep 22, 20245 min read


03/2024 Child Safety Hair Testing - Drugs
In both custody disputes (Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia - FCFCoA) and parental rights restoration cases (Children’s...

Dan the Safety Man
Sep 16, 20241 min read


NSW Police to outsource drug testing
NSW Police intend to outsource the drug testing responsibilities to another entity.

WHS Guardian
Aug 27, 20241 min read


Kicked off site for a drug test? Read this
Learn how improper drug testing in the mining industry could make your dismissal harsh, unjust, or unfair.

WHS Guardian
Aug 22, 20242 min read


NSW Health Loses Appeal in the Court of Criminal Appeal
CCA dismisses NSW Health's appeal, underscoring the importance of comprehensive risk management in healthcare

Dan the Safety Man
Aug 16, 20243 min read


Media Sensationalism and Misunderstandings: The Case of Imane Khelif
Even without a television in my home, I've heard about the controversy surrounding boxer Imane Khelif. This situation exposes a...

Dan the Safety Man
Aug 11, 20243 min read
bottom of page