Great Barrier Reef Tourism Operator Fined $60,000 after Workplace Health and Safety Breach

Strategic Insights -

A Great Barrier Reef tourism operator, Hostel Reef Trips Pty Ltd, has been fined $60,000 after pleading guilty to a workplace health and safety breach following the death of a British tourist, Cameron Shaw, 25. Shaw died while on a snorkelling tour with two friends on the Reef Experience boat at Saxon Reef, north-east of Cairns, in October 2022. The court heard that Shaw's friends repeatedly reported him missing, but there was no attempt by staff to launch a search, despite industry codes not explicitly requiring such procedures.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hostel Reef Trips Pty Ltd was fined $60,000 after pleading guilty to a category 2 workplace health and safety breach.
  • The breach occurred due to the company's failure to launch a search for Cameron Shaw, who died while on a snorkelling tour in October 2022.
  • The court heard that Shaw's friends repeatedly reported him missing, but staff did not attempt to search for him.
  • Industry codes did not explicitly require procedures for searching for missing snorkellers.
  • The company has revised its safety manual to include specific triggers for missing snorkellers.
  • The fine was imposed "for general deterrence" to other operators, given the number of people accessing Great Barrier Reef tours each year.
  • Magistrate James Morton noted that all passengers on the tour were exposed to the risk, which became apparent after Shaw's death.
  • Shaw's parents were watching the hearing via video link from the UK.
  • Shaw's death was found to be the result of natural causes.

Statistics:

  • $60,000: the fine imposed on Hostel Reef Trips Pty Ltd.
  • 1,500: the additional court costs incurred by the company.
  • $101.40: the fees associated with the fine.
  • 1 km (0.62 miles): the distance Shaw's body floated away from the boat in about 40 minutes.
  • 2: the number of friends who reported Shaw missing.
  • 1: the number of tourists on the Reef Experience boat.
  • 25: Cameron Shaw's age at the time of his death.

Sources:

  • "Great Barrier Reef tourism operator fined after snorkeller's death" - ABC News (no date).
  • "Tour operator fined after snorkeller dies at Great Barrier Reef" - Reuters (no date).
  • "UK tourists 'devastated' as young snorkeler dies on Great Barrier Reef holiday" - The Telegraph (no date).
  • "Reef Experience" - Hostel Reef Trips Pty Ltd (no date).