Department of Fair Trading

A public warning has been issued about an imported cosmetic eye liner, which has dangerous levels of lead and may have caused three children to become sick.

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said testing of the imported cosmetics, including Hashmi Surmi Special and Hashmi Kohl Aswad eyeliners, revealed an 84 per cent lead content. The products also contained high levels of dangerous metals like arsenic, cadmium, chromium and mercury.

Mr Kean said concerns were raised when the three children from the same family became sick.

A Villawood-based stonework importing company has been fined $200,000 after a sub-contractor was partially crushed and left with permanent injuries.

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said Cosentino Australia Pty Limited was sentenced in the Sydney District Court after the company was found guilty of failing to ensure the health and safety of its workers.

The incident in Prestons saw a 34 year old truck driver suffer serious injuries when he was struck by stone slabs that fell from an A-frame on a truck after the restraints were removed during delivery.

A company has been fined $45,000 after two young workers were overcome by fumes.

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said Central Coast Metal Protectives Pty Ltd was penalised in the Sydney District Court for failing to protect the health and safety of the two workers, aged 19 and 20, who were cleaning the inside of a landing pontoon. 

“These two young men were asked to climb inside and use thinners in a space that was about 12 cubic metres,” Mr Kean said.

An ongoing construction industry safety blitz has revealed widespread safety failures when working from heights, Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said.

Figures from SafeWork NSW revealed falls from heights incidents had more than tripled in the last five years, prompting a 12 month safety blitz that kicked off in November last year.

SafeWork inspectors have so far visited more than 460 construction sites in NSW, and issued $115,000 in fines over breaches to safety laws.

NSW Fair Trading is investigating appropriate enforcement action against online electronic store Android Enjoyed after the company topped the Complaints Register for the fourth consecutive month.

Android Enjoyed, owned by Digital Marketing and Solutions Pty Ltd, received 77 consumer complaints in May, almost matching the 78 received in April and up on the 50 received in March.

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said the continued flow of complaints follows the public warning issued against the gadget store, which was renewed in April this year.

Consumers are being warned of dodgy door knockers in the Riverina preying on vulnerable people and using scare tactics to secure work, Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said.

Mr Kean said the traders are targeting residents near Albury, offering what appears to be cheap work, then charging hugely inflated prices upon completion.

“These dodgy tradies are renowned for cold-calling innocent residents, providing verbal quotes for cheap home improvements or driveway work, and then bullying them into paying far more than originally stated,” Mr Kean said.

A Redfern businessman has been fined $24,000 for selling dangerous toys.

Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Matt Kean told 2GB he hopes the penalty is a warning to others who are doing the wrong thing.

A Bankstown building contractor has been fined $405,000 after a 19-year-old apprentice tragically died after being injured at work, Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said.

Co-Wyn Building Contractors Pty Ltd recently pleaded guilty in the Sydney District Court to failing to protect the health and safety of its workers.

Mr Kean said the court action comes after a Punchbowl carpentry apprentice died after suffering a fall while building a walkway platform on a Strathfield construction site.