Sue Bottrell

Sue Bottrell, Director of ContractorSAFE, has worked in occupational health and safety and workers compensation for the past 18 years. She is a practicing lawyer and a suitably qualified OHS professional as defined by Worksafe Victoria (2008) and has qualifications in safety and law to master’s level. This combination of qualifications and experience sets Sue apart from all other OHS lawyers and safety professionals and puts her at the top of the safety profession.

Sue is a legal and safety specialist in management of contractor safety. She is very vocal about the costly and ineffective practices currently being adopted by employers, and safety professionals, in this area. She regularly speaks and publishes on this topic and acts as an expert witness. She has also developed an approach to contractor safety management which ensures effective and compliant prequalification, on boarding, monitoring and performance review of contractors. The Four Pillars of Contractor Safety Management. Her advice correctly reflects the High Court’s interpretation of duties owed by Principal Contactors, which the majority of other professional advice in this area does not, in respect of contractor safety management while thoroughly managing liability and focusing effort on prevention.

She is also a specialist in the application of the National Heavy Vehicle Law under Chain of Responsibility obligations. She has worked hard within the transport industry to demystify that law and ensure its correct and effective implementation. She is also the AIHS representative for the current review of the Heavy Vehicle National Law being undertaken by the National Transport Commission.

Sue was the first safety professional in Australia to become a Certified Chartered Generalist OHS Professional Member of the Australian Institue of Health and Safety and was awarded the honour of Fellow in 2019.

She also served as AIHS Treasurer from 2009 – 2010 and as a National Board Member from 2013 – 2015. She has been instrumental in the advancement of the safety professions standing in the community and the implementation of certification of safety professionals to ensure the community has access to qualified and competent safety advice