Because every worker deserves to come home
In 2018, Jacqueline Quinlivan lost her husband in a tragic and completely preventable workplace incident in NSW.
Lyndon Quinlivan was one of three workers at Norske Skog’s Albury plant that were overcome by toxic and deadly hydrogen sulphur gas (H2S).
On May 24, during a routine maintenance shutdown, a plant worker and colleague, climbed a tank to investigate the source of liquid flowing down the tanks side, as requested, when he fell unconscious. Lyndon, responding to a man down call, rushed to his colleague’s aid before succumbing to the noxious fumes himself. A third man, a contractor, was also knocked unconscious by the fumes.
Lyndon and his colleague did not survive. The contractor made a recovery after spending an extended period in the intensive care unit of a hospital.
Left to navigate the harsh reality of being a widow with two young children, Jacqueline embarked on a journey to pursue justice, ensure accountability and champion transformational safety reforms in a vow to prevent others from enduring the same heartbreak.
“My husband was a loving family man who worked hard to provide for his family,” Jacqueline said.
“He was taken from us in a split second.
“The time that followed has been, and continues to be, one hell of a nightmare to say the very least.”
Jacqueline not only had to suffer the searing pain of losing her husband but was left with a growing list of unanswered questions.
In NSW, at the time, companies responsible for a workplace death due to gross negligence often escaped with little more than a small fine and public scrutiny.
Following the tragic accident, Norske Skog plead guilty to failing to comply with the WHS Act for exposing workers to risk of serious death or injury and was fined just $1m for the crime.
Jacqueline pursued a coronial inquest but, as the company had entered a guilty plea, it was deemed unnecessary — leaving her with a multitude of unanswered questions surrounding her husband’s avoidable death.
Hoping to spare other families from experiencing the same heartbreak, Jacqueline was not looking to lay blame, but to fix the flaws in a system that lead to such tragedy.
“I had made numerous requests to the coroner, as Lyndon’s wife, pleading for an inquest,” Jacqueline said.
“Instead, what I received was a letter saying they were going to dispense of the matter because in their eyes, the prosecution found everything that was needed.
“We knew how it happened, but I still had no answers as to why.”
Jacqueline has courageously shared her story of incomprehensible loss to advocate for a safety culture revolution where workers are empowered to speak up and leaders actively influence safety for their teams.
“Since that day, I have been fighting for my husband, fighting for justice,” Jacqueline said.
“Not only for workplace accountability but also overall awareness around industrial incidents and deaths that are taking the lives of our precious loved ones.”
After establishing herself as a dedicated safety advocate, Jacqueline is emerging as a prominent speaker in workplace safety — delivering talks that are extremely sobering but life changing.
Situated in Toowoomba, Queensland, she offers the opportunity to share her story, either in a face-to-face setting or through virtual platforms, with the goal of promoting proactive safety cultures whilst acknowledging the lasting repercussions of such tragedy on individuals, families and communities.
“My work as a lived experience safety speaker and a passionate advocate is driven by one mission: ensuring that everyone goes home to their families, in one piece,” Jacqueline said.
Jacqueline continues her mission with the publication of her book, Endurance: A widow’s insight into workplace tragedy, launching in early May. This is a memoir and is dedicated to the legacy of her beautiful husband, Lyndon.
Perspective around workplace safety needs to change and it needs to change now.
In a poignant and candid conversation, she bravely opens up about her personal journey. Her narrative serves as a catalyst for changing perspectives and fostering a culture of safety — because every worker deserves to come home safe.
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