07:45 am, Friday 28 November, 2008

Source: The Standard

A WorkSafe prosecutor yesterday said the company had noted in an OH&S committee meeting on August 13 last year that the height of the finger jointing glue head should only be moved when the cutters were not operating.

However, the directive had not been relayed to employees operating the machine.

The risk was remedied one week after the incident when guards were put in place.

Warrnambool Timber Industries started in 1987 and is the second largest producer of laminated beams in Australia with turnover increasing four-fold in the past nine years.

The court heard the company is an Australian leader in relation to work practices and Mr Goodall held a number of high-profile positions within the industry.

The company later spent $145,00 in risk assessments and $220,000 upgrading a hopper system.

Magistrate Ron Saines said it was easy to be wise after an event.

He said the physical and psychological impact of Mr Olle\’s injuries would be severe and life-long. He convicted and fined the company $85,000 with $5535 costs, saying a guilty plea had earned it a substantial discount.

OHS News Tip: Safe Work Method Statement

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:39 am, Friday 28 November, 2008

Source: The Australian

A customer’s toe has been severed by a piece of scrap metal that fell from a truck at a business west of Sydney.

Ambulance crews were called to the business in Inch Street at Lithgow on Thursday afternoon to attend to the 41-year-old.

“It looks like the man has had his toe cut off,” an ambulance spokesman said.

“He has been taken to Lithgow Hospital.”

A WorkCover spokeswomen said the man was a customer and lost his toe when a piece of scrap metal fell from the back of a truck.

A worker at Denis Cooke’s Metal Industries declined to comment and said the business owners were yet to be informed of the incident.

OHS News Tip: Metal Work Work Method Statement

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:36 am, Friday 28 November, 2008

Source: Perth Now

A plumber has been killed in a workplace accident in Beechboro this morning.

The 39-year-old man was believed to have been using a masonry cutting saw at the residential construction site in Dunlin Turn when he was fatally injured.

It is understood the man was discovered by a fellow worker when he arrived on site at 7.45am.

WorkSafe has launched an investigation and inspectors are at the site.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said any work-related death was a tragedy, and relayed her sincere condolences to the man’s family.

She said WorkSafe thoroughly investigated serious work-related injuries and deaths in an attempt to prevent future incidents.

OHS News Tip: Plumbing Work Method Statement
OHS News Tip: Cutting Saw Work Method Statement

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:22 am, Friday 28 November, 2008

Source: ABC News

A man has died while working on a merchant ship moored at the Port of Townsville in north Queensland.

Police says initial investigations suggest the 63-year-old man may have fallen off a ladder and hit his head, causing the fatal injuries.

The incident occurred on Monday night.

Workplace Health and Safety, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and Queensland police will investigate the incident.

OHS News Tip: Ladders Work Method Statement

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:28 am, Thursday 27 November, 2008

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Two men have suffered flash burns in a mine explosion in Sydney’s south west, police say.

The two electricians, a 26-year-old Bellambi man and 40-year-old Helensburgh man, were attempting to repair a 1100 volt transformer at the mine in Appin when the explosion happened.

Police said the transformer malfunctioned when one of the men turned it on and it exploded in their faces.

The Bellambi man suffered burns to his arms, chest, face and throat. His colleague suffered burns to his arms.

The men were treated by on-site medical teams and ambulance workers before being transported to Liverpool Hospital where they remain in a stable condition.

The injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, police said.

Eight miners were evacuated from the shaft around 8pm (AEDT). They have been assessed and offered counselling.

The explosion site has been closed by the Department of Primary Industry, which is investigating the incident.

OHS News Tip: Mining Safe Work Method Statement

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:12 am, Thursday 27 November, 2008

WorkSafe Victoria and the Transport Accident Commission have launched a guide to help reduce deaths and injuries resulting from work-related driving.

The TAC’s Senior Manager for Road Safety, David Healy, said the guide provided practical advice to employers, fleet managers and drivers on measures to reduce risks associated with work-related driving.

“Research shows that fleet driving represents an increased crash risk relative to non-fleet driving. Data from the Australian Safety and Compensation Council shows that vehicle accidents represent 41% of all compensated work fatalities,” said Mr Healy.

Given this high risk profile, the benefits of a work-related driving safety program could be significant and include:
• Reduced death and injury and all their related personal, social and economic costs
• Greater productivity through increases in vehicle use
• Greater ability to manage the fleet safely by using fleet safety and incident information.

WorkSafe’s Executive Director, John Merritt, said the guide was a resource for employers setting up their own work-related driving safety program.

“It concentrates on the occupational health and safety obligations of employers in providing and maintaining cars that are used for work-related purposes.”

The key features of a work-related driving safety program should include:
• A purchasing policy based on a minimum of a four star safety rating in the Australasian New Car Assessment Program
• Involvement of employees and local management
• Driver information and education
• An appropriate vehicle inspection and maintenance program • An incident and accident follow-up action plan.

“Victorian workplaces where driving was a requirement of the job should develop and implement policies and practices based on these guidelines as soon as practicable,” said Mr Merritt.

The guide deals with work-related driving in a business sequence, beginning with planning before driving, through to on-road risk management, and monitoring and reviews of fleet performance.

OHS News Tip: Vehicle Work Method Statement

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:45 am, Wednesday 26 November, 2008

Source: ABC News

WorkSafe is conducting compliance checks to ensure workers are protected against the potentially deadly Q fever.

The disease is transmitted from animals to humans and causes symptoms similar to the flu, including high fever, profuse sweating and fatigue.

Chris Kirwin from WorkSafe says employers in the livestock industry in particular need to protect their staff.

“Check that their workers are immunised for Q fever or that they’re provided with a safe working environment too, so that they’re not exposed to Q fever,” he said.

“Certainly the best way of doing that is ensure they have an immunity to the disease by way of vaccination.”

OHS News Tip: Q Fever Work Method Statement

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:39 am, Wednesday 26 November, 2008

New Federal workplace laws will be introduced this week by the Rudd Government which give enhanced bargaining power to unions.

The new Fair Work Bill will replace the Howard Government’s WorkChoices with new unfair dismissal rules and the creation of a `wage umpire’ called Fair Work Australia, which will have the power to set wages for workers in low-paid industries such as childcare or hospitality.

Businesses have criticised the new laws, fearing they will allow unions excessive involvement in workplace deals. Only 14 per cent of private sector workers belong to a union.

However, unions argue the Fair Work Bill will shift the power balance back to workers, after WorkChoices changed unfair dismissal laws and advocated individual Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs).

Fair Work Australia will have the power to set wages for workers whose employers refuse to bargain. It will also allow industry-wide wage settlements for low-paid industries. Businesses say the laws would force pay deals across the board, while unions say it will benefit low-paid workers.

In workplaces with at least one union member, the union will get a seat at the bargaining table, and new `good faith’ rules mean unions will be involved at every stage of negotiating wages. Under right-of-entry, unions will be able to inspect a company’s books and chat to potential recruits.

OHS News Tip: Safe Work Method Statement
Report by SafetyCulture OHS News Reporter – Julia Alder – Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:29 am, Tuesday 25 November, 2008

NT Power and Water has been fined $70,000 for inadequate Safety Procedures that resulted in the death of a Darwin resident in 2006. (See previous story.)

The fine is the highest in the history of the NT Work Health Act. The Corporation had pleaded guilty last week in the Darwin Magistrates Court and yesterday Magistrate John Lowndes ordered NT Power and Water to pay the $70,000 fine.

The Father of five was assisting NT Power workers remove a tree from his yard that was resting on power lines. No Safety Barriers were in place, and workers has to use an insulated pole to remove the man.

NT WorkSafe executive director Laurene Hul told reporters outside the court that “The accident was preventable and this compounded the stress and trauma suffered by the man’s wife and children.

An appropriate verbal warning and the use of a visual barrier of some sort would’ve saved Mr Donohoe’s life,” Ms Hull said.

“The corporation should have had in place better training and procedures to ensure such precautions were taken.”

Better Safety Training for staff has now been implemented, as a result of an internal investigation and all vehicles performing public work are fitted with Safety Barriers.

The case is also still before the NT coroner.

OHS News Tip: Working Around Electricity Work Method Statement

Report by SafetyCulture News Team- Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:12 am, Tuesday 25 November, 2008

Source: Smith Coast Register

A night of entertainment went horribly wrong on Saturday when a performer at the Lennon Bros Circus was seriously injured in an accident.

The 23-year-old trapeze artist from Victoria fell during a circus performance in Nowra in front of a crowd of 450 people.

She was about 5.5 metres above the ground on ring equipment when she fell.

A doctor in the crowd assisted her until ambulance officers arrived and transferred her to Shoalhaven Hospital with suspected spinal injuries.

Shoalhaven Police were contacted and the incident has been referred to Workcover investigators.

Lennon Bros Circus is the only family circus in Australia and one of only three left in the country with big cats in their shows.

The circus showcases a variety of acts including flying trapeze, acrobats, double wheel of death and aerialists.

There are 35 people employed by the circus, ranging in age from three years to 65 from Australia and around the world.

OHS News Tip: Working At Heights Work Method Statement

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know