09:12 pm, Wednesday 29 December, 2010

A man who lost his leg in a workplace accident three months ago feared he would be “eaten alive” when he was sucked into a brick crusher.

The 26-year-old was clearing a blockage from a crusher at a brick plant in New Town when a co-worker mistakenly turned the machine on.

The machine sucked him in and continued to do so even after it was shut off, because it took time to wind to a stop.

The man said he was trapped in the machine for two hours and was conscious until moments before a surgeon amputated his leg, so he could be pulled free.

The victim spent 11 weeks in hospital, undergoing several operations and treatments.

His right leg was amputated just below the hip.

Skin grafts were needed to cover large sections of his backside, lower back and the palm of his right hand, where skin had been ripped from his body in the crusher.

His long-term goal is to walk again.

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09:01 pm, Wednesday 29 December, 2010

An audit of 119 businesses conducted by WorkSafe ACT has found that workers at four businesses in the Fyshwick DFO Retail Centre were not covered by workers compensation.

During the two-week audit, 18 notices to provide employees with compulsory workers compensation information were issued; 35 employers were cautioned about their obligation to display workers compensation information in the workplace and regulatory action was taken against four employers who were found to have gaps in their cover.

Work Safety Commissioner Mark McCabe said it was compulsory for all employers to have a current ACT workers compensation policy in place.

”Breaches of the workers compensation legislation detected during the audit will attract infringement notices with fines of up to $6250,” Mr McCabe said.

”Non-compliant employers can be issued with a ‘cease business notice’ or fines of up to $137,500.”

Mr McCabe said WorkSafe often worked with employers before an audit as they did at DFO to ensure legislation was understood.

That made the lack of compliance all the more disappointing.

A full report on the DFO retail centre audit will be posted on the WorkSafe ACT website in coming weeks

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12:17 pm, Friday 24 December, 2010

QLD’s Industrial Relations Minister has stressed the importance of employers ensuring their workers are protected from the sun and heat now that summer has arrived.

Cameron Dick said the start of summer meant many workers faced heat-related risks while at work.

He said Queensland’s workplace health and safety laws obliged employers to provide protection from the heat and sun for employees who worked outside.

“Weather forecasters may be predicting a relatively mild summer season but for many people who work outdoors, the exposure to heat and sun can still pose a significant health and safety risk,” Mr Dick said.

Mr Dick said hot conditions could lead to heat-related health problems such as cramps, exhaustion, heat stroke, prickly heat and fainting.

“Employers should weigh up all factors such as heat, humidity, water intake, breezes, protective gear, the condition of workers, hours of work and the like,” he said.

“Queensland has a harsh summer environment, particularly in the tropics and the outback. Working smart and working cool can save lives.”

Workers most at risk of heat-related illness and skin cancer include: building and construction industry workers; gardeners and ground maintenance staff; fishing industry workers; lifeguards; outdoor council workers; police officers; road workers; and rural workers.

For information on how to keep workers safe from heat stress and sun exposure visit www.worksafe.qld.gov.au or call the Workplace Health and Safety Infoline on 1300 369 915.

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11:59 am, Friday 24 December, 2010

NSW Fair Trading investigators have seized almost 150 dangerous toys – 110 of those for children under three – from shops across the state.

The toys included those with choking hazards, toys that could cause eye injuries, yo-yos containing cords that could strangle a child and flotation devices without safety warnings.

Of the 142 toys removed, 110 had potentially fatal choking hazards, 11 toys had the potential to cause a significant eye injury and 11 were aquatic toys and flotation aids that didn’t have warnings.

There were also nine yo-yo balls with cords that could strangle children and one magnetic toy did not have the required label warning of the serious injuries caused if magnets are swallowed.

The majority of toys were found at discount stores.

NSW Fair Trading Minister Virginia Judge said more than half a million toys at 909 retailers had been inspected.

“Retailers should be well aware of their product safety responsibilities and consumers should be vigilant when purchasing gifts, especially toys, this Christmas,’’ she said.

Ms Judge said when buying gifts for children this Christmas, people should buy washable, non-breakable toys for babies, read the labelling on new toys, check for loose parts children could choke on and check for sharp edges or rough surfaces.

For a full list of the toys and images visit fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

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07:26 am, Thursday 23 December, 2010

Newcastle and Maitland Council food and safety inspectors have fined three Hunter Valley restaurants for health and safety breaches.

The first incident occurred at a noodle outlet in September where inspectors measured a pot of chicken stock at a hazardous temperature.

Inspectors found the stock had been out of temperature control for four hours.

Its temperature measured just under 33 degrees celsius.

The business was fined $440 for failing to store potentially hazardous food under the appropriate temperature control.

A similar breach was detected at a sushi restaurant in East Maitland.

It had already been warned by Maitland Council inspectors and was fined nearly $900 for failing to display sushi at the correct temperature.

A Thai restaurant at Honeysuckle was also fined $880 after Newcastle Council inspectors found a large rice cooker obstructing a hand washing basin.

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06:57 am, Thursday 23 December, 2010

NT WorkSafe is investigating the death of a man who was crushed in a workplace accident at a mango farm near Darwin.

NT WorkSafe said the incident happened at a farm at Humpty Doo earlier this week.

It is believed a tree branch fell onto the man while he was on a tractor.

“Preliminary inquires by NT WorkSafe show that the worker had been operating a tractor and suffered internal crush injuries,” NT WorkSafe said.

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06:23 am, Thursday 23 December, 2010

Workplace Health and Safety investigators are investigating the cause of an industrial accident in Queensland’s south-west.

A man in his 60s has been flown to a Brisbane hospital suffering significant burns after a diesel fire at Eromanga on Monday afternoon.

It is believed the fire happened at an exploration drilling rig.

Senior Sergeant Steve Perkins says police attended the scene.

“Petroleum and gas inspectors are investigating the matter,” he said.

“Last night and this morning Charleville police deployed an officer trained in forensics to investigate, along with a scenes of crime officer.

“Both these officers will provide assistance to these inspectors.”

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08:56 pm, Sunday 19 December, 2010

A manufacturing business has been sentenced over the death of an 18 year-old worker at a cardboard packaging factory in February 2009.

The death of the man, who was dragged into an exposed roller on a machine that printed and stacked cardboard, was described by Magistrate Sarah Dawes as “the sudden, unexpected and agonising loss of a son and brother”.

One proprietor of the business was convicted under two sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and fined $60,000.

Both proprietors were placed on good behaviour undertakings, which require them to complete a managers’ safety training course.

The court heard the conveyor arm of the printing and stacking machine had been raised at a 90-degree angle, so workers could complete a specialist job. This action exposed the machine’s unguarded feed rollers.

The man was dragged into the rotating feed rollers by his clothing, and died from his injuries the following day.

“This was a young man at the start of his life, whose death could easily have been prevented if his workplace had stopped to consider his safety,” WorkSafe’s executive director for Health and Safety, Ian Forsyth, said.

“Following his death, guards and an interlocking system were installed on the machine at a cost of around $6,000.

“Tragically, this is the price that could have saved this young man’s life.”

The business reportedly failed to conduct a risk assessment on the machine, imported from China, which would have identified the risks to workers. In addition, there was inadequate information, training and supervision for workers using the machine.

Mr Forsyth said all Victorian employers needed to take a careful look at how they train and supervise young workers.

“Young workers may lack the experience, knowledge or skills to understand the risks involved in the work they are doing,” he said.

“They are more likely to follow instructions without questioning them. Sometimes they struggle to speak up about safety even if they see that something at work isn’t safe.

“This is a wake-up call for employers, managers and supervisors to recognise their added responsibilities when employing young people, and make sure their risk assessment, training, and supervision practices reflect this.”

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07:06 am, Saturday 18 December, 2010

WorkSafe has warned of the dangers of four-wheel motorcycles on rural properties after a farmer was killed last weekend.

The 68-year-old farmer was moving sheep from one paddock to another when he crashed a quad bike and was trapped underneath.

WorkSafe inspector Chris Kirwan says the man’s death serves as a tragic reminder to take care when using the vehicles and to wear appropriate protective gear.

“We’ve had four fatalities in just over two years with these bikes. They’re a very versatile piece of equipment but they need to be used in full knowledge of how they should be used and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions,” he said

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05:51 am, Saturday 18 December, 2010

SafeWork SA has prosecuted two South Australian companies over a guillotine accident in May 2008 that crushed a worker’s finger tips so badly they had to be amputated.

The document management companies were fined respectively $26,400 and $22,400 in the Industrial Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

They both worked at the same premises and both pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety of the man.

The injured man was a plant operator who was working with a large guillotine to remove the spines from stationery, when his fingertips were crushed by the machine’s clamp, necessitating their amputation.

The man had received only verbal training and instruction on the use of the machine, and was required to use a wooden block to square up stacks of papers that were to be trimmed.

SafeWork told the court the wooden block was insufficient to protect the worker’s hand and a purpose-built blocking tool that did protect hands had been lost a year previously.

Industrial Magistrate Stephen Lieschke said the offences had serious consequences for the victim who was left with some permanent functional deficits apart from two shortened fingers.

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