11:14 pm, Monday 30 April, 2012

Mr Tom Phillips

The Commonwealth safety watchdog has released for public comment the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022.

The paper represents the framework for work health and safety in the nation for the next decade,

Safe Work Australia Chair Tom Phillips encouraged workers, employers and policy makers across Australia to be involved with the development of this strategy.

“All Australians have the right to return home from work safely every day,” said Mr Phillips.

“I urge all interested Australians to be aware of the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022 and consider providing their views on it as it will influence their working lives over the coming decade.”

The public comment period will close on Monday 21 May 2012.

In 2009-10, 216 Australians died from a work related injury. The estimated total annual cost of workplace injury, illness and disease is more than $60 billion. In the 2008-09 financial year, this equated to 4.8 per cent of Australia’s Gross Domestic Product.

“Despite significant improvement in work health and safety in the last 10 years, there is still more that can be done to keep our families free from work related death, injury and illness,” Mr Phillips said.

“Safe Work Australia is seeking your views to develop a practical, overarching strategy with targets that all Australian workplaces can and should aspire to achieve.”

The draft strategy is the result of months of extensive consultation with Australian workers, unions, employers, employer associations, community groups and other key stakeholders.

It establishes clear and achievable targets and priorities for the progression of work health and safety in Australia. The ultimate vision is for ‘healthy, safe and productive working lives by 2022‘.

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10:57 pm, Monday 30 April, 2012

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has published a new guide to promote safety in the rural sector.

The guide, an overview for the rural industry of the Queensland Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, is designed to help rural industry employers and workers understand their health and safety duties in the workplace.

Queensland farmers and rural workers are urged to familiarise themselves with the information, particularly after a spate of tragic deaths in the rural sector in 2011, and yet another quad bike fatality last month.

Figures for January to June 2011 showed 17 workplace deaths across the state, with the rural sector (including agriculture, forestry and fishing) having the highest number of fatalities at seven deaths.

The construction industry, with three fatalities, was the next most dangerous industry in the state.

Crush injuries in particular are a problem in the rural industry, with four of the fatalities resulting from collisions or falls involving a quad bike, a truck, a cotton picker and a tractor, respectively.

The new guide has information that can help cut the number of injuries and fatalities on farms and other rural industries.

It covers hazardous materials, asbestos, rollovers, working in confined spaces, high risk work, musculo-skeletal injuries, codes of practices, notifications and a range of other relevant issues such as sun exposure.

Personal protective equipment, remote and isolated work and other matters with a rural focus such as the use of quad bikes, chainsaws and heavy machinery are also covered.

A special section is included on animal handling and there are links to other specialist areas such as chemicals and electrical.

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10:11 pm, Monday 30 April, 2012

WorkCover NSW has issued an alert to remind workers of the potential dangers when using rotating machinery.

Background

WorkCover has in recent weeks been advised of several incidents where workers have been seriously injured as a result of entanglement in rotating machinery. Such incidents include the following:

A worker received serious hand injuries using a bench drill when a glove became entangled on the spindle.

A worker using a lathe had three fingers amputated when a glove became entangled on an item he was polishing.

A worker’s arm was amputated below the elbow after a sleeve became entangled on the spindle of a paint stirring machine.

A worker sustained critical head injuries from being pulled into a lathe after a sleeve became entangled on an item he was polishing.

A worker received serious injuries to the arm and shoulder after his shirt became entangled on a spinning power take off.

A worker received serious leg injuries after his jeans became entangled on a stump grinder.

Contributing factors

Each of the incidents described above are the result of a workers’ clothing becoming caught on a rotating component. However, it is apparent that entanglement incidents of these types can occur:

regardless of the level of experience of the worker; and

regardless of whether the plant incorporates guarding, if it still allows access to the rotating machinery or work piece.

Action required

Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) that uses plant must ensure that any risks to the safety of workers because of the plant are minimised as much as is reasonably practicable.

When assessing risks associated with rotating machinery, you should first establish whether the plant is appropriate for the task, and assess whether the task or the plant could be replaced with a lower risk solution. Consider whether the power or momentum of the working plant results in a risk of entanglement, and whether alternate methods can be used that do not place workers within reach of rotating machinery.

PCBU must also develop safe work methods in consultation with workers, and provide workers with the necessary information, training and supervision required for them to follow the developed safe work methods.

Entanglement is a potential hazard of most rotating machinery, and so safe work procedures should include measures to minimise the risk of injury to workers who operate or work nearby such machinery.

In minimising the risk, consider the following:

Identify the rotating components on an item of plant, and assess whether these components present a risk of entanglement.

Where a risk of entanglement exists, minimise the risk as far as is reasonably practicable.

Consider whether the plant can be eliminated – eg by automating a manufacturing process by using CNC milling.

Consider whether the plant can be substituted – eg by polishing manufactured items with a linisher or at a workbench, rather than using emery cloth with a lathe.

Consider whether machine guarding or exclusion zones can be used to provide a barrier between the worker and the rotating components. Note that where guarding is used, it should not introduce new hazards such as pinch points, sharp corners and edges.

For some operations, it may be unavoidable that a worker will have some exposure to rotating components – eg manual machining on a lathe. In such cases, ensure that these workers have received the appropriate training and that they’re using the plant correctly and for the purpose for which it is designed. Only authorised workers should perform these operations, and systems of work should be put in place to prevent unauthorised access.

Ensure that all safety devices, such as tool mounts and rests and guarding that separates the operator from the rotating item, are being used. Safety devices should be tamper proof.

Be aware that rotating components can still be a hazard to workers who aren’t directly operating the plant. Any exposed rotating component is a potential source for entanglement. Assess the need to use emery cloth on items rotated by a lathe. It may be possible to achieve the desired finish using other means. Where emery cloth is needed, consider using a backing board or mounting the cloth on a purpose designed tool to minimise the likelihood of the cloth wrapping around the item.

Personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and sleeves, may be a way of reducing the risk from certain hazards in a workplace, such as contact with sharp edges, hot surfaces or limiting exposure to dangerous chemicals or atmospheres. Be aware, however, that PPE can also increase risks in some operations, in particular the risk of entanglement with rotating components.

Where PPE is used at a workplace, it should be appropriate for all tasks that are being performed. Where different tasks require different PPE, the safe work procedures should specify this, and there should be measures in place to reduce the risk of workers accidentally using incorrect PPE.

When operating rotating machinery, sleeves should be tight fitting and long hair should be tied back. Jewellery and other loose articles, which may also be a source of entanglement, should be removed.

As a general principle, wearing gloves when operating rotating machinery should not be allowed. If the nature of the work means wearing gloves is unavoidable (ie due to associated risks that cannot be controlled by other means), the gloves should be form fitting and selected to reduce the risk of entanglement so far as is reasonably practicable. ‘Riggers’ style gloves are not recommended.

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04:39 pm, Sunday 29 April, 2012

Following an investigation by WorkCover NSW, a paper mill near Canberra was fined $170,000 over a safety breach in which two workers suffered serious chemical burns.

Two employees of the mill at Tumut, about 100 kilometres west of the ACT, were seriously injured during routine maintenance work in 2008.

The men were working on the chip meter, a machine that uses chemicals and extreme heat to turn woodchip into pulp.

But as they opened a door on the chip meter, hot steam, chemicals and woodchip poured out, causing ”serious chemical and thermal burns” to both employees.

In its findings released last week, WorkCover found the men worked on the chip meter before the chemicals and wood chip were removed.

Neither employee was wearing a chemical protective suit.

WorkCover alleged that the company failed to provide adequate supervision, training and instruction for the maintenance work, which meant it was not carried out according to company procedures.

”Although the company had a range of safety policies, [it] had failed to adequately enforce those procedures and as a result workers were seriously injured,” WorkCover said.

A company spokesman described the incident as ”highly regrettable” and said the company placed the utmost importance on the health and safety of its workers. The mill was hit by a fire in an outdoor storage area on January 22 that shut down operations and burned through 1500 tonnes of waste paper, nearly half the amount kept at the site.

That fire smouldered for more than a week, before reigniting on February 2.

WorkCover work health and safety division general manager John Watson said the two men hurt in the 2008 incident were lucky to escape without more serious injury.

Mr Watson said WorkCover would work with the company to make sure the incident was not repeated.

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09:42 am, Sunday 29 April, 2012

The Federal Court last week ruled the company had breached federal work health and safety laws by failing to take all reasonably practicable steps to protect the health and safety of its workers.

The company and its subsidiaries have also been required to implement better safety practices in their operations across Australia.

They are also required to share these improvements with the construction industry, including through the Federal Safety Commissioner.

Neil Quarmby, Comcare’s general manager for regulatory services, said in a statement that the court decision sent a message to employers about the serious consequences of not meeting their legal obligations to workers.

Mr Quarmby said Comcare inspectors found there had been two incidents involving unsecured grid mesh at the Mt Whaleback facility in the weeks leading up to the worker’s death.

The penalties would have been much higher had the death occurred after new work health and safety laws came into force January 1 this year, he said.

On January 1, the maximum penalty in the national system jumped to $1.5 million for this type of offence, and $3 million for more serious breaches.

The WA system, which has yet to join the national regime, allows maximum penalties of $500,000 for a first offence. The WA Government is proposing a maximum fine of $1.5 million under a harmonised system.

Unions have called for tougher penalties claiming the fine represented little more than the worker’s annual salary.

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union said the case highlighted inadequate penalties in both jurisdictions.

State secretary Mick Buchan said the relatively small fines sent the wrong message to employers.

He said many in the sector earned in a year or two an amount similar to the $242,000 fine.

Tradesmen in the mining sector regularly earn more than $150,000 a year, while more senior workers such as engineers can receive more than $250,000.

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06:05 pm, Saturday 28 April, 2012

Following an investigation by WorkCover NSW, the NSW Industrial Court has this week fined a major supermarket chain $170,000 after a worker was injured when she fell through a ceiling at a Manly store in 2007.

The 42-year-old worker climbed over a handrail to access promotional material being stored on a suspended plasterboard ceiling.

The plasterboard collapsed and she fell more than two metres to the floor below.

She was treated in hospital for lacerations to her head, whiplash and bruising.

WorkCover’s investigation found the company knew that using the roof cavity for storage was dangerous, and it had built a railing and posted a warning sign, but management failed to undertake a risk assessment on the ability of the plasterboard to withstand any weight.

They also failed to adequately warn staff not to access the area or use it for storage.

WorkCover’s General Manager of Work Health and Safety Division, John Watson, said a number of simple steps could have prevented the incident and as a national retailer, the company should have sufficient safety awareness and procedures.

“This business employs more 23,000 people in 238 stores across NSW, so the safety procedures of this company are relevant to a lot of people,” Watson said.

“This particular area should never have been allowed to be used to store merchandise and [the company's] management should have been more vigilant.

“While store management knew the area was not safe, the area was still used for storage and there was no proper information or training given to staff to warn of the risk.

“It is critically important that these types of hazards are identified at the workplace design stage and all reasonable and practicable steps be taken to eliminate the risk of work related injury or illness.

“Following this incident [the company] has initiated a number of steps to eliminate re-occurrence, including a new plywood barrier to block off all access to the dangerous area and issuing a safety alert to staff,” Watson said.

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11:31 am, Friday 27 April, 2012

Nominations for the Work Safety Awards Western Australia 2012 are now open. WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch said on Tuesday that the Awards were an opportunity to gain valuable acknowledgment of excellent safety management, solutions and innovations in Western Australian workplaces.

“The Work Safety Awards Western Australia are a chance for individuals, groups, organisations and enterprises to gain not just local but also national recognition for their good work in the occupational safety and health arena,” said Mr Mc McCulloch.

“They recognise and reward outstanding achievements in any of four categories that reduce the risk of work-related injury and disease.

“The Western Australian winners in all categories are automatically entered into the Australia-wide Safe Work Australia Awards and a chance for valuable national recognition.

“In past years, two of our very innovative Western Australians have gone on to win at the national level and reap the benefits of national recognition.”

The 2012 Award categories are:

• Best workplace safety and health management system (private and public sector)
• Best workplace safety and health practices in small business;
• Best solution to an identified workplace safety and health issue; and
• Best individual contribution to workplace safety and health (with or without formal OSH responsibilities).

Nominations for the Work Safety Awards Western Australia 2012 will close on July 6. Category winners will be announced at the Safe Work Australia month breakfast in October. Category winners in the National Safe Work Australia Awards will be announced in April 2013.

“I am consistently seeing excellent occupational safety and health practices in Western Australian organisations, and it is important that we recognise and acknowledge this publicly,” said Mr McCulloch.

“Any achievement in workplace safety and health – whether it be an everyday individual achievement or a large-scale initiative – could be worthy of a Work Safety Award WA in 2012.

“It’s important that organisations are given the opportunity to celebrate their success together with their employees because everyone benefits from good workplace safety and health practice.”

Entry forms and Award criteria for the Awards can be accessed through the WorkSafe website or by calling WorkSafe on 1300 307877.

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12:21 pm, Thursday 26 April, 2012

A major energy company is appealing against Fair Work Australia’s (FWA) decision to limit the company’s drug testing rights.

The company’s stance has received support from employers, but unions have expressed concern.

The company lodged its appeal last week soon after FWA determined the company could test saliva but not urine in its drug and alcohol-testing program.

In his ruling FWA Senior Deputy President Jonathan Hamberger ruled: “Not only is urine testing potentially less capable of identifying someone who is under the influence of cannabis, but it also has the disadvantage that it may show a positive result even though it is several days since the person has smoked the substance. This means that a person may be found to have breached the policy even though their actions were taken in their own time and in no way affect their capacity to do their job safely.”

The company, however, believes urine testing is the better option and has appealed against the part of the determination that relates to the drug testing method.

Also, in light of an earlier FWA decision concerning HWE Mining, the company wants to seek clarity “about the status of urine testing”. Contrary to the energy company’s decision, the HWE decision found urine testing was neither unjust nor unreasonable, a company spokesperson said in a media statement.

Employer representative AMMA supports the appeal. “Based on the findings in the HWE Mining case, there is a strong argument to be made that mining industry employers are obligated to adopt urine testing as the most accurate method of onsite screening in order to meet their stringent obligations under OHS laws,” CEO Steve Knott said in a media statement.

Unions, however, have rejected the company’s appeal, saying urine testing doesn’t measure fitness for work and what employees do on weekends and recreationally isn’t the employers business.

For more details, visit Endeavour Energy, FWA and AMMA.

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11:53 am, Thursday 26 April, 2012

Thousands of workers who have died in the course of their work will be remembered this week on International Workers Memorial Day.

The National Safety Council of Australia advises that memorials will be held around Australia on Friday and Saturday to commemorate those who have died from work-related injury and disease.

Official work-related fatality statistics put annual workplace deaths in the hundreds. But the real toll is much higher, as many deaths go unreported.

Only 120 deaths were notified to work health and safety authorities in 2010–11, says the Safe Work Australia report, ‘Key Work Health and Safety Statistics, Australia’.

But between 2300 and 7000 people are estimated to die annually from work-related diseases alone, says another Safe Work Australia report, ‘The Cost of Work-Related Injury and Illness for Australian Employers, Workers and the Community: 2008-09′.

Meanwhile, a memorial honouring workers will be built in Kings Park, on the northern shores of Lake Burley Griffin, in Canberra.

The federal government has provided $3 million to build the National Workers Memorial, which will be completed before March 2013.

Also on Saturday, World Day for Safety and Health at Work will take place and the Safe Work Australia awards will be presented in the Great Hall of Parliament on Thursday.

For more details, visit Workers Memorial, Your Rights at Work and Safe Work Australia.

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11:48 am, Thursday 26 April, 2012

A project to commemorate people who have been killed in industrial accidents was launched on the 20^th April by Minister for Industrial Relations, Russell Wortley.

Families of South Australians who lost their lives as a result of workplace accidents have supported the project to create a special quilt which will tour the State to increase awareness of work safety.

The Life Quilt Project will commemorate the lives of 10 people who died at work. SA Unions State Secretary Janet Giles says that ten people died in workplace accidents in South Australia for the past twelve months, while thousands more were injured.

“No family should ever have to go through the trauma of losing someone they love in a workplace accident. The tragedy is that so many could have prevented if proper health and safety procedures were in place.”

Sue Morley, project manager and textile artist said that the Life Quilt has been a year-long project from around SA contributing to the making of one metre by two metre quilt.

“We have also had wonderful support from the Country Women’s Association, whose members made some of the decorative flowers for the quilt.”

Sandra Dann from the Working Women’s Centre said that the project has created a life quilt which reminds us that families lose loved ones in work accidents and that it is important to remember them.

“The quilt, the stories of families and a series of short films will be used to spread awareness of the importance of safe workplaces but also the need for ongoing support for the families.”

The life quilt will be displayed at conferences, seminars, workshops and community events around South Australia to promote the importance of work safety.

The Life Quilt Project is supported by SA Unions, Working Women’s Centre, Arts SA, Australian Safe Communities Foundation and Effective Australia.

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