09:27 am, Sunday 12 June, 2011

A blitz on fire safety has been undertaken by Fire and Rescue New SouthWales in the ski village of Thredbo.

Officers inspected more than 60 lodges, hostels, apartments and motels.

The Assistant Commissioner and Director of Community Safety, Jim Smith, said the audit involved ensuring smoke alarms were fitted, and that fire exits and safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers were functioning properly.

“When we did the initial inspections, there were a few minor issues which we wrote orders on with Council and the Department of Planning,” Mr Smith said.

“Our team were back this week to check on those orders, and every one had been complied with.

“Mainly they’re minor issues, such as smoke alarms which may not be working, or exit lights that might be out.

“For the safety of the people that stay in those lodges, we write the orders.”

He said the Thredbo inspection was routine.

“We tend to vary between different resorts,” he said.

“We might do Thredbo one year, Perisher the next.

“We try to get as much as we can done.

“People know it’s a random check, so they’re never quite sure which area we might do when we come along next year.”

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07:01 am, Friday 29 October, 2010

WorkSafe WA is reminding businesses throughout the state’s north-west to ensure emergency management plans are established with the onset of the cyclone season.

WorkSafe Commissioner Nina Lyhne said it is crucial for everyone, whether on sea on or land, to know what to do when there was a cyclone hits the area.

“The cyclone season officially begins on November 1, and under WA’s occupational safety and health laws, employers must have adequate plans and provide adequate training to protect workers in the event of a cyclone,” she said.

“The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a higher than normal risk of a cyclone before this Christmas, and a greater number of cyclones in the waters off the North-West coast this season.

“The Bureau has said that warmer sea surface temperatures this year will increase the risk of early season cyclones and boost the number of cyclones we are likely to see this season.

“The tragic circumstances surrounding Cyclone George in 2007 demonstrated that it only takes one cyclone to cause significant damage and suffering.

“WorkSafe has for many years issued reminders to the fishing industry to ensure contingency plans are in place, but the Cyclone George experience prompted the reminder to be extended to land areas as well.

“The North-West of WA continues to experience a high level of activity and there are a huge number of workers in the area, including workplaces with employees of several companies all working on the same site.

“It is particularly important that emergency evacuation plans are coordinated so every worker – regardless of their employer – knows exactly what he or she needs to do in the event of a cyclone threat.”

Fishing vessels must keep a list of sheltered anchorages. They must also have a specific action plan depending on the distance from the cyclone and safe havens.

According to Worksafe, the Department of Transport has established cyclone contingency plans at Point Sampson (Johns Creek), Onslow (Beadon Creek), Shark Bay (Denham), Exmouth, Carnarvon and Coral Bay.

Ms Lyhne said employers should not leave anything to chance by ensuring safe work procedures are in place well before a cyclone hits.

“Everyone in the workplace – whether a fishing vessel or any other workplace – should be trained in the cyclone contingency plan and follow all instructions given when a cyclone is approaching.”

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04:41 pm, Thursday 23 September, 2010

The release of toxic fumes from a water treatment plant at Murwillumbah yesterday has prompted an emergency evacuation of several homes in the area.

Around 10 residents on New South Wales’ north were asked to leave their homes just after midday after something went wrong during the cleaning process of a chlorine tank at the plant.

Anthony Burnham, the Tweed Shire Council’s water manager, said the problems were caused by human error.

Council workers reported experiencing minor eye and throat irritations due to the release of hazardous substances.

“We’ve made a mistake in respect to the concentrations to carry out that process and that’s resulted in the production of toxic chlorine gas and some sulphur gases that then escaped from the tank,” Mr Burnham said.

The evacuated persons were given permission to return to their houses about three hours after the incident.

The chlorine tank was being decommissioned so the area can be used by the Men’s Shed.

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06:10 pm, Wednesday 23 June, 2010

No further landslides have been reported at an ore mining site on Tasmania’s west coast since a major crash happened almost a week ago.

The major landslide took place on Thursday, when almost half a million tonnes of rock collapsed to the Savage River mine.

The mining company’s chief operating officer (COO) said the area has stabilised, although there will be no mining operations in the area for some time.

“There’s been no further movement, it’s as it was effectively the minute after it happened,” he said.

“We’ve had the opportunity because the area’s stabilised and with a lot of supervision available on site, we were able to move two pieces of equipment that had previously been held down there; a bulldozer and an excavator.”

According to the COO, the landslide is unlikely to impact the workers.

The safety system at the mine identified the issue early, allowing evacuation of the workers before the rockfall took place.

The COO said the mining plan is being modified in order to deal with the rockfall without affecting the workforce or the production.

“At this stage it won’t affect anything, we may need to look at that, review that as we go,” he said.

“We work openly with the workforce, they know exactly what we’re doing as we do it and we’ll keep them involved and most of the planning that happens involves them helping us plan.”

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01:13 pm, Wednesday 16 June, 2010

A factory at East Arm in Darwin has been evacuated on Thursday after reports of a chemical spill.

Emergency crews cleared the factory just before 4pm.

While several people were taken to the hospital for assessment, no injuries were reported.

“They’re apparently dangerous,” Duty Superintendent Louise Jorgenson said about the chemicals.

She said the hazardous substances involved are styrene and bondo body filler.

“It’s only 120 litres [but] the immediate area has been evacuated.

“There’s about 15 people who are being assessed by St Johns.

“There’s no apparent injuries but the area has been secured.”

She said WorkSafe is investigating if any OHS standards were breached.

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09:30 pm, Wednesday 14 April, 2010

Workers at an office building in Newcastle have been inhaling hazardous fumes for years – and it is time to find the source, the Public Services Association says.

The building had to be evacuated twice this week. Twenty eight people were treated in the hospital for mild respiratory problems.

According to the union, there had been up to 6 emergency evacuations in the building in the last four years.

It currently houses call centre staff and customer service representatives.

Union spokesman Evan Cole said the employers should work with the building owner to discover the cause of the fumes.

“In the short term the members will have to be guided by what the fire brigade rules out or rules in, in terms of the cause,” he said.

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08:22 am, Tuesday 2 March, 2010

Qantas has been issued two improvement notices by WorkCover NSW, citing the company’s staff training for emergency evacuations and baggage handling.

According to news reports, Qantas workers at Sydney’s domestic airport have not been given training in emergency procedures. Reports say some employees have not been in an emergency drill in 8 years.

WorkCover has confirmed improvement notices were issued to Qantas, but no additional details were given.

Qantas says emergency procedures are in place, and it is committed to complying with all OHS requirements.

The Transport Workers’ Union says the improvement notices are long overdue.

“That constant wear and tear on the guys, day in, day out, we’ve now got a high percentage of worker’s comp, which is just unbelievable,” he said.

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