12:14 pm, Tuesday 15 January, 2013

Photo: SafetyCulture Library

The pilot of a helicopter received serious injuries when his helicopter crashed in Augathella in Queensland’s west.

Paramedics found the 25-year-old man about 5pm Monday afternoon conscious and sitting in a dam, he was the only person on board the helicopter at the time of the accident.

A doctor and nurse were sent to the site to help the injured man who suffered serious burns in the accident. He was flown to a Brisbane Hospital where he is recovering.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will investigate the accident.

Report by Zoe Dunbar - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

10:41 am, Tuesday 18 September, 2012

Photo: Nine News

After a truck driver received serious injuries last week when his truck was stuck on railway tracks, see our report here, the Queensland Government has announced a new trial to make railway crossings safer.

The trial involves drivers that are approaching railway crossings being informed about approaching trains with messages broadcast on their car radios.

Three organisations are on the shortlist to conduct the Rail Level Crossing Safety Technology Trial that is set to cost $1 million. Scott Emerson, the Transport Minister, said that NFA Innovations, La Trobe University and Railnet Safety Systems are all being considered to conduct the testing of three new safety measures in Queensland.

There were 213 near misses at Queensland railway crossings between January and June this year with 130 of those in southeast Queensland and the remaining 83 in regional areas.

The three technologies to be tested are:

1. The car radio warning broadcasts

2. Lights that line the lanes of the road leading to the crossing that light up when a train approaches

3. Warning lights and signs that are solar powered that would not be affected by electricity blackouts

Report by Zoe Dunbar - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:52 pm, Friday 14 September, 2012

Photo: Nine News

A semi-trailer collided with two passenger trains this morning on the Northside of Brisbane leaving the driver in hospital with serious injuries. The truck was oversize and carrying a 38 tonne transformer when it became lodged on the tracks at the level crossing at Banyo station at 6.30am.

The driver tried to free the truck but was struck by a northbound train and flung into a passenger train at a standstill at the station. CPR was administered at the scene before the driver was then transported to the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

Buses are replacing the trains between Northgate and Shorncliffe this evening.

Report by Zoe Dunbar - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

02:38 pm, Thursday 30 August, 2012

An aviation company has been fined $56,000 over an explosion at Adelaide Airport where an engineer suffered serious injuries.

ABC News reported that the victim suffered a broken arm, burns and cuts to his hands and face during an explosion last March. He was repairing the wing of an aircraft when the incident happened.

SafeWork SA investigated the incident and found remnants of fuel inside a fuel tank in the wing were ignited by a spark from a tool that the engineer was using.

The aviation company pleaded guilty to breaching workplace safety laws by failing to inform the engineer about the risk of explosion. They were convicted and fined and the court was told it has improved its safety procedures.

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

11:54 am, Wednesday 21 December, 2011

Paramedics warn Victorians to be careful when working with ladders after a popular music guru received serious injuries from a ladder fall. This was followed by four similar incidents over the weekend.

The Herald Sun reports that the 58-year old music guru fell three metres to the ground as he was putting up Christmas decorations in his home in Richmond on Thursday. He is now in intensive care where he is still in a serious but stable condition.

In a separate incident, a man in his 50s sustained severe fractures to his leg after falling from a ladder in Rushworth.

A man from Waverly was put into an induced coma after falling two metres to the ground while he was trimming hedges.

A 63-year old Essendon man suffered from leg and back injuries after falling four metres from a ladder as he was pruning a tree.

A 61-year old man also suffered from injuries after a ladder fall in Waterways near Aspendale Gardens.

According to Victoria spokesman Paul Bentley, majority of ladder falls that paramedics responded to, involved men aged 50 and above. He called on everyone to use ladders safely.

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

12:00 am, Wednesday 14 December, 2011

A restumping company based in Geelong was cited and fined after their customer was trapped under a house which was being re-stumped and was seriously injured.

The restumping company pleaded guilty to workplace safety violation for failing to provide a safe workplace and for failing to ensure the public’s safety from health and safety hazards.

The Geelong Magistrate’s Court heard that the company was hired by the owners of a house in Maud Street to restump their place in August 2010.

The victims, including the owner and a casual worker managed to get out of the house through the front window. The casual worker had minor injuries.

WorkSafe’s investigation revealed that the company failed to correctly implement risk assessments for the kind of work to be done and obtain a building permit.

The company was fined with $40,000 and was ordered to pay $3,430 in costs.

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