10:44 pm, Thursday 23 May, 2013

WorkCover SA said that the total of working days that were lost in the financial year 2011-2012 was more than 560,000 days.

In addition to the days that were lost in South Australia there were 26,523 claims recorded for the same financial year for a cost of almost $208 million to the SA Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Scheme. The average cost per claim was approximately $7800.

Greg McCarthy, the WorkCover SA CEO, said that reducing the cost of workers compensation was in the best interest of everyone in the state.

He said that when employers focus on the prevention of injury and support those that are injured to return to work quickly and safely will be able to reduce the days lost and therefore the cost.

The community sector recorded the highest number of claims at almost a quarter of the total claims which was more than double the claims in the construction industry.

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02:40 pm, Monday 13 May, 2013

Photo: SafetyCulture Library

A new study conducted by the occupational health and safety experts at the University of Adelaide have called for a better health and safety education in the State’s secondary schools, to prepare young workers for the workplace.

The researchers from the University of Adelaide’s School of Population Health and the School of Psychology examined 103 public and private secondary schools in South Australia. The results of the survey revealed that although school management is generally supportive, teachers who are responsible for safety education use varying approaches and often lack confidence in discussing the topic.

“This research highlights a need for a standard, targeted program for training teachers in this area, and an evidence-based approach to introductory safety education,” said lead author and Associate Professor Dino Pisaniello, Head of the Discipline of Public Health at the University of Adelaide.

“A number of key issues have come out of this study. For example, the content and delivery of safety education should be tailored to young workers, taking into account factors such as physical and psychosocial characteristics and, importantly, the situations in which young people are likely to work.

“We also believe training activities in schools and industry should be complementary, in order to capitalise on the strengths of both. Such a program will better prepare young people for being safe and healthy in the workplace.

“Young people are more likely to be injured at work and are often unfamiliar with workplace hazards, safety procedures, and their rights regarding working conditions. By improving education about health and safety at an early age, we can more effectively tackle the young worker injury problem,” he said.

He also said that having a standard approach to health and safety education will benefit the society, industry and businesses in the long term.

The research was funded by SafeWork SA and is linked to the South Australian Government’s new Youth Work Health and Safety Strategy. Results of the study are now published online in the journal Safety Science.

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01:29 pm, Thursday 18 April, 2013

South Australia is poised to launch a new suicide prevention program in the state that is designed to reduce deaths amongst construction workers – the current figure is six times higher than the overall national average for men.

The program ‘Mates in Construction’ is an adaption of a Queensland program that has been able to ‘intervene’ in 47 attempts at suicide since it began in 2008.

Michelle Brown the state Chief Executive said that this program trains workers to be able to recognise the warning signs and help their fellow workers by connecting them to the experts that can help.

She said that the construction industry is typically male dominated with a culture of not talking about feelings, but also workers hours are generally longer, rates of drinking are higher and there is less job security.

Ms Brown said that these factors alone or combined could potentially lead to relationship and financial problems, which are two of the suicide risk factors.

She said that a construction worker is ten times more likely to lose their life from suicide than a workplace accident and the Mates in Construction training helps workers to identify when one of their colleagues is experiencing difficulty and thinking about suicide.

A study conducted in Queensland that prompted the development of their program discovered that 50 per cent of those that had committed suicide had spoken to someone beforehand and told them they were at risk. One out of four had made a previous attempt at suicide.

The companies that have already sighed with the program include Baulderstone, Leighton, Laing O’Rourke, WATPAC and Lend Lease.

Mates in Construction can be contacted at their support service: 1300 642 111.

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12:55 pm, Wednesday 6 March, 2013

A potato company has been fined $44,000 over an incident in July 2010 in which a diesel mechanic had his leg crushed in a harvester.

According to an ABC report, the worker was doing repair work for the family-owned company in the Murray Mallee when the incident happened.

The Industrial Court heard the worker was inspecting the harvester’s rollers when one of the employees turned on the machine.

The worker turned it off when the victim started shouting but the mechanic’s leg was trapped. He suffered serious injuries and was brought to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

The company pleaded guilty to failing to provide safe systems of work as well as failure to provide adequate training and was given a twenty percent discount on its penalty because of its guilty plea.

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05:43 pm, Thursday 21 February, 2013

A company charged over a worker’s death at an Adelaide desalination plant in 2010 will plead guilty to breaching workplace safety laws, the Industrial Court has been told.

Lawyers representing the company told the Industrial Court that guilty pleas will be entered.

The 5-year-old victim was killed when he was struck by a steel beam which fell from a sling attached to a crane.

According to ABC, union official Darren Roberts welcomes the company’s intent to plead guilty but said they are still searching for answers.

“We certainly welcome the intent to plead guilty as being noted but we still seek the answers to [the victim’s] tragic death. The answers that we’re still seeking is around the use of soft slings and the inappropriate use of soft slings in the industry,” said Mr Roberts.

“I don’t know if (this outcome) is a step forward, it’s certainly a part of the process and the process has an ongoing momentum, but the conclusion that we’ll be seeking [relates to] the use of soft slings in the industry.”

He also noted that there had been problems with the use of slings in other workplaces in the country.

“Recently there was unfortunately another fatality (in Tasmania) where the use of soft slings, and possibly the inappropriate use of soft slings, was a factor in that death,” said Mr Roberts.

“We certainly want the industry to be aware of maybe potential different lifting techniques that can then eliminate the use of these soft slings.”

There were concerns that the company may not be able to be prosecuted after it has gone into liquidation, but SafetyCulture reported last year that legal action will continue against the company.

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04:48 pm, Tuesday 1 January, 2013

New workplace safety legislation has taken effect in South Australia today, 1 January 2013. The Work Health and Safety Act 2012 replaces the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act 1986.

“The new laws are consistent with the old, familiar laws but provide a new approach that clarifies everyone’s roles in workplace safety – from the employers, to the health and safety representatives, to the employee,” said A/Executive Director of SafeWork SA, Robin Scott.

“South Australia already has a strong safety record. In 2012 we were the only state to meet the national target for reducing work-related injuries.

“The new laws will help to further reduce workplace injury and will create avenues for solving safety issues, while ensuring that the same high standards of workplace safety will apply in all states and territories.”

SafeWork SA said the new Act will reduce red tape and will provide interstate workers the same protections and safety standards while also recognising their licensing and training nationally.

Victoria and Western Australia are the only states which have not yet introduced the harmonised laws.

New requirements in the new laws will have transitional periods to give workers and businesses time to comply.

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01:10 pm, Tuesday 11 December, 2012

Unions are calling on the South Australia Government to implement new laws to protect children from abuse at work.

SA Unions State Secretary, Janet Giles said SA currently does not have any child labour laws, which means there is no minimum age a child can legally begin work.

“That means there are no protections for children who are exposed to unsafe work, humiliated, harassed, degraded or ripped off – all forms of child abuse.”

“Our Young Workers Legal Service, which is releasing its annual report today, has had complaints from young people as young as 13 who have experienced issues like these at work.”

“We wouldn’t put up with these things happening to a child in their own home or at school – they shouldn’t be exposed to such abuse in their workplace either.”

According to Ms Giles, the State Government proposed Child Employment Legislation in 2007, but was not supported by the Oppositions and some of the minor parties in the Legislative Council.

“In the recent years, the State Government has strengthened the child protection system in South Australia, which we totally support.”

“We believe, for instance, that employers with a history of abusing young workers should be restricted or banned from employing young people in the future.”

“And we don’t believe that children under 18 should be working in high-risk construction work or in jobs with hazardous risks, like asbestos removal.”

“These children are not low-cost, disposable labour and should never be treated that way.”

“We want to see a legislated minimum working age of 14, with some exemptions for family businesses, the family farm or for work approved by the State Industrial Commission.”

“We believe these new laws are needed to make sure that young people have enough time to study, engage in sports and other social activities and to simply be children.”

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01:14 pm, Thursday 29 November, 2012

Photo: SafetyCulture Library

South Australia’s four-year Asbestos Safety Action Plan will be released at the end of this week, detailing practical activities and continued efforts by stakeholders to manage asbestos and prevent its effects.

Minister for Industrial Relations Russell Wortley during the official launch of the Asbestos Awareness Week 2012 said every South Australian worker and home renovator must be aware of the risks caused by asbestos.

Minister Wortley reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensure asbestos safety and said recently harmonised workplace laws refine and improve measures to manage and control asbestos exposure.

“New nationally harmonised work, health and safety laws will come into effect on 1 January 2013 in South Australia and will include clear directions on the management of asbestos,” said Minister Wortley.

“It’s clear to everyone that the only way to prevent more illness, more death, is to make sure that every worker, every home renovator, is aware of the health dangers and knows how to prevent exposure to asbestos.

“Each year, approximately 650 Australians are diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness and we must do everything to reduce exposure to this deadly dust.”

A total of 642 people were recorded in 2010 to have died from mesothelioma, which is an asbestos-related cancer.

It is estimated that 30,000 to 40,000 Australians will be diagnosed with asbestos-related disease in the next 20 years.

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11:04 am, Thursday 22 November, 2012

The Hon Bill Shorten MP
Photo: Ministers’ Media Centre

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Bill Shorten urged Victoria and Western Australia to introduce the harmonised Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws following South Australia and Tasmania’s move to adopt the new laws.

Mr Shorten said that harmonised laws will reduce red tape and deliver safer workplaces. Implementing the harmonised laws is estimated to generate national net benefits of $250 million each year over the next 10 years. The laws are also expected to generate productivity improvements of up to $2 billion a year over the same period.

“Our most important resource is our people – giving them certainty and greater safety at work is vitally important,” said Mr Shorten.

“With this is mind, I now call on Victoria and Western Australia to introduce their Bills, so workers in these states may also benefit from harmonised laws.”

With workplace in Tasmania and Australia introducing the new laws effective from 1 January 2013, Minister Shorten says 64 in every 100 working Australians will be covered by modern, best practice and consistent laws.

“This year marks the first time in history the majority of Australians will be covered by harmonised work health and safety arrangements,” he said.

“Workers and employers in South Australia and Tasmania will join millions of other Australians already benefitting from harmonised WHS laws in other states and territories.

“This will result in more productive workplaces, but more importantly it will provide safer workplaces so that all working Australians can return home to their loved ones at the end of their working day.”

Peak industry organisations, unions, governments and businesses across the country have been clamouring for harmonised health and safety laws for many years.

“The Gillard Government is now delivering these new arrangements, which include an agreed model Act, and Regulations and Codes of Practice.”

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11:07 pm, Tuesday 13 November, 2012

The Naracoorte Lucindale Council and Grant District Council, both in southeast South Australia, are collaborating to ensure that safety is improved in the saleyards in the area.

The two councils will apply for Commonwealth funding together so that the issues with saleyard infrastructure where trucks operate can be addressed.

They estimate that the entire project will cost $1.5 million and the funding that they are applying for from the Department covers half of that amount.

Both councils say that there are loading ramp issues at Naracoorte and Mount Gambier saleyards whilst the asphalt where the trucks enter the yards and need attention. And safety rails and safe access will be provided for the catwalks around the loading areas.

Steve Bourne from the Naracoorte Council said that you need to exceed the required safety standards not just meet them. OHS issues need to be addressed along with animal welfare concerns, long-term asset maintenance and issues of sustainability.

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