12:06 pm, Thursday 9 May, 2013

Public sector workplace injuries are on the rise in Western Australia and according to UnionsWA the government needs to improve return to work planning for their employees.

A report release by the WA Auditor General revealed that over the last few years there has been a 3% rise in the incidence of injuries that caused lost time as well as diseases in Western Australia’s public sector along with a 24% increase in severe injuries.

It was also found in the report that four WA government agencies failed to create a return to work program for each employee that needed to have one.

Auditor General Colin Murphy said in the report that the absence of return to work programs meant that it was difficult to assess whether these agencies had planned for their workers return to work and if the medical assistance that was given suited the needs of the workers.

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02:46 pm, Thursday 25 April, 2013

A police officer in Western Australia was injured when a car at a random breath testing station hit him.

Senior Sergeant Richard Moore, the acting officer in charge at Bunbury, said that it would be alleged that the police were holding a Random Breath Test Action at Norton Promenade in Dalyellup when the incident happened.

They allege that a woman in a Toyota Camry started to merge into the lane as requested by police prior to then driving forward and hitting the police officer and causing the injuries.

The police officer was hit by the bonnet of the car and sustained minor hip and thigh injuries.

The 55 year old woman that was the driver of the car sill be summonsed for careless driving and recording an alcohol reading higher than 0.05.

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12:31 pm, Sunday 17 February, 2013

Industry and government bodies in Western Australia have confirmed that there were no fatalities on the state’s mines last year, which is the first time in over a century.

Norman Moore the WA Mines and Petroleum Minister said that this result was because of the efforts of the mining industry and government reforms but also cautioned that efforts should not be relaxed.

He said that mining is a dangerous business and that zero fatalities was the aim and he was very pleased that it had been achieved.

He said that everyone needs to remain focused on OHS in WA mines and ensure that it remains the top priority.

Nicole Roocke, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy director, said that she was pleased with this result and also cautioned against complacency and reminded the industry to stay on guard so that everyone returns hom safe and well.

Chamber of Minerals and Energy director Nicole Roocke said it was a pleasing result, but the sector would remain on guard. “The resource sector will remain vigilant and work hard to ensure everyone gets home safe and well,” she said.

This result is released as both Queensland and Western Australia are still debating with the Federal Government about adopting national OHS laws for mines.

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12:40 pm, Wednesday 13 February, 2013

Three people were transported to hospital after an ambulance collided with a car in Hilton Western Australia last Thursday morning.

According to a spokesperson from the St John Ambulance Service the ambulance that was involved in the accident was carrying a patient with chest pains from South Lake.

He said that the car was turning when it was hit by the ambulance at the intersection of South and Paget Streets.

An additional two ambulances were dispatched to the scene to assist and three people including the original patient were transported to Fremantle hospital.

The paramedic who had been in the back of the ambulance treating the patient plus the driver of the car were also taken to the hospital.

The spokesperson said that this kind of accident was a reminder that road users need to be aware of emergency vehicles.

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11:23 am, Saturday 9 February, 2013

Three WA police officers were transported to hospital with minor injuries following an alleged car chase through Kelmscott on Thursday night.

Around midnight police was carrying out routine patrols in Armadale when a black Holden Commodore was seen switching off its lights and speeding away.

The police pursued the vehicle for a short time until they found the vehicle on Brookton Hwy in Kelmscott with a flat tire.

The driver, a 30-year-old man fro Armadale, allegedly reversed into one police vehicle and pushed it into a ditch.

He then, according to reports, tried to accelerate into a second police car. The man was removed from the car and taken to Armadale Hospital along with the three injured police officers.

A spokesperson for police said that the man has not been charged as yet and investigation into the incident is ongoing.

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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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05:00 pm, Monday 5 November, 2012

Western Australia’s Rail, Tram and Bus union (RTBU) is claiming that qualified workers are not used to check the overhead power lines that supply Perth’s train network according to an ABC report.

Last month the train services at the Joondalup line were interrupted when power lines cam down onto a moving train, the cause of this incident is being investigated.

The rail union says that none of the staff that working on the signaling equipment and overhead lines have the right qualifications to do so.

Paul Robinson from the union has said that there is an urgent need for training; if there was an incident where the overhead lines came down adjacent to a train station there could be catastrophic results.

Mr Robinson said that there has been a request submitted to the Public Transport Authority (PTA) for that training but they responded that it would be necessary to get someone from Queensland who would be certified to run that training.

According to the PTA this training would commence in June 2013.

Mr Robinson has said that the union feels that the training should start immediately because of the risk to workers and the general public.

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11:11 am, Tuesday 30 October, 2012

A 24-year-old worker from Queensland was directly struck by lightening when working on a rail line southeast of Port Hedland in Western Australia; a second worker was thrown to the ground with the force of the lightening strike.

Both workers were taken to the Hedland Health Campus for treatment.

The man that was struck received burns to five percent of his body and is in a stable condition in hospital while the other worker was discharged after being treated for a minor neck injury.

The employer of the men said that at the time of the incident the workers were getting ready to leave the worksite. The incident is being investigated.

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07:03 pm, Thursday 18 October, 2012

Photo: SafetyCulture Library

A volunteer firefighter was injured when the fire truck that she was a passenger in fell into a hole near Newman in WA. The incident happened last night after a crew of firefighters had been called to a fire near the town of Newman at about 7pm.

The ground beneath the light tanker collapsed at about 10.23pm and the firefighter is believed to have sustained spinal injuries.

She was transported to Newman hospital by road and later flown to Perth for additional treatment.

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10:46 am, Sunday 30 September, 2012

The 2012 Injury Prevention Summit will be held on the 26^th November this year with the theme “Partnership and Community Engagement.”

The Summit is hosted by the Injury Control Council of Western Australia and WA Department of Health and will ask about attendee’s hopes for the future and what the next ten years will hold for injury prevention issues amongst other compelling questions.

For more information see the ICCWA website.

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