05:52 pm, Wednesday 15 May, 2013

Photo: SafetyCulture Library

A roofing contractor was fined $2500.00 for conducting work on a roof without sufficient fall prevention system.

The contractor pleaded guilty to failing to provide adequate fall prevention where there was a risk that a person could fall two metres or more, and was fined in the Mandurah Magistrates Court last week.

In May 2011 the worker was seen by a WorkSafe inspector working near the edge of the roof of a single-storey tilt-up panel warehouse. He was not wearing any fall injury prevention system and had no edge protection. He was issued a Prohibition Notice.

He was previously issued with five Prohibition Notices between 2005 and 2008 in relation to working at heights without proper fall prevention system.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch was disappointed that there are still people who are not taking risks of falls seriously.

“It is evident that (the worker) just assumed that he was not going to fall from the roof and consequently did not bother to take any preventive measures,” said Mr McCulloch.

“Falls are a significant cause of workplace death, and 16 Western Australian workers have died as a result of falls in the last four years,” he said.

Mr McCulloch said accidents are preventable and encouraged workers to ensure that safe systems of work are in place.

“Falls are almost always readily preventable, and it need not be difficult or costly to ensure that safe systems of work are in place at all times.

“A Code of Practice on fall prevention has existed in WA for more than 20 years. The current code is comprehensive, providing information on the identification of common fall hazards.

“I urge any person or entity in control of a workplace that presents a risk of falls to ensure safe systems of work in place and that this code is available in the workplace at all times.”

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

02:38 pm, Wednesday 15 August, 2012

WorkCover reminds businesses and workers to take extreme care while working at heights following a number of serious incidents in the past few months.

WorkCover NSW General Manager John Watson said a worker died and several others seriously injured in separate incidents across NSW.

“Woking from heights is hazardous work and, as these incidents show, a fall can result in serious injury or death,” said Mr Watson.

“Recently we saw a number of falls that could have been avoided, including:

• A fitter in Wetherill Park suffered serious head injuries when he fell three metres from the boom of a mobile crane he had mounted to conduct repairs.
• A worker sustained serious damage including fractures to his skull, eye socket, hip, pelvis, elbow and wrist after falling eight metres through a skylight when conducting work on a solar hot water system on the roof of a commercial building in Byron Bay.
• A labourer/boilermaker died in Newcastle when he fell 10 metres from an elevated work platform while not wearing a harness
• A bricklayer in Sylvania, in the Sutherland Shire, lost his balance while building a wall and fell more than three metres, sustaining a concussion, fractured spine and broken ribs.
• A tree lopper in Alstonville, west of Ballina, broke his leg and injured his hand and wrist when he fell after a tree limb struck him;
• A volunteer in Nimbin, west of Byron Bay fell 1.5 metres from a ladder while helping build a shed, sustaining injuries to his shoulder and skull.

“Under work health and safety laws, workplaces must have safety systems in place to prevent workers falling from heights,” said Mr Watson.

“Businesses must provide workers with information, instruction, training and supervision in risk control procedures.

“Workers are required to follow the procedures set out by the business, which in turn must provide a safe workplace by identifying foreseeable fall hazards and taking action to manage those risks,” he said.

A person conducting a business or undertaking must take adequate measures to ensure protection against the risk of fall by the following hierarchy of controls where reasonably practicable to do so:

• Carry out the work on the ground or on a solid construction.
• Provide a fall prevention device such as a secure fence, edge protection, working platforms or covers.
• Provide a work positioning system (any plant or structure, other than a temporary work platform, that safely holds a worker in a work position).
• Provide a fall arrest system such as an industrial safety net, a catch platform, or a safety harness system.

More information on working safely with heights can be accessed through the WorkCover NSW website.

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11:44 am, Tuesday 7 August, 2012

A 20-year-old construction worker was seriously hurt when he fell through a roof that he was working on and landed on a concrete slab. He was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital where he remains in a critical condition with head injuries.

Workplace Standards will now conduct an investigation into how the accident happened at a worksite in Stoney Rise Devonport. According to their General manager, Roy Omerod Workplace Standards will be looking at the safety procedures at the site.

According to an ABC News report, he said that there are regulations in place about working from heights and that workers should have restraints, harnesses and access to scaffolding if it can reach the work area, and that charges could be laid.

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

11:31 am, Tuesday 10 April, 2012

A safety warning on working from heights has been issued by WorkCover NSW following four serious incidents in recent months.

John Watson, General Manager of WorkCover NSW Work Health and Safety Division said that three workers had died and one worker was seriously injured in separate incidents across the state.

“Working from heights can be dangerous and, as these incidents show, a fall can result in serious injury or death,” said Mr Watson.

“These risks are highlighted by WorkCover data that indicates 2009/10 5,745 workers were injured in a fall from heights at a cost of more than $72 million.

“Under work health and safety laws, workplaces must have safety systems in place to prevent workers falling from heights.

“Businesses must provide workers with information, instruction, training and supervision in risk control procedures.

“Workers are required to follow the procedures set out by the business who must provide a safe workplace by identifying foreseeable hazards, assessing risks and taking action to eliminate or control those risks.”

There are specific measures that workplace safety laws require to minimise the risks of working at heights.

• Appropriate personal protective equipment should be used.
• The work area should be stable.
• Physical barriers should be in place over exposed edges.
• Safe access and walkways should be provided to all parts of your workplace.

More information on working from heights can be found on the WorkCover website.

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

09:57 am, Friday 22 October, 2010

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) has affirmed its commitment for the harmonisation Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) laws, stating that it will continue working with other jurisdictions over the coming year.

Workplace Relations Ministers from around Australia had come to a consensus in 2008 to nationally harmonise OHS laws. Currently, Safe Work Australia is developing model OHS laws that will be implemented by the end of 2011 by each territory and state.

According to WHSQ, the drafts for the following Model OHS regulations have been considered by the Strategic Issues Group – Occupational Health and Safety:

* hazardous chemicals and inorganic lead;
* construction and induction training;
* asbestos;
* falls;
* confined spaces;
* noise;
* manual tasks;
* diving work.

The model regulations are expected to be made available for public comment in a few weeks. The period for public comments will end on February 2011.

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

07:26 am, Monday 18 October, 2010

“Heinz Wagga Wagga employs more than 100 people and produces around 9000 tonnes of canned goods every year,” he said.

“It’s a major regional employer which exports internationally and the safety of workers, especially in manufacturing industries is the highest priority for WorkCover.

“I want to congratulate them on behalf of WorkCover on this great achievement.”

He said the plant has introduced various safety improvement programs, such as training for  first aid, chemical awareness and working at heights. He said the company also  conducts ongoing surveys to determine areas where they can further improve safety.

According to Mr Watson, Heinz Wagga Wagga is one of many companies across the state which puts an emphasis on the safety of employees.

“The message is simple: safe business is good business,” he said.

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