In the media

Company fined $30,000 after worker crushed by reversing truck
A Delacombe company was fined $30,000 in Ballarat Magistrates Court after a worker suffered life-threatening injuries after being crushed by a reversing truck. The company pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe system of work (04 February 2013). More...

Psychosocial safety at work
An Australian Government report, Performance Benchmarking of Australian Business Regulation: Occupational Health and Safety states that psychosocial hazards are not given the same attention in OHS legislation and by inspectors as physical hazards (01 February 2013). More...

Dozens of notices issued in work safety blitz
The Work Safety Commissioner says he is particularly concerned about electrical safety procedures on worksites. A safety blitz on building sites in the north Canberra suburb of Harrison has resulted in scores of improvement notices and on-the-spot fines (31 January 2013). More...

Kingston building site shutdown
WorkSafeACT has shut down a building site in Canberra's inner-south where an apprentice electrician was injured last week. Work safety commissioner says work will not be allowed to continue until the contractor's out-dated work practices are brought up to speed (29 January 2013). More...

WorkSafe investigates first fatality of 2013
WorkSafe is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a worker in Somerton yesterday. General Manager for Health and Safety Operations, Lisa Sturzenegger, said this was the first workplace fatality for 2013 (31 January 2013). More...

WorkCover issues safety plea after worker injured by exploding drum
WorkCover NSW is urging people to be cautious when working with empty drums after a man suffered serious burns when the drum he was cutting exploded, and businesses and workers should also consider what work is undertaken near stored flammable materials that may cause ignition (31 January 2013). More...

WorkCover urges tractor safety after farmer seriously injured
Acting General Manager of WorkCover's Work Health and Safety Division, operating tractors and tractor implements on a farm was a high-risk activity, after six fatalities and 1,766 injuries in the agriculture industry during 2010/11 that cost the WorkCover Scheme more than $20 million (29 January 2013). More...

In practice and courts

ACCC recalls of unsafe ladders
The ACCC has negotiated recalls with two suppliers of multipurpose ladders in Australia after testing found the ladders failed to perform as they claimed. The ladders that have been recalled are:
Auspac Sources Pty Ltd—Multi-Purpose Adjustable Multiple Configuration Folding Step Ladder supplied online by Crazysales.com.au and DSG Holdings Australia Pty Ltd—Multi-Fold Aluminium Ladder 8.5ft / 2.6m. More...

Alert: New Amendment released for AS/NZS 3000
Any work being performed to AS/NZS 3000 may not comply with the latest edition of the Standard. According to section 1.2 Application (page 21) of AS/NZS 3000:2007: This Standard may be applied through legislative requirements, made in each State and Territory of Australia and in New Zealand, concerned with the safety of electrical installations. More...

NSW

WorkCover NSW: heat safety campaign
As well as providing water and encouraging workers to keep hydrated, WorkCover recommends employer actions to reduce workers' exposure to prevent heat stress. Further information on heat stress management and working safely in the sun (08 February 2013). More...

Workcover NSW: Help for flood and fire affected workers, employers and businesses
WorkCover has allocated additional resources to help residents, businesses, workers and major organisations in bushfire and flood affected areas (06 February 2013). More...

WorkCover NSW: fact sheet for cutting fuel drums and empty containers
Businesses and workers should consider what work is undertaken near stored flammable materials, that may cause ignition and has published a Fact Sheet: Cutting Fuel Drums and Empty Containers – Explosion Hazard to help businesses and workers that are considering cutting empty drums (31 January 2013). More...

WorkCover NSW: Safety checklist for tractor safety
WorkCover NSW has developed a 15 minute farm safety checklist that farmers can use to identify and address general and specific farm safety risks such as tractors and equipment, chemicals, silos and field bins (29 January 2013). More...

Queensland

Workplace Health and Safety's latest film on asbestos
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland have released a film, Clear and present danger: Asbestos exposed, which shows common places where asbestos can be found in a typical Queensland home built before 1990 (04 February 2013). More...

Explosion in an industrial vacuum truck - Department of Mines and Industry Safety Alert 298
Recommends procedures for safe work after injury caused by explosion, including identifying any sumps that may contain hydrocarbons or other flammable materials before clean up work starts and suitable electrical protection techniques are present (01 February 2013). More...

Workplace health and safety laws when cleaning after floods and storms: DEIR
Employers and workers involved in the flood and storm recovery efforts must still remember their obligations under Queensland's health and safety laws and the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (the Act) (01 February 2013). More...

Standards Australia releases

Standards Australia has released the following new edition
AS 1926.1-2012, Swimming pool safety - Safety barriers for swimming pools More...

DR AS/NZS 2815.6 - Training and certification of occupational divers
Part 6: Restricted occupational SCUBA diver Published 01 February 2013 Comment Closes: 05 April 2013. More...

SA RUL RP.1-2013 - Ruling to respiratory protective equipment Standards
Ruling 1: Protection factor for Class P3 filters (Ruling to AS/NZS 1715:2009) Published 04 February 2013. More...

DR AS/NZS 1576.3 - Scaffolding - Part 3: Prefabricated and tube-and-coupler scaffolding
Published 30 January 2013. More...

DR AS/NZS 1596 - The storage and handling of LP Gas
Published 01 February 2013 Comment Closes: 05 April 2013. More...

Cases

Director, Office of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate v Construction, Forestry, Inspector Hughes v Advanced Metal Door Frames Pty Ltd [2013] NSWIRComm 2
Advanced Metal Door Frames Pty Ltd (AMDF) is convicted of the offence and fined $90,000 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 - pleas of guilty - employee injured while operating an unguarded press - systems of work for the operation of the press informal and undocumented at time of accident - no safe systems in place to ensure safety devices on the press were adequately maintained, properly aligned, tested and operational - disputed facts considered - objective factors considered - subjective factors considered - orders
Criminal Procedure Act 1986; Fines Act 1996; Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000. More...

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