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).
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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).
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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...
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.