In the media
Spiros Pandelakis of Academic Systems fined $650,000 and
given suspended jail term for fire safety
infringements
A budget accommodation operator has copped a $650,000 fine and
suspended jail term for not following fire safety regulations.
Queensland Fire and Rescue Commissioner said QFRS makes no
apologies for enforcing regulations to ensure the safety and
well-being of all Queenslanders, as well as interstate and overseas
visitors (08 March 2013). More...
Construction blitz finds safety
shortfalls
Dangerous scaffolding, unsafe work at height and inadequate
temporary fencing were just some of the 90 safety breaches WorkSafe
inspectors found on housing construction sites across western
Victoria under Operation Safesite. Inspectors will conduct
follow-up visits in the coming weeks to ensure all health and
safety breaches had been rectified (07 March 2013).
More...
Builder fined over fall
A builder was fined and also recently ordered to pay costs on top
of the fine, pleading guilty to breaching the Occupational Health
and Safety Act after a fall on the Gould Bros construction site in
September 2008. Gould Bros were previously fined $300,000 for the
accident and entered voluntary administration last year (03 March
2013).
More...
The cost of poor work safety
Building companies doing the right thing won't be penalised
under recommendations of the safety inquiry, according to the ACT
Work Safety Commissioner. The inquiry report recommends improvement
of the capacity of the regulator to catch and impose sanctions on
those who are not complying with laws (01 March 2013).
More...
Govt crackdown on worksite safety The ACT Government has agreed to all of the recommendations from a damning report into Canberra's construction industry. The report found the ACT has a distressing safety record with the serious injury rate 31 per cent higher than the national average (26 February 2013). More...
Company fined $60,000 over lifter
incident
A company has been fined $60,000 (plus $7673 in costs) over an
incident in which a female worker was injured when a lifting device
fell onto her from the rear of a truck. National Fleet
Administrative Services Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to
provide and maintain a safe work environment for a person not being
an employee of National Fleet Administrative Services (26 February
2013).
More...
In practice and courts
QLD: Feedback on workplace health and safety
laws
The Newman Government is seeking feedback from small business on
the impact of national workplace health and safety laws. The online
survey can be completed anonymously at www.business.qld.gov.au
(27 February 2013).
More...
New Australian Safety Standards
AS IEC 61800.5.1-2013
Adjustable speed electrical power drive systems - Safety
requirements - Electrical, thermal and energy.
More...
AS IEC 61800.5.2-2013
Adjustable speed electrical power drive systems - Safety
requirements—Functional.
More...
Cases
Inspector McGrath v Cooper [2013] NSWIRComm
14
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - Occupational Health and Safety
Act 2000 (the Act) - plea of guilty to amended charge under s 9 of
the Act - store manager injured after falling 2.9 metres from the
unprotected edge of a mezzanine floor under construction -
defendant contracted to build the mezzanine floor - defendant's
responsibility to ensure fall protection measures were in place -
conduct of injured person taken into account in mitigation of
objective seriousness of the offence - offence objectively serious
- deterrence principles considered - specific deterrence not
applied - subjective factors - costs - whether costs order should
be proportionate to fine imposed – orders. More...
InterCoast Refrigerated Transport Pty Ltd (in
Liquidation) v Inspector Batty (WorkCover Authority of New South
Wales) [2013] NSWIRComm 12
APPEAL - OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT 2000 - s 8(1) - a
first instance finding made of unsafe system of work - repairs
being made to prime mover and trailers with assistance of driver -
prime mover rolls over inadequate wheel chocks - driver killed in
attempting to stop prime mover - failure to direct drivers not to
participate in repairs and to stay clear of vehicle - appeal raised
matters not raised at first instance and focuses on accident not
the particularised risk - directions capable of being understood -
driver participating in repair work when performing work normally
undertaken by contracted service provider - appeals dismissed. More...
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