In the media
National plan for action on asbestos safety and
eradication
The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency has been working with
all jurisdictions and stakeholders to develop the plan for asbestos
awareness, management and eradication by 30 June 2013, with seven
out of the eight state and territory representatives are supporting
the development of the National Plan (03 May 2013).
More...
Winners announced for national Safe Work Australia
Awards
Twenty-nine finalists from across Australia were honoured at the
annual Safe Work Australia Awards held in Canberra on Monday 29
April. These awards showcase the best in workplace safety
solutions, innovations and systems across our nation (02 May 2013).
More...
ACT WorkSafe notices after blitz on site
WorkSafe inspectors will issue more than two dozen notices after a
safety blitz at a city building site, a total of 27 notices to be
issued, primarily on sub-contractors, noting ''room for
improvement'' in terms of safety (02 May 2013).
More...
NSW businesses urged to manage workplace
noise
With hazardous noise a major cause of hearing loss in NSW
workplaces, WorkCover NSW is reminding NSW business of the
importance of managing hazardous noise in the workplace. A code of
practice outlines what is required to manage noise and control the
risks associated with exposure to noise (02 May 2013).
More...
Adelaide company fined for finger loss
The SA Industrial Court has fined Adelaide Mushrooms Pty Ltd
$26,250 plus legal fees after a worker's finger was caught in a
machine that had no guard in place (02 May 2013).
More...
Safework call to stop more quad bike
deaths
Safe Work Australia Chief Executive Officer, Mr Rex Hoy has called
for quad bike manufacturers to immediately reconsider their
position on fitting crush protection devices to quad bikes to help
prevent more quad bike deaths or life-changing injuries (26 April
2013).
More...
Breaking the 'culture of safety
silence'
The ACT construction industry is attempting to break its culture of
silence when it comes to unsafe work practices on building sites
(24 April 2013).
More...
Fatality fine highlights risk of drum
explosions
Diamond Powder Coaters (WA) has been fined $85,000 over the death
of a worker when a drum he was cutting into with an angle grinder
exploded in 2010. The company pleaded guilty to failing to provide
a safe work environment and, by that failure, causing the death of
the worker (22 April 2013).
More...
New standard for electricity network safety management
systems
Standards Australia has published a new Australian Standard for
electricity network safety management systems. The standard, AS
5577: 2013 Electricity Network Safety Management Systems, was
developed by Technical Committee EN-004 consisting of companies,
industry associations, regulatory authorities and government
representatives (22 April 2013).
More...
RailCorp fined $150,000, takes blame for track
death
Sydney's train operator has pleaded guilty in its first
prosecution by the rail safety authority over a 2010 death in which
a track cleaner was struck and killed by a train while he was
working at Kogarah (21 April 2013).
More...
In practice and courts
QLD DEIR: Truck and trailer ramps
The purpose of this safety alert is to highlight the risks
associated with powered ramps on trucks and trailers (18 April
2013).
More...
AS/NZS 60079.11:2011/Amdt 1:2013
Explosive atmospheres - Equipment protection by intrinsic safety
'i'.
More...
Cases
Inspector Cobbin v Transfield Services Engineering Group
[2013] NSWIRComm 33
The defendant is fined an amount of $100,000 with a moiety thereof
to the prosecutor. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - prosecution
under s 10(2) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 -
maintenance services industry - collapse of steel frame - worker
seriously injured - general and specific deterrence - subjective
factors - plea of guilty to amended application for order- penalty
imposed – costs. Corporations Act 2001; Crimes (Sentencing
Procedure) Act 1999; Occupational Heath and Safety Act 2000;
Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001. More...
Independent Transport Safety Regulator v Australian Rail
Track Corporation Ltd. [2013] NSWIRComm 31
The defendant is fined the sum of $160,000 with half that amount of
be paid to the prosecutor by way of moiety. RAIL SAFETY ACT 2008 -
s 8(1) - work team performing duties in rail corridor - fatal
injuries received by team member when train unexpectedly appears at
fixed work site - guilty plea entered - numerous failures in
otherwise detailed safety system - failure to close line to be
worked upon - failure to comply with system for closing line -
failure to adequately audit and monitor safety communications -
failure to use secondary safety system of flags and detonators near
work site - safety rules capable of being read separately when
required to be read together - failure of supervision at work site
when Protection Officer required to implement secondary safety
system - unsafe practices evolve whereby work performed on a line
when train traffic operating - risks foreseeable - serious breach
established - general and specific deterrence considered - many
subjective factors mitigate level of penalty - early plea - first
offender - established safety system - contrition demonstrated -
steps taken to address deficiency in safety system - co-operation
with investigating authorities - penalty imposed. CRIMES
(SENTENCING PROCEDURE) ACT 1999 - s 22A - availability of discount
for assistance to administration of justice - whether additional
discount available where guilty plea entered and discount
separately granted for utilitarian value of plea. 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.
CU LAB: Bullying on employers' social media - who's responsible?
