In the Media

Solar farms to get safety exam from SafeWork
With 16 large-scale solar farms in operation and more under construction, the NSW workplace safety regulator will be visiting solar farm construction sites across regional NSW as part of a targeted safety campaign to ensure compliance (07 October 2021). More...

Focus on childcare bottom dollar leads to more safety breaches, report finds
Safety breaches at childcare centres leading to penalties have disproportionately happened at those run by for-profit providers and the problem is getting worse (06 October 2021). More...

Ice skating rink operator fined $50,000
A WorkSafe investigation found carbon monoxide emissions in the exhaust from an LPG powered ice resurfacing machine, that was regularly used to polish the rink, exceeded recommended levels. The court heard the machine was defective and had not been properly maintained or tuned to minimise the levels of carbon monoxide in the exhaust emissions (04 October 2021). More...

Construction company fined $50,000 after worker crushed
A WorkSafe investigation found that the company had failed to prepare and implement a Safe Work Method Statement for high risk construction work that specifically addressed the loading and unloading of machinery (05 September 2021). More...

Victorian Department of Health charged over hotel quarantine
WorkSafe Victoria has charged Victoria's Department of Health with 58 breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act over a range of hotel quarantine failures (05 October 2021). More...

Major miners and OEMs unite on autonomous safety
A new whitepaper highlights the importance of having a system safety approach towards autonomous mining as technological advancements continue to underwrite the mining industry (04 October 2021). More...

Hospital fined $60,000 after worker bullied
Wyndham Clinic was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty on 27 September to one charge of failing to provide and maintain, as far as was reasonably practicable, systems of work that were safe and without risks to health. The company was also ordered to pay costs of $19,630 (01 October 2021). More...

Safety crackdown after hundreds of forklift incidents
Safework NSW is warning businesses using forklifts they will be visited after the workplace regulator releases astonishing figures noting an incident involving a forklift occurs every day, six days a week (30 September 2021). More...

New pulse check to measure your workplace's mental health
The NSW Government has launched a new Workplace Pulse Check tool to help businesses improve their mental health support and access relevant training and materials from SafeWork NSW (30 September 2021). More...

Early signs of mobile crane improvements, but scaffolding remains a significant concern
With two months left in the Hazard 2020 campaign, data trends are consolidating, highlighting where Scheme accredited companies must take further action on to improve site safety on scaffolding in particular (30 September 2021). More...

Electroplater fined $300,000 after worker crushed
ACE Metal Treatment Services was sentenced in the Melbourne County Court after pleading guilty to a charge of failing to maintain plant that was safe and without risks to health (29 September 2021). More...

Mine technologies a blessing for worker health: Report
Mental health has been identified as the number-one health and safety issue in the international resources sector according to a recent survey of global mining executives (27 September 2021). More...

Recycler fined $70,000 after worker lost hand
SKM Services Pty Ltd was convicted on a charge of failing, as far as was reasonably practicable, to provide a safe workplace and sentenced in Broadmeadows Magistrates' Court on 22 September (27 September 2021). More...

Free WHS safety advice for farming businesses
The NSW Government and NSW Farmers have launched a workplace safety program providing education and advice to the agriculture industry to help reduce farm-related death, injury and disease (23 September 2021). More...

Creating a new digital tool to help manage 'AI' WHS risks
The NSW Government's Centre for Work Health and Safety is developing a digital Artificial Intelligence (AI) Risk Management Tool to help businesses manage workplace health and safety risks when introducing and using the technology. An example of the Centre's AI WHS scorecard can be viewed here (23 September 2021). More...

Published – articles, papers, reports

Safe Work Australia fatality statistics
As at 30 September, 89 Australian workers were killed at work in 2021. The numbers and industries may vary from one report to the next, as Safe Work receives more detailed information (to check for updates and more details on fatalities since 2003, go to the Safe Work Australia Work-related fatalities webpage).

In practice and courts

Safe Work Australia: Make health and safety part of your workplace culture
This National Safe Work Month, Safe Work Australia encourages all Australians to make health and safety a central part of their workplace culture by thinking safe, working safe and being safe. Safe Work Australia's National Safe Work Month website has resources to help you think, work and be safe (30 September 2021). More...

COMCARE Regulatory update – removal of a plant registration condition
In accordance with regulation 283 of the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011, Comcare has considered the submissions received and has decided to cease the condition to submit annual plant maintenance notifications to Comcare from 1 October 2021.
Comcare has developed a factsheet about the condition removal with further details around plant risk factors, legal requirements, reasons for the change and next steps. More...

NSW

Australian-first tool to improve labour hire worker safety
SafeWork NSW has released an Australian-first labour hire toolkit as part of its Safe Work Month program, to improve the safety of at-risk workers. The labour hire toolkit is available here, via the SafeWork NSW website. As part of its October program, NSW has also released a 'Workplace Pulse Check' tool to support Mental Health Month, which is available here (01 October 2021).

Incidents, alerts & investigations
2 September 2021 – Safety Bulletin SB21-05 – fire risk of battery units for underground battery electric vehicles. More...

Mine Safety News
30/09/2021 – Mine Safety News

Queensland

Overburden drill falls onto light vehicle | Resources Safety & Health Queensland
5 October 2021 | 397
A Coal Mine Worker received injuries when a blasthole drill toppled on its side at a coal mine.
Equipment failure or modifications; Human factors; Plant failure or damage; Vehicle collision or failure. More...

WorkSafe Qld: DC isolators – consequences of cancellation of a number of certifications
Direct current (DC) isolators used in photovoltaic solar systems in household installations are classified as high risk (level 3) electrical equipment in the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS). They are required to be registered on the EESS national database before they are supplied in Queensland. This registration requires using a valid certificate of conformity (06 September 2021). More...

WorkSafe Qld: Worker falls from elevating work platform
Taking steps to manage risks is a condition of doing business in Queensland. This responsibility is covered by your primary duty of care in the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. Use the hierarchy of controls to help decide how to eliminate and reduce risks in your place of work (30 September 2021). More...

WorkSafe Qld: Worker fatally crushed after being hit by moving vehicle
There have been a number of incidents in Queensland where transport industry workers have been seriously injured or killed because a vehicle hasn't been effectively immobilised while work or maintenance is being undertaken. You can manage these risks by implementing appropriate control measures outlined here (29 September 2021). More...

Victoria

ESV: Industry Alert: Certificates for some DC isolators cancelled
ESV recently issued a safety alert about DC Isolators – cancellation of a number of certifications. The certification of certain types of DC isolators has been cancelled and they can no longer be sold in Victoria until re-certification can take place. Private certifiers SAA Approvals cancelled 18 certifications for DC isolators on 29 September (06 October 2021). More...
ESV is calling for submissions in relation to a consultation paper proposing enhancements to the safety of DC isolators in PV systems. ESV invites interested parties to review the consultation paper and make a submission. Submissions close on 8 October 2021. More...

Cases

Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable Undertakings
Information about the most recent prosecution and Enforceable Undertaking outcomes
Kenneth Charles Jensen
Wodonga Magistrates' Court – Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 Section 26 & 144(1)
Outcome 30 Sep 2021
Wyndham Clinic Pty Ltd
Melbourne Magistrates' Court – Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 Section 21(1) & 21(2)(a)
Outcome 30 Sep 2021

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