VIC: Farm Tractor Crushes Woman

Sunday January 6 2008 Source: The Age

WorkSafe officials are investigating the cause of a tractor accident that crushed an elderly woman to death in rural Victoria.

Victoria Police said the 76-year-old was working with another woman who was driving the tractor on the private property near Echuca village, in the state's north, when the accident happened.

The older woman is believed to have been directing her co-worker, a 48-year-old from Harcourt, who was reversing the tractor along the edge of an irrigation channel when she lost control of the vehicle about 7.40am (AEDT), police spokesman Adam West said.

The older woman, who is thought to have been below the tractor in the irrigation channel, was pinned to the wall of the ditch by a hydraulic platform on the rear of the tractor and died at the scene.

Her name hasn't been released.

Worksafe Victoria is investigating and police are preparing a report for the coroner, Senior Constable West said.

Worksafe Victoria spokesman Michael Birt said the women had been using the tractor to move a pump on the dairy farm.

He said it was the second workplace fatality this year involving people operating heavy equipment and showed the need for extra vigilance in work environments.

"We are concerned that January, particularly, is a dangerous time in workplaces," Mr Birt said.

"Often with lots of people returning to work after a break like Christmas, their minds are not always on the job, they are still in holiday mode and that can lead to shortcuts.

"It's very important that at this time of year - the December, January, February summer period - workers pay extra attention to what they are doing and if it involves heavy machinery that they stay well clear and exercise caution."

OHS NEWS TIP - Tractor Safe Work Method Statement

VIC: Safety Harness Fault May Have Led To Silo Death

Sunday January 6 2008 Source: The West

Victoria's workplace safety watchdog will investigate whether a broken harness may have led to the death of a man in a grain silo accident in the state's west.

The 58-year-old entered the silo about 3.30pm (AEDT) on Wednesday to clear a blockage at the grain facility in South Boundary Road, Hamilton, police said.

But the man became trapped when he sank chest deep into the canola grain.

Police said the man died just before 8pm despite efforts by search and rescue unit members and Country Fire Authority crews to rescue him.

Worksafe Victoria spokesman Michael Birt said an inspector was at the site and would return to the silo.

"One of our inspectors from Warrnambool was up there overnight," Mr Birt said.

"(The man) was wearing a harness when he went in, but the rope may have broken and he's sunk into the grain up to his chest," he said.

"We don't have a lot of detail yet.

"We will be back there today."

The 12-hour ordeal ended at 3.30am today when rescue workers were able to retrieve the man's body after drilling holes near the base of the silo to drain the grain.

"There were numerous attempts by search and rescue squad members, along with the Country Fire Authority to retrieve him, but that was unsuccessful," Senior Constable Karla Dennis told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

"About 3.30 this morning they pulled his body out," Snr Const Dennis said.

"They had to drill some holes in the end to let the grain slowly drain out."

Police have not released the name of the dead man, who was from Hamilton.

A report will now be prepared for the coroner.

WorkSafe inspectors also were preparing a report.

WorkSafe said so far this year 23 people had lost their lives in workplace accidents in Victoria.

OHS NEWS TIP - Using Safety Harness Safe Work Method Statement

VIC: WorkSafe Alert Fruit Pickers Of Dangers

Friday January 4 2008 Source: WorkSafe Victoria

With hundreds of students, backpackers and professional pickers flocking to farms across the state, Worksafe Victoria today called on farmers and labour hire companies to ensure that fruit and not injuries are the only thing collected as the annual harvesting season gets underway.

The New Year has traditionally signalled the start of the Victorian fruit picking season as tomatoes, apples, peaches and pears begin to ripen on the trees and vines.

Worksafe Victoria Executive Director John Merritt said it was crucial that farmers and labour hire companies that supply pickers had strategies in place before harvesting began.

“Even for the most experienced workers farms can be dangerous places to work, but with the added risk of young and inexperienced workers, many with limited English language skills and the risk of injury or worse is extremely high” Mr Merritt said.

Labour hire agencies supplying pickers to farms have a responsibility to make sure that workers are aware of their safety rights and responsibilities.

This includes informing workers how to raise concerns relating to health and safety.

Mr Merritt said common hazards faced by fruit pickers include falls from height, manual handling, forklifts, chemicals, heat exhaustion and exposure to skin damage from the sun.

Falls from heights are a threat to many pickers using ladders and platforms to reach fruit from trees.

“Just because most pickers are working at a low height on ladders doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous. Many serous injuries occur from falls from ladders every year”.

Heavy, repetitive and awkward lifting by fruit pickers is also a major concern.

Mr Merritt said that with fruit pickers and other outdoor workers spending long periods in the sun it is crucial that protective clothing, hats and sunscreen are used to prevent skin damage which could lead to skin cancer.

Forklifts on larger farms and in warehouses also present a risk to workers in fruit picking operations.

“Forklifts are one of the biggest killers in the workplace and it is crucial that those working around them are aware of the danger and strategies are in place to ensure clearly defined walkways”

“Tractors are also a major concern and it is important that only those with experience should drive tractors”

Worksafe Victoria has extensive information on farm safety available on its website www.worksafe.vic.gov.au and urged any employer, farmer or picker needing more assistance to contact their local office.

OHS NEWS TIP- Fruit Picking Safe Work Method Statements

QLD: Farmer Hit Power Lines Using Spray Equipment

Thursday 3 January 2008 Source: The Courier Mail

A FARMER has died after being electrocuted on his property in the state's west last night.

The man, 48, died when the spray rig he was operating hit overhead powerlines on his property in Condamine, near Chinchilla.

Police, emergency services and Ergon Energy attended the scene but were unable to revive the man.

Workplace Health and Safety officers are investigating the fatality.

OHS NEWS TIP - Working Around Electricity Safe Work Method Statement

VIC: Bulldozer Driver Killed Fighting Fires

Wednesday 2 January 2008 Source: The Age

A DRIVER was killed when his bulldozer overturned as he fought a bushfire near Buchan in East Gippsland.

The 45-year-old man from Bendoc was working on a blaze covering 20 hectares at Lightning Track on the eastern side of the Snowy River National Park early yesterday. He was constructing firebreaks with a crew at 1am when the bulldozer rolled, crushing him.

Several firefighters had to be dropped by helicopter into fire fronts to fight some of the 13 fires burning in inaccessible bush areas in East Gippsland.

Three of four firefighters were lowered from a helicopter that descended close to the edge of a fire at Shepherd's Creek, north of Dargo.

About 150 firefighters are working around the clock to try to contain the fires ahead of a return to fire-fanning high temperatures tomorrow and Saturday. The temperature is expected to reach 35 degrees tomorrow and 37 on Saturday.

Department of Sustainability and Environment spokesman Stuart Ord said the department was faced with 17 fires yesterday in state forests and national parks but managed to contain four of them early on.

The fires in Heyfield, Orbost, Nowa and Bendoc fire districts were sparked by a band of lightning that struck the state on New Year's Day, igniting 36 spot fires.

"That is not unusual. Last year, when we had the big fires, we had about 75 lightning strikes in the one hit," Mr Ord said.

The imperative is to get people out and get the fires "all contained as quickly as possible before we have further hot, dry weather on Friday, Saturday".

Late yesterday a new fire was reported at Nunnet Hut.

WorkSafe is investigating the bulldozer accident and police will prepare a report for the State Coroner.

OHS NEWS TIP - Bulldozer Safe Work Method Statement