For the latest update on OHS News and information from across Australia.

OHS News - May 2008

QLD: Shift Work Takes Its Toll

Saturday May 31st 2008 9:45 a.m. Source: Courier Mail

While most of us are asleep at night, an army of workers keeps the country running. While most people dread the 9-5 shift, spare a thought for the 1.7 million people who work through the night to keep the country ticking over.

Almost a sixth of all workers in Australia have worked the graveyard shift some time in the past 12 months.

Carrying bar staff, taxi-drivers, cleaners and police officers, call centre workers and nurses, the streets aren't deserted after dark.

But night work, as most who do it would attest, can take its toll.

Over one in 10 shiftworkers will suffer a work-related injury, nearly double those who work daytime hours, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The average night shiftworker is deprived of five to seven hours sleep a week, says Woolcock Institute of Medical Research psychologist Dr Delwyn Bartlett. Those who rotate between night and day shift can potentially be worse off, she says.

Most workers do not fully adapt to working at night, she says.

"What happens is that you are sleepy at night when you are meant to be alert, hence all the accidents. Then you are battling every day to try to sleep," Bartlett says.

Studies have shown it takes 70 nights and 70 days for someone to become nocturnal.

"The average shiftworker isn't going to do that (work 70 nights straight)," Bartlett says. "They have a life, they have family, they have friends."

A police officer, who declined to be named, says despite working night-shift sporadically over his 10-year career in the force, his body has never become used to it.

"Certainly working nights takes it out on your body," he says. "For the most part all I'm thinking about is my pillow by the end of the shift."

Most officers work on a rotating roster of two night shifts, followed by two days, he says. Shifts are usually 12 hours.

The senior constable says despite following the advice on the police intranet how to best cope with working nights and following the tips on sleeping during the day, his body has not been able to fully adjust to working shiftwork.

"As long as the sun rises in the morning and sets at night, with your circadian rhythms you are always going to want to sleep at night," he says.

Bartlett says while some people are naturally better able to handle working at night than others, there are ways employees can reduce the impacts of shiftwork.

Bartlett says "morning people" – those who are early to rise and early to bed – are less suited to shiftwork than night owls.

Although a hot cuppa might seem the perfect tonic to ward off tiredness during the night, Bartlett says shiftworkers should avoid caffeine during the last half of a shift.

"Caffeine can have a half-life of up to eight hours in the body," she says.

Eating well and exercising can help ward off tiredness during the night, she says.

"When we are continually tired we eat the wrong things, such as fat, salt and sugar," she says.

"You're more likely to eat fatty and sugary foods because they give you a (short-term) boost of energy.

"Exercise helps you to feel awake because it raises your core body temperature.

OHS News Tip: Shift Work Safe Work Method Statement

NSW: High-Pressure Hose Causes Death

Friday May 30th 2008 10:26 a.m. Source: Illawarra News

A union has put a blanket ban on the use of all ultra high-pressure water hoses across the state after the death of Woonona man Setaleki Kolomaka at Port Kembla steelworks last week.

The ban comes as the Mercury learnt that a Bulli man employed by the same company, Veolia Environmental Services, had a similar accident - though not fatal - with a high-pressure hose in Nowra in 2005.

Mr Kolomaka, 39, died after he was hit in the chest by an ultra high-pressure stream of water while cleaning a catchment sump at BlueScope's Springhill site last Thursday.

Wollongong Police Inspector Mark Lavers said Mr Kolomaka lost control of the hose while breaking up sediment at the bottom of a large pit in an area known as the 21 Dump.

"His colleague was standing 5m to 7m behind him controlling the water flow by a foot-activated pedal," Insp Lavers said.

The hose was fed by a high-pressure truck and was connected to a stainless steel lance that was held by Mr Kolomaka to control the direction of the water.

The pressure of the water was 10,000psi (pounds per square inch) - strong enough to cut through wood and concrete.

West Australian safety consultant Bob Mulligan, a former mine inspector and a member of the Mineral Drilling Association of Australia, believes the lance should have been mounted or fixed in place and that the person holding the hose should have been operating the pedal.

"If they are using big hoses with that sort of pressure, they need to have some sort of method of securing that hose rather than just having someone hanging onto the end of it," Mr Mulligan said.

"Also, if there is a foot pedal, it should have been the guy who was holding the hose that had his foot on it, rather than somebody else, because if you fall over or whatever, your foot is going to come off the pedal and shut the pressure off instantly. But if someone else has their foot on the pedal and something goes wrong, it may take them a second or two to react ... that is basically all that it takes for an injury to occur."

Australian Workers' Union Port Kembla branch secretary Andy Gillespie said that until design alterations were made to the equipment, workers would not be using the hose.

"We have banned it with all our members across the state," Mr Gillespie said.

"They are not allowed to operate any more equipment until we can absolutely guarantee that this doesn't happen again and until there are alterations to the configuration of how it is done."

Mr Gillespie said the union had been in discussions with WorkCover, which manages workplace safety in NSW, to amend the design of the water blaster.

After the 2005 incident, 16 recommendations were made to improve safety in the workplace, including the installation of an anti-withdrawal device, a safety or stop pedal and a working platform so that the hose user could also be in charge of the control pedal.

It was also recommended that employees using high-pressure water devices wear a chest shield.

Veolia would not comment on whether any of those recommendations had been implemented.

WorkCover general manager, occupational health and safety division, John Watson said that under the OH&S Act it was employers' duty to provide a safe place of work but there was no legislation for individual items in the workplace such as a high-pressure hose.

"The employer needs to carry out a risk assessment associated with the use of equipment in a workplace and include things like high-pressure hoses ... and ensure that those things are in place."

But the Australian Workers' Union national director of occupational health and safety Dr Yossi Berger said industry relied too heavily on "risk assessment" and paperwork rather than simply installing safety devices.

"It is not so much that they think that what equipment they have got is the safest but rather they think problems are caused by human behaviour in systems and that risk assessments will save the day," Dr Berger said.

"There is a huge confusion in Australia in believing that some form of risk assessment and hazard identification - in other words paperwork - will fix the system."

WorkCover and Wollongong Police are preparing reports for the coroner.

OHS News Tip: High-Pressure Hose Work Method Statement

VIC: Victoria Faces Manual Handling Injuries

Thursday May 29th 2008 11:56 a.m. Source: Transport Logic News

Victorian food manufacturers will soon face tougher safety regulation as the State Government’s scheme to tackle manual handling injuries begins on 1 July.

Under the plan, Worksafe Victoria inspectors will visit food manufacturers and processors, and issue Improvement Prohibition Notices where safety breaches are found. Companies with serious breaches will face prosecutions.

Director of WorkSafe’s manufacturing, logistics and agriculture division, Trevor Martin said: “There were more than 12,000 workplace injury insurance claims as result of manual handling injuries in 2006-07.

“More then 900 were in the food manufacturing sector, accounting for three per cent of the state’s total injury claims.”

He said along with repetitive bending and twisting, the lifting of boxes, drums and bags of ingredients cause nearly 40 per cent of manual handling injuries in the industry.

According to Mr Martin, the average cost to treat and rehabilitate each manual handling injury exceeds $9,000.

He pointed out while businesses are well aware of safety obligations and the means of preventing injuries such as installation of a pallet lifter with a turntable, they often are not acted upon.

“Mechanical aids can increase productivity while the business costs associated with managing claims and potential legal and reputational issues can be minimised,” he said.

“Creating a safer, more productive workplace requires thought and action.

“Too often WorkSafe inspectors find that plans have been developmed, but not put into effect,” Mr Martian said.

OHS News Tip: Manual Handling Work Method Statement

NSW: Sick Children Nearly Chrushed To Death

Wednesday May 28th 2008 10:16 a.m. Source: Manly Daily

THE lives of sick children at Royal Far West at Manly were placed in danger following a partial collapse on the nearby building site for the second time this year.

The multimillion-dollar residential development on Victoria Pde is now under investigation after several children had to be evacuated when a 10-metre wall collapsed and pushed scaffolding into the children's facility.

While no one was injured, the collapse required the site to be shut down and a number of patients and staff moved to another area.

The incident follows another safety concern in April, when excavation work was blamed for a tree toppling and crushing three cars in Manly Village Public School's car park.

The demolition at 25-27 Victoria Pde and alterations to the historic heritage Eversham building is part of a five-storey residential complex.

The building union CFMEU is now investigating the $12 million development, which is being built by Planet Homes, and are working with the demolition subcontractor Crown Civil Engineering and the scaffolding provider to develop heritage-specific safety practices.

Yesterday, Planet Homes operations manager Chris Cakovski said the incident was just one of those unfortunate things that happen during building work.

"WorkCover was there and everything has been sorted out," Mr Cakovski said. "There wasn't a collapse of any of the structural parts of the building at all.

"No part of the heritage building was damaged. The scaffolding was for safety as per Australian Standards, and it did its job."

The CFMEU is also investing whether workers were made aware of the possible presence of lead paint and asbestos and whether it was removed safety.

WorkCover are also investigating the accident and have ordered Planet Homes to have a structural engineer to assess the situation.

They will also monitor the remaining demolition work, a spokeswoman said.

State CFMEU secretary Andrew Ferguson slammed the multimillion-dollar project for putting the community at risk.

"We are lucky someone wasn't killed," he said.

Mr Ferguson said unsafe sites put everyone at risk: "The end result is a demolition collapse which threatens both workers and the public at large."

The union organiser who inspected the site, Richard Auimatag, said they had stopped building work so safety systems can be put in place because due to the building's age, the site was considered "high risk".

William Takataka from Crown Civil Engineering said with the help of the union his company is reassessing their risk management for the site as working on it has been dangerous.

Mr Ryan Strauss from Manly Projects said he only became aware of the incident when he was contacted by The Manly Daily and would have his project manager look into the issue.

The second incident at the heritage site this year prompted Manly Mayor Peter Macdonald to once again express his concern over the development.

He said he has had numerous complaints from worried parents whose children attend Manly Village Public next door.

Cr Macdonald has previously described the development as "an appalling example of site management"

OHS News Tip: Scaffolding Work Method Statement

NSW: Grinder Injury Case Continues

Tuesday May 27th 2008 10:12 a.m. Source: The Advertiser

A student who lost parts of two fingers during a metalwork class at Kangaroo Flat Secondary College took her case to Bendigo Magistrates Court yesterday.

The Victorian Workcover Authority, Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, has charged the Department of Education and Training with five offences.

Madelaine Dole injured her hand while on a pedestal grinder in a classroom exercise on September 1, 2005.

Her pinkie finger was amputated to the first knuckle, and while doctors attempted to save her ring finger by using a rod, there was not enough bone so it was cut down to the second knuckle.

The 18-year-old, who is studying law and psychology by correspondence through a West Australian University, said life had been difficult since the accident.

"Writing and typing are the main things I have to put up with, especially with going to university and being right-handed, anything I have to do with that hand is really difficult," she said.

After the accident, Madelaine, 15 at the time, then went on to complete Year 11 and 12 through correspondence.

With her mother, Robyn, she moved to Melbourne last December.

The case against the Department also involves student Christopher Burnett, who suffered a similar injury on October 14, 2005, while a student at Kyneton Secondary College.

Worksafe senior investigator Barry Phillips said there were five offences under the Occupational Health and Safety Act the Department of Education and Training was being charged with.

Appearing yesterday for the Department, Ross Ray QC, said although the matter had been booked for two weeks, he was confident a result could be heard by the end of this week.

Yesterday afternoon, witnesses were asked to return this morning.

The case is continuing.

OHS News Tip: Grinder Work Method Statement

VIC: New Improved Asbestos Laws

Sunday May 25th 2008 12:33 p.m. Source: The Herald Sun

New laws giving asbestos victims the right to better compensation will be introduced by the State Government.

Those suffering the most serious asbestos diseases, such as mesothelioma, will be able to seek a second payout.

Currently in Victoria, if an asbestosis sufferer gets compensation, further damages cannot be sought if it develops into a terminal illness.

WorkCover will pay the compensation, which is expected to cost a total of between $35 million and $85 million over the next 20 to 40 years.

Premier John Brumby announced the new laws at the Austin Hospital in Heidelberg yesterday, where he was joined by Karen Banton.

Ms Banton is the widow of Bernie Banton, who was the face of the fight for asbestos compensation.

"I'm sure Bernie's looking down from heaven, feeling very honoured and humbled that his name continues to be associated with the fight against injustice," Ms Banton said yesterday.

She said the new laws would remove a terrible burden from families who have to decide whether or not to seek compensation, not knowing if the illness will worsen.

Mr Banton, who contracted mesothelioma after working for James Hardie, died last November.

The State Government will develop the legislation after a period of consultation, and introduce it in State Parliament next year

OHS News Tip: Asbestos Removal Work Method Statement

QLD: Toxic Soil Forces School Site Shutdown

Sunday May 25th 2008 11:34 a.m. Source: The Age

Workers have shut down a school building site in Sunshine after a debacle in which asbestos-laden soil was removed, only to be replaced by even more severely contaminated earth.

The Australian Technical College is one of two school sites that have been closed for decontamination after work had started, prompting claims that the State Government is cutting corners. Neither site had been subject to a prior environmental audit.

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union said that the Education Department's failure to adequately test many sites earmarked under the State Government's $1.9 billion school redevelopment program was putting workers' health at risk, and that Government-approved builders did not take the problem seriously enough.

"This Government has a habit of handing over a site when it's not clean, then saying it's clean," CFMEU secretary Bill Oliver said. "They tend not to be really looking too carefully into what is underground; if they can't see it, they think it's not there."

One building company manager agreed, saying the Education Department "shouldn't penny pinch on environmental surveys".

The Australian Technical College site at Suffolk Road in Sunshine North was closed for 14 weeks from February while asbestos-contaminated soil was taken away. Ten days ago the replacement soil was found to be full of asbestos fibres so dangerous that clean-up contractors would not go near it without full protective clothing.

WorkSafe ordered the builder, J. A. Dodd, to spend last week hosing the soil down to try to stop it blowing on to nearby houses and, on Thursday, special asbestos-removal trucks began the task of once again taking away an estimated 20 truckloads of soil.

Another school redevelopment in Maribyrnong was shut down four weeks ago after apparently toxic sludge was revealed when excavations began. An Environment Protection Authority spokeswoman conceded there had been no environmental audit, despite the long history of heavy industrial use in the area, because "the site was not subject to rezoning". That contamination is being assessed and will be removed under strict supervision.

The Department of Education is required to undertake "part six audits" of buildings slated for redevelopment to identify asbestos. Mr Oliver said those audits were often inadequate, with asbestos underground or in roof cavities going unnoticed.

CFMEU organiser Shaun Reardon first identified asbestos in the ground at the Sunshine site, a former sports oval, in December last year.

OHS News Tip: Asbestos Removal Work Method Statement

NT: Crack Down On NT Crackers

Sunday May 25th 2008 11:04 a.m. Source: NT News

Territorians caught with crackers outside Territory Day could now be slapped with a stiff fine.

The Territory Government yesterday announced a tightening up of who can buy fireworks and when.

NT WorkSafe Minister Marion Scrymgour said new penalties would also be introduced at the end of the month to make it illegal to possess fireworks after the event.

"There are penalties of up to $2000 for anyone who is found with stockpiles,'' she said.

"I urge every family and everyone who's going to purchase fireworks to purchase enough that they can let off on that day, because to have anything over and beyond Territory Day will be illegal.''

Opposition leader Terry Mills said the new law would not get to the root of the problem. He said the problem came from people letting off crackers outside Territory Day -- and not with people putting leftover crackers in cupboards for the next year.

Cracker-happy Territorians will now be allowed to buy fireworks only on Territory Day, July 1.

The Government has upped the legal age limit for buying crackers from 16 to 18, and banned people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol from buying them.

Ms Scrymgour denied the changes were part of a Government plan to phase out fireworks by stealth.

"I tell you categorically, fireworks have always been part of Territory Day celebrations and they will not be ruled out by our Government -- they are part of our lifestyle.''

Ms Scrymgour said the Government would not follow the Darwin City Council's lead by placing restrictions on where people could let off their crackers.

The council announced last year it would ban the use of fireworks on its lands during Territory Day. But Lord Mayor Graeme Sawyer said the changes to by-laws would not be in place before cracker night this year.

He welcomed the moves to make possession of fireworks outside Territory Day illegal.

"There was a huge amount of complaints last year,'' Mr Sawyer said

OHS News Tip: Working With Explosives Work Method Statement

QLD: Questioning To Occur Over Delay In Dive Alarm

Sunday May 25th 2008 10:29 a.m. Source: ABC News

Queensland Police and Workplace Health and Safety officers will investigate how a dive boat left two divers in the sea off the Whitsundays.

Thirty-eight-year-old British man Dick Neely and 40-year-old American woman Alison Dalton were found alive on Saturday morning after drifting for about 19 hours off Hayman Island.

Police say the dive boat crew did not raise the alarm until three hours after the pair had gone missing.

Police Superintendent Shane Chelepy says authorities want to determine what went wrong and if anyone was at fault.

"The local CIB are working with our Water Police, together with members from Workplace Health and Safety," he said.

"We are going to take statements from everyone onboard that vessel, then there will be the normal issues of taking possession of all of the equipment for further examination."

Both of the divers, who strapped themselves together with a weight belt to stay together as they drifted through the night, are believed to be dive instructors who live in California.

They were released from Townsville Hospital after a brief check up and treatment for exposure and dehydration yesterday. Newspapers are reporting they have sold their story.

The search operation involved seven helicopters, three planes and six boats.

OHS News Tip: Diving Work Method Statement

NSW: Families Grief Over Tragic Steelwork Accident

Saturday May 24rd 2008 02:35 p.m. Source: Illawarra Mercury

Settaleki Kolomaka often wore a flower behind his ear. The father of three from Woonona didn't care what anyone thought, he just loved flowers - especially frangipanis - and was a man of passion.

The 39-year-old also loved his job at the steelworks, the Brisbane Broncos and his Tongan heritage but the biggest part of his heart was reserved for his young family.

Yesterday, Mr Kolomaka's wife Kristy and daughters Lyniana, 8, Saane, 6, and Taimani-Latu, 5, were mourning the death of their devoted husband and father after a tragic industrial accident at BlueScope's Springhill site two days ago.

Mr Kolomaka, a plant operator with Veolia Environmental Services, was cleaning industrial equipment with a high pressure hose when a mishap caused a jet of water to hit him fatally in the chest. A colleague tried to revive him, but it was too late.

His wife's only solace is that he died in a job he loved.

"His second love after the family, he loved that job and that company," she said.

"They were good to him and he was good to them and I was just happy that he died at a place that he loved and he didn't suffer.

"From what I have been told, he died straight away."

Mr Kolomaka had worked for Allied Plant Services, now Veolia Environmental Services, for 10 ears.

He came to Australia from Tonga on a football scholarship to play rugby for the Wollongong Wombats in 1996 and the team arranged for him to work at BHP.

Mrs Kolomaka met him a year later when they were both working at a Wollongong nightclub and love blossomed.

"I was a barmaid and he was a bouncer," she said. "We pretty much knew each other for a good year, and then we got together in February of '98 and then on September 11, 1999 we got married on the beach at Sandon Point.

"It is hard to explain how we fell in love, I got to know him over a long time and every time I walked past him at the nightclub, my heart would pound and I just realised in the end that he was the one for me."

The three girls followed soon after and the family settled in Woonona.

Mr Kolomaka was always happy to work overtime, which meant more money for his family, both here and in Tonga.

"He just wanted to give us a better life, because in Tonga he was poor, he didn't really have a lot," Mrs Kolomaka said.

"He wanted to give his three girls and me the life that we wanted and he also supported his family in Tonga.

"He loved work because he knew that at the end of each day he would be able to come home and say, 'OK, well this is what I can do for you, this is my way of saying I love you'."

Last year the family travelled to Mr Kolomaka's homeland to visit family. He taught his daughters to climb a coconut tree and make traditional Tongan coconut milk.

Last month, Mrs Kolomaka had an appendix removed and her husband promptly took time off work to look after the children.

Last week, Taimani-Latu spent seven days in hospital with a slightly collapsed lung due to asthma.

Mr Kolomaka kept a bedside vigil and promised her a puppy when she returned home.

Yesterday, as Mr Kolomaka's daughters cuddled a silky-Pomeranian - their father's last gift - Mrs Kolomaka wondered how life would be without the man she loved.

"I know I will be all right but deep down I still expect the work van to drop him off," she said.

"I never got a chance to say goodbye and I never got a chance to kiss him. But I look at these girls and I know deep down that they are all a part of him and he will never be forgotten."


OHS News Tip: Steelwork Safe Work Method Statement

WA: Fine For Riding Forklift Tines

Saturday May 24rd 2008 02:35 p.m. Source: The West

A Geraldton lobster processing company has been fined $60,000 for failing to provide a safe workplace after an employee died in a fall in 2005.

Geraldton Fisherman’s Co-operative was fined in the Geraldton Magistrates Court this morning after pleading guilty earlier this month to failing to provide a safe working environment, causing the death of an employee.

In December 2005, a truck driver employed by the company was helping to load a truck with pallets of live lobsters at Geraldton Fisherman’s Wharf for transport to Perth.

A pallet trolley was used to move the pallets around on the back of the truck and when the truck was almost full, the pallet trolley was stored on the back of the truck so it could be used to unload the truck when it reached its destination.

A forklift was used to move the pallets and pallet trolleys on and off the trucks, and it was common practice at the workplace for people to be lifted on pallets on the tines of forklifts to access the backs of trucks.

In this case, the truck driver asked another employee to lift him to the back of the truck on the forklift tines so he could place the pallet trolley on the truck.

The other employee suggested that a pallet be placed over the tines, but since the usual type of pallet was not available, the truck driver did not wish to use one.

The truck driver stood on the forklift tines with the pallet trolley, and the other employee drove the forklift to the truck, lifted the tines until they were about 5cm over the edge of the truck and lowered the tines onto the back of the truck.

In the course of moving the pallet trolley, the truck driver fell from the tines of the forklift, striking his head on the bitumen.

He died in hospital 10 days later.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said the case demonstrated why riding on the tines of forklifts was prohibited.

OHS News Tip: Workplace Safety Safe Work Method Statement

SA: Workcover Bill Defeated Again

Saturday May 24rd 2008 01:23 p.m. Source: ABC News

A motion by the South Australian Government to bring on debate on its WorkCover Bill has been defeated again in State Parliament's Upper House.

The Liberals and independents defeated the Government's motion to suspend standing orders and allow the WorkCover debate to begin.

Instead the Legislative Council is continuing with amendments on the Serious and Organised Crime Bill.

OHS News Tip: Workplace Safety Safe Work Method Statement

WA: Alleged Assualt at Bluewaters Power Station

Saturday May 24rd 2008 01:05 p.m. Source: Collie Mail

A supervisor and another employee have been temporarily stood down from work at Bluewaters power station following an alleged assault on April 13.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union ( AMWU) state organiser Shane O’Reilly alleged that the second employee was headbutted by the supervisor following a confrontation.

The supervisor and worker are employed by the same sub-contractor. Following the alleged fight, 45 contractors went on a rest order on April 15, claiming their working environment was unsafe.

This promoted action from the contractor who turned to the AMWU Industrial Relations Commission last Thursday and Friday.

Mr O’Reilly said the contractor regarded the stop work as industrial action, however the claim was dismissed by the Commission.

Bluewaters site manager Edgar Coello said while each sub-contractor was responsible for the workplace relations, management, conduct and remuneration of their employees, IHI was now investigating the incident given the company’s over-arching role at Bluewaters.

Mr Coello said the company was investigating the possible occupational health and safety breach.

“The investigation is being conducted by IHI’s occupational, safety, health and environmental manager as the health and safety of its contractors’ employees on the site is paramount,” he said.

“Harassment, violence, aggression, bullying and sexual, religious and cultural discrimination are neither condoned nor tolerated by IHI or its contracting companies.

“This is made perfectly clear to all employees during the site induction process and is contained in our Occupational Health and Safety plans as a demonstration of its importance.”

A worker who contacted the Collie Mail last week said employees viewed the alleged incident as a health and safety issue and had stopped work because they did not deem it safe to work onsite.

“These days workers are harassed left, right and centre,” the worker said.

Mr O’Reilly said both the worker and the supervisor were not currently onsite and would not return until the outcome of the investigation, which was expected before the beginning of next week.

Workers returned onsite at 3pm last Thursday.

OHS News Tip: Workplace Safety Safe Work Method Statement

VIC: Workplace Bullying Becomes Intolerable

Saturday May 24rd 2008 12:03 p.m. Source: Eureka Street

Workplace bullying was included as a specific risk to occupational health and safety in most States' workers compensation legislation more than four years ago. It's generally defined along the lines of 'unreasonable repeated behaviour that threatens, humiliates or intimidates or undermines a person and is a threat to health and safety'.

This is not completely unlike definitions of discriminatory 'harassment'. The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 defines sexual harassment to include an unwelcome act of a sexual nature which makes the person affected feel threatened, intimidated or humiliated, and which a reasonable person would expect to have had that effect.

Bullying and that particularly noxious form of it, sexual harassment in the workplace are thought to cause billions of dollars of loss and damage in the workplace. The most common outcomes are division, retreat from social participation, lost productivity, distress and emotional if not psychiatric injury, dramatically increased sick leave, absenteeism, and staff resignations.

Most victims try to pass instances of bullying off as minor, but they most certainly are not. Sexual harassment statistics kept by anti-discrimination agencies such as HREOC and state and territory equal opportunity bodies show the most common outcomes of complaints are victimisation, the departure of the complainant, enormous costs to investigate the case, and the eventual departure of the alleged harasser.

Australian 'larrikins' and good humour men appear to still operate under a mistaken impression that their intentions — nearly always, to get a laugh from their peers — is what determines whether or not bullying or discriminatory harassment is something for which they should be called to account.

Recently AFL Footy Show veteran Sam Newman made offensive references to Caroline Wilson, a colleague on another football show, during a 'spontaneous' skit involving a mannequin designed to look like Ms Wilson. He defended the skit as satire, though a number of senior women football administrators called it for what it was: a public put-down of a smart sporting commentator linked with her perceived sexual attractiveness, because she's a woman. It was also a very public bullying incident.

Newman is not alone in his misjudgment. On 28 April the leader of Western Australia's Opposition broke down in tears at a press conference. A couple of days earlier an unnamed woman staffer was revealed to have complained that in December 2005 Troy Buswell had 'sniffed the chair' she had been sitting in at his parliamentary office, in front of other staff members.

He said at the time it was done for a laugh. It appears he wasn't aware of the standards of workplace conduct despite having previously admitted to snapping a Labor staffer's bra as a drunken party trick. He's learning the hard way that there are limits on what is acceptable, even when colleagues laugh or turn a blind eye.

Buswell's sudden distress may have been contributed to by his political colleagues' 'look-away' attitude to his past jests. WA's Deputy Liberal leader Dr Hames was reported to say Buswell was a 'rough diamond with a robust sense of humour' who had since cleaned up his act. It remains to be seen if Buswell will relinquish his leadership.

Should we feel sorry for those accused of being bullies and harassers? In a way, yes, because they do not — and in some cases, will not — empathise with the effects of their conduct on others.

I have conducted many workplace incident investigations since 1994 and I am fairly unshockable. I have heard truly appalling stories, and understand the personalities, history and culture that permit careless talk and offensive acts to take place.

In all the time I've been doing it, excluding my years as an Equal Opportunity and HREOC Commissioner, only once have I heard of a similar incident (in a government office). Its consequences were so serious that they led me to make my first and only recommendation that the employer should consider dismissing the joker forthwith.

That man was more culpable than Buswell or Newman. He was intelligent as well as ambitious. He had been allowed to get away with bullying behaviour by his managers who waited for someone to complain and didn't act on things they saw and heard.

What was most disturbing in all these cases is that colleagues seem prepared to speak out about the effects of months or years of jokes and putdowns and bullying at work, only under cover of anonymity and/or confidentiality. In my case, truly disgusting bullying conduct was only revealed after a particularly targeted staff member had been so grossed out that he was unable to face that workplace for one more day, without becoming physically ill.

Workplace bullying is a massive problem throughout Australia. People get hurt, businesses get damaged. It is especially serious when the perpetrator is a leader. Employees and management should work to undermine the look-away culture that allows such behaviour to flourish, and permits an intolerable bully to hide behind the mantle of 'prankster'.

OHS News Tip: Workplace Bullying Safe Work Method Statement

VIC: Premier Declairs To Toughen Workplace Safety Protection

Saturday May 24rd 2008 09:52 p.m. Source: ABC News

Victorian Premier John Brumby has flagged his intention to toughen protection for workplace safety whistleblowers.

Mr Brumby made the announcement at the Victorian Labor Party state conference.

He gave few details, but told the conference it is important workers raise any concerns they have about safety at work.

"It's vital for workers and for occupational health and safety representatives that they can raise safety issues without suffering recrimination or discrimination," he said.

"Because if people can't speak up, then people's lives can be put at risk.

OHS News Tip: Workplace Safety Safe Work Method Statement

NSW: Insurance Companies Underfire

Friday May 23rd 2008 2:26 p.m. Source: Lithgow News

There was an air of public discontent at an open meeting held at Wallerawang on Thursday night to discuss issues relating to Howard and Sons Pyrotechnics and the fallout from the explosion at the facility in Pipers Flat Road on December 6 last year.

The community disquiet comes as both Howard and Sons and the community in general continue to wait for the results of a Workcover investigation into the blast.

Now, almost 20 weeks on, both the company and affected residents are still waiting for Workcover to tell them the cause of the blast — with many unable to get on with their lives because of insurance and financial issues.

Around 120 people gathered at the meeting, called by Howard and Sons directors Andrew and Christian Howard, held at the Memorial Hall.

Many were landowners adversely affected by the blast who put pointed questions to the Howard’s directors and to other members of the panel.

Also present were three Workcover NSW representatives, Member for Bathurst Gerard Martin, a representative from ‘Technical Assessing’ and Lithgow City Council general manager Paul Anderson and Mayor Neville Castle.

Councillors Wayne McAndrew, Howard Fisher, Barbara Moran and Margaret Collins sat in the public gallery.

The major incident at the Howards site occurred around 10 pm on Saturday December 8, 2007 when a huge explosion rocked Wallerawang, Portland and Lithgow and was mooted to have been felt as far away as Blackheath and Mt Wilson.

Evidence of the blast was witnessed by hundreds with vivid flashes lighting up the night sky.

The meeting provided an opportunity for residents affected by the explosion to have their questions answered by Howard and Sons, Workcover NSW and Lithgow Council.

Many are understandably angry at the slow process of the Workcover investigation into the incident and Council has also criticised the situation.

The meeting was told many have been unable to live in their homes for the past four and a half months and are facing substantial financial and emotional losses as a result of the explosion.

Those most affected are residents of Willowvale Lane.

Another incident occurred on March 28 this year with a smaller explosion in a burn chamber at the rear of the Howards site.

In opening Thursday night’s meeting Andrew Howard told those in attendance that his company had received no details or information about the Workcover investigation into the incident.

Mr Howard said the company had no ‘firm plans’ for rebuilding at the site but was undertaking work and research into better ways of moving forward for the future of the company and the Wallerawang community.

He announced that Howard and Sons would not be putting on any further public fireworks displays such as those held for the local rugby league side due to the sensitivity felt by many in Wallerawang to fireworks and explosions.

Nor will they be conducting any further night testing.

Workcover NSW State Coordinator Doug Evans introduced himself as head of the department dealing with dangerous goods, including fireworks and explosives.

He said Workcover has had two investigators talking with witnesses and neighbours in recent months to ascertain the cause of the explosion.

Mr Evans invited anyone who has not yet been interviewed by Workcover in relation to the incident to come forward.

He outlined the investigation process, involving complex techniques and blast pattern analysis.

This will be put together with all statements and once all valid and relevant information is compiled a report will be passed on to the Coroner (as is the case with all major explosions and incidents of this nature).

Mr Evans said that Workcover’s report into the Howard's incident will become public only once the Coroner has been informed.

He said his department was still in the investigation phase and it would be some months before a final report would be ready.

He told the meeting the Howards site had been built to Australian Standards and to Workcover regulations.

Mr Evans also stated that it was obvious from the Howard's incident that Australian Standards do not ensure public safety and that Workcover would now look towards a more national consensus for the regulation of pyrotechnics.

An insurance agent acting on behalf of Howard and Sons said a ‘clear liability’ needed to be established before any public liability payouts could be made.

Andrew Bristow said that Technical Assessing would not be able to act on any losses or claims until an actual cause of the incident was established through the Workcover investigation.

He said a record of losses could be submitted by concerned landowners in the meantime but no offers or admissions would be made because “the actual cause of the incident has not been proved at this point”.

Lithgow City Council general manager Paul Anderson also addressed the meeting, saying Council had been conducting a ‘desktop audit’ into the consents granted to the company for its operations.

Mr Anderson said Council had received full compliance from Howard and Sons and had undertaken an inspection of the entire facility.

He said Council had commenced, but not yet completed, the audit but was also in the process of looking at the standards now being applied to the construction of similar facilities in other areas.

He confirmed that any redevelopment of the site would be conditional on new consents and that Council was looking to consult with explosives experts outside the State for advice on the issue.

The meeting was then opened up to the public with a number of pointed questions put to Howards, Workcover and the Council.

Each was given good support by those on hand, with the gathering applauding each of the community speakers.

Wallerawang resident Cill Van Der Velden stated she lived a kilometre from the Howards site.

She asked numerous questions relating to army munitions, black powder, mining explosives, licensing and risk assessment criteria.

Mrs Van der Velden stated it had ‘obviously been proved that the facility was not set up to deal with an explosion such as what happened’.

She also asked about storm evacuation procedures and commented on a buffer zone that she considered ‘entirely and utterly inadequate’.

Andrew Howard responded and said Howards were licensed to hold all materials that were on the site at the time of the incident and said he would be happy to take Mrs Van der Velden’s questions on hand and provide her with concise answers.

Pip Van der Velden, one of the residents worst affected by the explosion, asked why residents near the facility had been evacuated because of a possible storm the day following the incident.

He was told by both Andrew and Christian Howard that there were concerns about products outside storage areas with unexploded pyrotechnics increasing a risk of storm impact.

Numerous questions pertaining to insurance issues were put to the panel, with many residents facing out of pocket expenses and battles to claim their damages.

Several complained that they were being held captive by their insurance companies with many refusing to make adequate payments or pay out claims.

There was a general discontent among affected residents with the length of time being taken to resolve the situation.

Many expressed problems with engineers understanding the situation and assessing the damages involved.

Now, four and a half months after the incident, several families have been unable to return to their homes because of substantial damage.

They have been forced to live with others and continue their battles with insurance companies and banks while they wait on the Workcover investigation to be finalised.

Andrew Howard asked for help from Member for Bathurst Gerard Martin to expedite the investigation and its ensuing report.

Mr Martin said those experiencing trouble with their insurance companies were able to explore avenues available to them through the Department of Fair Trading and the relevant Ombudsman.

He said he would be looking to gather those affected together to ensure they got the best advice on how to proceed.

Wallerawang resident Michael Quinn outlined his family’s plight following the blast.

He was given no assurance of a timeframe for the handing down of the Workcover report.

He was told that once the Coroner made a report on the issue it would become a public document.

Workcover’s Doug Evans told him this was ‘legal due process’.

Mr Evans compared the Howards site to that of a plane crash — a ‘painstaking’ technically complex investigation.

“We will make every endeavour to do our part of the job as quick as we can,” he said.

Mr Quinn was also told by the insurance representative on hand that cause should not be an issue for claims on household property damage, as is the situation for public liability.

Cr Howard Fisher also spoke on the issue and asked his questions of Workcover.

Cr Howard asked why Howards were being allowed to continue operating and asked for a guarantee for the people of Wallerawang that such an incident could not be repeated.

He was told by Mr Evans that interim and clean up arrangements needed to be made because there was a substantial amount of pyrotechnics still at the site.

He said Workcover had enforced a 1.1 storage requirement for magazine separation distances to reduce risk.

Cr Fisher expressed his dissatisfaction with the issue, saying that many residents had been badly affected by the incident, but the company was allowed to ‘get on with business’.

Andrew Howard told the meeting that the site now housed just 25 per cent of what it held prior to the incident, all stored at the required safety distances.

Wallerawang resident Di Van der Velden also spoke, putting forward her concerns for the families and residents affected.

She said she had conducted a survey of residents and wanted Howards to read and consider the responses.

Andrew Howard said he was well aware of the distress caused to local families and their discontent with having to wait so long for resolution.

He said he and his company were also playing the waiting game, being forced to wait on the results of the investigations.

Cr Barbara Moran and asked the course of action to be taken should a cause for the incident not be able to be pinpointed.

She was told by Mr Evans that Workcover would be trying to find a technical cause and in its duties as a workplace authority would be looking to ensure the community of employees and the greater community.

“All we can do is come up with the likely cause and give it to the Coroner,” he said.

He then assured Cr Wayne McAndrew that the investigation would be completed ‘within the next few months’ to be handed to the Coroner.

Mr Evans also told Mayor Neville Castle that Workcover would be looking to enact new rules in line with knowledge taken throughout the course of the investigations.

Natalie MacCullagh, partner of Michael Quinn, then told the meeting of her family’s distress since the December explosion.

Ms MacCullagh said the family (including four children) had been forced to move out of their Willowvale Lane premises.

“I would never wish this on anyone else at all,” she said.

She criticised Council for allowing the site to be constructed so close to residences in the first place.

She said her children refused to return home and were now afraid of fireworks and loud noises.

She said the experience had caused nothing but ‘trauma, stress, grief and anger’.

She said she would feel more comfortable if the factory was moved elsewhere.

Council’s general manager Paul Anderson said the Howard and Sons site was in a general rural zoning where industrial activity was a permissible use.

He then outlined the consent and conditions needed to be satisfied by Council and other Government departments for the site to be approved.

Ms MacCullagh said it was her opinion that the site had been approved ‘quickly and secretively’.

Mr Anderson responded that the development had been notified and advertised in agreeance with the Local Government Act and had that Council had received just one submission at the time.

He said Council had given a legal valid consent as the application satisfied the current conditions of the time.

“If the owners of the site want to remain there, there’s not a lot we as a Council can do,” he said.

Mr Anderson did guarantee that any new development would be dependent on new consent and conditions.

He said Council was looking at consulting with explosives experts outside of NSW to obtain advice on the best practices.

Many residents whose homes surround the Howard’s site expressed their anger at their properties being devalued as a result of the incident.

Many face lengthy battles with their financial institutions.

They also voiced concerns for those in close proximity to the factory, with just a 300 metre buffer between the site and residential houses not believed to be sufficient.

Christian Howard said the facility had been built to standards and regulations with all stipulated safety distances as required.

He said it was now obvious that these prescribed distances were not sufficient.

Resident Snow Van der Velden also spoke on the issue, calling on Howard and Sons to ‘move away’ until the Workcover report could be furnished or a cause of the incident was able to be established.

Andrew Howard said he would continue to run his business in a legal and appropriate manner while also trying to minimise the effects of any incident and its impacts on the community.

Residents were assured by Workcover that any rebuilding at the Howard and Sons site will be held to much higher standards with a more conservative approach.

Mr Evans said the redevelopment would be forced to comply with mass explosion standards such as those used for the storage of munitions.

He said that the lessons learned from this incident are being applied already.

Di Van der Velden returned to speak, pointing out a number of what she believed to be discrepancies between consent given to Howard and Sons by Council and the actual construction of the site.

She said her investigations into the original development application said that residents would be 500 metres away, when in fact both the Quinns and the Van der Veldens lived just 350 metres from the site.

Ms Van der Velden criticised the system of consent, saying that the community had not been properly informed about activities to be carried out on the site.

She told the meeting that Workcover licensing meant that several changes had been made after Council had already approved the development.

Andrew Howard closed the meeting and invited all those with any further concerns or questions to contact himself or Christian for further information.

He said the purpose of the meeting had been to raise valid issues and to go forward for the future.

OHS News Tip: Safe Work Method Statement

WA: Q Fever Vaccination is Urged Upon Employers

Friday May 23rd 2008 2:24 p.m. Source: ABC News

Q fever is transmitted to humans mainly by cattle, sheep and goats.

Symptoms include the sudden onset of acute fever, chills, profuse sweating, a cough, severe headache, muscle pains and weakness.

The Department of Health says there have been two reported cases of Q fever in Western Australia in the past six months.

Chris Kirwin from WorkSafe says while the vaccine is not mandatory, it is in an employer's best interests to provide it to their workers.

"There's an obligation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act for an employer to provide its employees with a safe working environment," he said.

"It's recognised that the Q Fever vaccine is a control measure that will afford protection to those people.

VIC: New Asbestos Claims For Victims

Friday May 23rd 2008 2:03 p.m. Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Asbestos victims in Victoria will have greater power to seek compensation as the state government moves to end an agonising legal choice they now face.

New legislation known as the "Bernie Banton law", after the deceased asbestos campaigner, will remove a restriction that prevents asbestos victims making a further claim if their condition becomes a terminal illness.

Presently, an asbestosis sufferer can be awarded damages but cannot seek further compensation if their disease turns into the more serious mesothelioma, a rare cancer.

The new law will allow victims to launch claims for both.

Premier John Brumby said Victoria had lagged behind other states and the commonwealth in introducing the legislation, and asbestos represented a unique problem for the legal system.

The law needed to make an exception for asbestos victims because they were a "special class of people", he said.

"They are people who can't know, having been exposed, whether they will go on to develop a devastating and fatal injury," he said.

"Allowing an exception to the normal rule that court-awarded compensation is final will allow compensation for the true effects of asbestos exposure."

Mr Brumby said another difficulty was the time between exposure to asbestos and diagnosis of a related disease.

"That period can often be in excess of 20 years. In fact, we do not believe that the incidence of asbestos-related disease in the community will peak for some years yet," he said.

Most of the compensation would be paid through WorkCover, at a cost to the scheme of $35-$85 million over the next 30-40 years, without an increase in premiums, he said.

Mr Banton's widow Karen joined unions in welcoming the move, on Friday.

"I think it's a very special day and I'm sure Bernie's looking down from heaven, feeling very honoured and humbled that his name continues to be associated with the fight to correct injustice," she said.

Martin Kingham, of the CFMEU, said Victorian workers had been "playing Russian roulette" with their own compensation, and the wellbeing of their families.

"They've had to gamble on whether to make a claim now and to cut off any compensation for a more serious fatal illness or to basically sit it out and wait and see what happens to them," he said.

He estimated about 50 Victorian workers a year would benefit from the change.

Compensation payments were usually about $35,000-$40,000 for asbestosis but were larger for more serious illnesses, he said.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union Victorian secretary Steve Dargavel warned that asbestos still posed a risk to workers.

"There's a lot of asbestos around, this is a live issue for the community and we strongly welcome this initiative," Mr Dargavel said.

Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Brian Boyd said the change was "a good and decent thing" but he urged further protection for victims' families.

The new law will be introduced in state parliament later this year.

OHS News Tip: Asbestos Removal Safe Work Method Statement
OHS News Tip: Asbestos Removal (VIC) Safe Work Method Statement

QLD: Darling Down Foods Recieve $35k Fine Over A Workplace Injury

Friday May 23rd 2008 12:19 p.m. Source: QBR News

Darling Downs Foods Pty Ltd has been fined $35,000 after a Toowoomba factory worker was injured in 2006.

The Queensland small goods manufacturer and Victoria-based KR Castlemaine Pty Ltd both pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Industrial Magistrates Court last week to breaching section 24 of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, having failed to ensure the safety of others was not affected by the way it carried out its business.

The court heard the worker received a crushed wrist when his hand became trapped in a machine at the Toowoomba factory in June 2006.

The worker was cleaning the piston chamber of a machine used for pumping and extruding meat products, when another person started it.

Industrial Magistrate Graham Lee ordered both companies to each pay investigation, professional and court costs totalling $2,440.40. No convictions were recorded.

Both companies have since taken steps to prevent future incidents and have introduced a new procedure to clean the machine safely.

The prosecution was brought by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, a division of the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations.

OHS News Tip: Safe Work Method Statement

NSW: Father Killed In High Pressure Water Cleaner Accident

Friday May 23rd 2008 12:16 p.m. Source: Illawarra Mercury

Port Kembla workers are mourning a mate and father of three from Woonona who was killed yesterday in a horrific industrial accident involving a water blaster.

Plant operator Settaleki Kolomaka, 39, was cleaning industrial equipment with the high pressure tool at BlueScope's Springhill site when the incident occurred about 11am.

Wollongong police said Mr Kolomaka was cleaning out a catchment sump in an area known as the 21 Dump, when there was a mishap with the water jet.

"The water jet has hit him in the chest causing fatal injury," Chief Inspector Chris Taylor said.

A colleague unsuccessfully tried to revive Mr Kolomaka.

Australian Workers' Union Port Kembla branch secretary Andy Gillespie said it was a "tragedy".

Mr Kolomaka was working for BlueScope subcontractor Veolia Environmental Services, formerly Allied Plant Services.

Mr Gillespie said workers were being counselled and the union would meet them this morning.

"Our members are in shock, because he was a fairly popular guy and he had been there for about 10 years," Mr Gillespie said.

"It is extremely sad and these things hit people hard ... it is something that you don't get over. We are just shattered by it, we haven't had a fatality in this industry for a long time."

The site was roped off by police and Mr Kolomaka's colleagues did not return to work yesterday.

The accident is being investigated by police, WorkCover, Veolia and the Australian Workers' Union.

Mr Gillespie said the water blaster would not be used again until the cause of the accident was established.

He said it was the first accident with the equipment he had seen.

"How that particular job is going to be done now, that is what we are waiting to find out," Mr Gillespie said.

"That's why the job has been stopped - to see if there were any safety problems with his job."

Veolia Environmental Services said a thorough investigation would be done.

"Veolia is co-operating fully with police investigators and other authorities," the company said.

"The company takes safety very seriously and a full internal investigation is also being conducted.

"This is a tragic situation and Veolia extends its sympathy to the operator's family and relatives."

BlueScope Steel extended its sympathies to Mr Kolomaka's family and workmates, but declined to comment further

OHS News Tip: High Pressure Water Cleaner Safe Work Method Statement

QLD: Road Works Construction Roller Kills Woman

Friday May 23rd 2008 12:13 p.m. Source: The Daily Mercury

A Mackay woman was killed yesterday when she was run over by a bitumen roller near Sarina.

The 38-year-old woman was crushed about 9am after the stationary roller was hit by a truck, causing it to roll down an embankment.

The employee of Rock n Road Bitumen, a contractor for Main Roads, was part of a team which was surfacing Frank Miles Road, a dirt stretch about 4km from the Bruce Highway which intersects Sarina-Homebush Road.

Sarina police acting officer-in-charge Sergeant Peter Cowan said the roller which was not in operation hit the woman and continued to roll off the road.

"She received severe injuries and she died at the scene before the ambulance arrived," Sgt Cowan said.

There was about a dozen workers onsite when the woman was killed, he said.

"People were traumatised and the employers had organised counselling."

A Main Roads spokesperson said yesterday that health and safety was a priority and all efforts were being made to help the employees and contractor affected by the incident.

"This tragic incident has had a major impact on the work colleagues and family of the contractor and our thoughts are with them," the spokesperson said.

"We will continue to work closely with the authorities and the contractor, in addition to our own investigation, to determine how this tragic incident occurred."

Yesterday's death follows other workplace fatalities in just over a year including:

» Mark McCallum, 34, who was killed in an industrial accident at Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal earlier this month. » A 25-year-old Mackay City Council contractor who was killed when a cement pump collapsed on him in November last year. » Jason Blee, 33, who was crushed to death by a shuttle car at a Moranbah mine in April last year.

Sgt Cowan said the investigation would include the Mackay police forensic crash unit and Workplace Health and Safety.

Rock n Road bitumen declined to comment yesterday.

OHS News Tip: Construction Industry Safe Work Method Statement

QLD: Two Brisbane Companies Plead Guilty

Friday May 23rd 2008 12:08 p.m. Source: ABC News

Two Brisbane companies have been fined after pleading guilty to not ensuring the safety of workers and contractors.

In February last year, a worker suffered a fractured cheek and eye socket when the scaffolding he was working from collapsed.

The scaffolding company, Hang On Scaffolds, was fined $30,000 by the Cleveland Industrial Magistrates Court.

An investigation into the incident found the scaffolding was not installed properly.

A concrete company was fined $40,000 by the Beenleigh Industrial Magistrates Court over an injury to a truck driver in July 2006.

The man suffered minor brain damage, multiple fractures and crush injuries when he fell more than two metres from a gantry stand.

The court heard the safety railing around the stand was reported broken six days before the accident.

The companies did not receive convictions

OHS News Tip: Scaffolding Safe Work Method Statement
OHS News Tip: Gantry Crane Safe Work Method Statement

NSW: Worker Crushed To Death By a Packaging Machine

Thursday May 22nd 2008 11:27 a.m. Source: Fairfield News

A man was killed when a packaging machine he was working on turned on and crushed him early on Sunday morning.

The man was working at Vinidex in Smithfield at about 12.30am, when the machine he was performing a maintenance task on, somehow activated and crushed him.

Police were called to the scene and have conducted an investigation. The incident is currently being investigated by WorkCover NSW.

Australian Workers Union state secretary Russ Collison described the incident as ''an absolute tragedy''.

''Losing a workmate in these circumstances is just horrific” Mr Collison said.

''The union have at this stage been denied access to the accident scene.''

''We understand that the man’s wife is overseas and we are not aware if contact has been made with her and the family.''

“Our thoughts go to the victim’s family and to those workmates who will obviously be affected by this tragedy” Mr Collison said.

OHS News Tip: Heavy Machinery Safe Work Method Statement

NT: Asbestos Found at Alice Springs' Tip

Friday May 16th 2008 11:27 a.m. Source: Centralian Advocate

A dangerous level of asbestos has been found at Alice Springs' tip.

Darryl Subloo, owner of tip managers Subloo, said there had been three cases - weighing an estimated 1000kg - where the natural but fatal material had been found unburied at the tip face since December.

Now the town council is considering installing a $35,000 CCTV system at the tip to reduce illegal dumping and find the perpetrators.

When broken up and not buried, asbestos can be inhaled and cause deadly diseases such as cancer.

Alice Springs Town Council and the Environment Protection Agency are investigating how the absestos had been left at the tip.

Mr Subloo said: ``At an estimated weight it would have all been a tonne. It is and it isn't concerning, because a lot of times the DIY bloke hasn't got an understanding of it.''

Despite the discoveries, Mr Subloo said the tip was safe. He did not think the cases were a health risk to his workers as they could recognise the material and had machinery remove it from the tip face.

But NT Worksafe director of operations Mark Crossin said such an unburied asbestos level could be threatening.

Mr Crossin said: ``It could be pretty dangerous, especially if people are working around it.''

``Asbestos takes around 30 years before diseases are detected.''

Mr Subloo said he will submit plans next month for a 400sqm shed to be built at the weighbridge for workers to stop and search oncoming vehicles for hazardous materials.

Council director of technical services Greg Buxton the CCTV plan was being considered.

OHS News Tip: Asbestos Removal Safe Work Method Statement

VIC: Worked Crushed By Beam

Friday May 16th 2008 09:46 a.m. Source: Geelong Advertiser

A tradesman was crushed while working at the Westfield shopping centre redevelopment site yesterday.

The 41-year-old man suffered abdominal injuries when he was pinned against a beam while operating a cherry picker at the Yarra St site about 8am.

He was rescued by a co-worker who scaled a 3m wall to free him.

The man, who is believed to be from Yarraville, was in a satisfactory condition at Geelong Hospital yesterday afternoon.

WorkSafe spokesman Michael Birt said the welder was about 3m off the ground in a cherry picker welding beams when the accident happened. He became stuck between a beam and the moving machine.

Mr Birt said it was believed the machine had a faulty safety device switch, meaning the man was unable to turn the machine off and the workers operating the controls on the ground were also unable to free him.

Mr Birt said a St Leonards man working at the site climbed the wall and jumped in the bucket and used a piece of timber to create a gap to help his workmate out.

The St Leonards man did not want to speak publicly about his rescue efforts yesterday.

Mr Birt said it was fortunate other workers were nearby when the accident happened.

Yesterday's incident was the second involving an elevated work platform in just over a week.

A 32-year-old man was seriously injured at a Stawell gold mine last week when he was pinned between a work platform and a tunnel ceiling.

Mr Birt said every accident highlighted the need for an increased focus on safety, particularly on routine tasks carried out every day.

OHS News Tip: Cherry Picker Safe Work Method Statement

QLD: Mechanic Crushed by Two-Tonne Pick-Up Truck

Thursday May 15th 2008 11:22 a.m. Source: Gold Coast News

A mechanic was in a serious condition in Gold Coast Hospital last night after being crushed by a two-tonne pick-up truck he was working on.

The 25-year-old, who nearby workers said was named Scott, was working under the large Chevrolet ute inside Chevron Automotive's Brisbane Road workshop at Labrador about 9am yesterday when the hoist apparently malfunctioned.

The ute came crashing down on him from a height of more than 2m.

Workmates scrambled to place jacks under the car in an attempt to free him.

He remained conscious throughout the ordeal and was talking to paramedics and colleagues as they worked to free him and treat his injuries.

The impact broke both his legs and shattered his pelvis but friends said he was lucky the wheels were still attached or else he would have been killed instantly.

One workmate said the man was a mechanic with at least seven to eight years' experience.

He said it was believed the hoist had failed.

Workplace Health and Safety officers and police descended on the business yesterday and investigations are continuing.

"A 25-year-old male has been working on a vehicle in the workshop, while it's been on a hoist and the vehicle has fallen and injured him," said Acting Inspector Greg Baade. "It is believed he has a broken pelvis and broken legs.

"The matter will be investigated by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland."

Friends Rob Hayward and Greg Abbott work in a nearby business and said they were shocked to find out what had happened to one of their regulars.

"He buys tyres from us and we see him a couple of times a day," said Mr Hayward.

"He is easy going. He is always having a laugh with us."

Mr Abbott said he and Mr Hayward were out the back of their work premises when they heard a commotion.

"We came to have a look. We heard the ambulance coming," said Mr Hayward.

Mr Abbott hoped Scott recovered quickly and said it could have been worse.

"If the wheels weren't on it he would have been killed," he said.

The pair fit tyres to vehicles and Mr Abbott said the accident had implications for everyone in the industry. "We just hope it doesn't happen to us or anyone for that matter."

The injured mechanic underwent surgery at Gold Coast Hospital late yesterday to treat a blood clot in his leg and was expected to remain in the intensive care unit last night.

OHS News Tip: Working Under Jacked-Up Vehicles Safe Work Method Statement

QLD: Asbestos Crack Down

Thursday May 15th 2008 11:22 a.m. Source: Daily Mercury

Workplace Health and Safety inspectors would be working alongside building inspectors in Mackay to ensure asbestos was handled properly.

The announcement comes less than a week after an asbestos expert warned people would get cancer after inhaling the deadly material.

Minister for Public Works and Housing Robert Schwarten said the joint visits were an important step to ensure repair and rebuilding work was completed up to standard and safely.

"Of special concern are electrical hazards and damaged asbestos fibro sheeting, but these occur in only a small percentage of the 4000 flood-hit homes," Mr Schwarten said.

Asbestos Removal Technology director Jayson Maskell-Drew said the trouble was that people had been getting away with poor handling for too long.

"It's a good thing if they can police it correctly," Mr Maskell-Drew said.

"As long as the manpower is there, it would be a good thing. It's a positive that they've started moving on it."

Even with the crackdown and the streamlined efforts, Mr Maskell-Drew feared the operation would "lack teeth".

"Honestly, to the bodgy boys, they won't care." Mr Schwarten was optimistic that the inspectors would be able to make a difference.

"If these teams of inspectors find any work that is not being done properly or safely, they will then sit down and help find a way forward for both homeowners and tradies alike.

"As everyone in the building game knows, if you do something properly the first time, it can save a lot of heartache and potential further trouble down the track."

He said that Workplace Health and Safety Officers met about 100 trade builders and contractors, giving advice and guidance on general safety issues.

"The whole idea is that these visits will help assist anyone repairing their home and help speed up the repair process wherever possible."

OHS News Tip: Asbestos Removal Safe Work Method Statement

VIC: Truck Driver Adverts Fatal Ending

Thursday May 15th 2008 09:05 a.m. Source: The Herald Sun

The bravery of a truck driver averted what could have been another Burnley Tunnel inferno.

The truckie kept driving to get a 35,000-litre load of diesel fuel out of the tunnel as flames leapt from his prime mover.

Smoke began pouring into the cabin as the Caltex tanker went through the tunnel.

By the time it neared the exit, the prime mover was engulfed in flames. But the truckie kept going, pulling over well clear of the tunnel.

A fire brigade incident controller said it was a brave effort by the driver.

Emergency teams managed to get the fire out minutes before it melted the tank and ignited the fuel, Cdr Wayne Garrard said.

"It would have been pretty hairy," he said.

"Another few minutes and, as aluminium melts pretty easy, off she'd go."

Cdr Garrard said the driver told him the fire started in the tunnel and he drove on to get it out of the confined area.

"If he'd hit something or run into another truck and ruptured the tank, we could have had real problems," Cdr Garrard said.

"He did a pretty good job to pull it over the way he did without causing any accidents to anyone else."

A Caltex spokeswoman said the company was carrying out its own investigation of the incident.

Worksafe Victoria spokesman Michael Birt said vehicles carrying dangerous goods were not allowed in CityLink tunnels, but diesel was regarded as hazardous cargo rather than dangerous.

A local anti-truck action group said the incident highlighted the need to get trucks off the road and to transport dangerous goods by rail.

"This just highlights the vast amounts of truck traffic on our roads," Elwyn Davies of the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group said.

"One thing we'd like to see is more goods being transported by rail.

OHS News Tip: LPG Safe Work Method Statement

NSW: Workers Lucky To Survive

Wednesday May 14th 2008 11:32 a.m. Source: The Glebe

Two Sydney Bus workers had a narrow escape after a large mobile crane crashed into the side of a bus they were working on at Leichhardt bus depot on Thursday.

Just before 8am two workmen on the AW Edwards site in William St next to the bus depot were using a crane to move a concrete slab when the crane started to tip.

One of the two crane operators jumped clear as the crane fell through a fence and landed on a bus parked in the depot next door.

The crane crashed through the side of the bus and smashed several windows just behind the driver's seat.

A mechanic who was working in the driver's seat received a minor hand injury and was taken to a local medical centre for treatment. A second worker who was washing the bus saw the crane tipping and jumped out of the way before it fell.

The driver of the crane was treated at the scene for shock while his co-worker was taken to a medical centre for treatment for a facial injury sustained when he jumped clear. "It was a miracle that no one was killed or injured by the collapse of the crane," said Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union assistant secretary Brian Parker

OHS News Tip: Working With Cranes Work Safe Work Method Statement

VIC: Investigation Into Trench Accident

Wednesday May 14th 2008 10:58 a.m. Source: The Herald Sun

Worksafe is investigating how a Melbourne Water worker was trapped in a hole with a crushed leg in Melbourne's outer southeast yesterday.

The 37-year-old Mulgrave man was clearing a pipe at the bottom of a three-metre pit when he was pinned by the bucket of a trench digger. He lay there with a fractured leg for more than 2 1/2 hours.

Rescuers were wary of moving the bucket in case of further injury, and a possible collapse of the unsupported trench walls.

The accident happened about 8.50am, as workmen tried to fix a burst water main in Narre Warren.

The man was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition about 11.30am.

Police, CFA crews, and intensive care and search and rescue paramedics attended. MICA paramedic Andrew Burns said: "The conditions here were extremely dangerous to the patient, the fire crews winched down, and the paramedics."

CFA operations officer David Renkin said the rescue was delicate, because of the nature of the man's injuries.

He said: "There's always potential for further collapse in trenches. So we have to make it as safe as possible for our crew before they go down."

WorkSafe spokesman Michael Birt said it was often routine tasks that led to serious injuries on the job.

"Whether it's forklift workers in a factory or excavators on a building site, it's dangerous at the best of times," he said.

"When you're in a hole, like such as what happened here, there's literally nowhere to go. So it's very dangerous.

"These guys were doing pretty routine work. The sorts of things that cause the most serious injuries and can kill are often the routine tasks," he said

OHS News Tip: Trench Work Safe Work Method Statement

VIC: Man Trapped In Hole for Four Hours With Broken Leg

Tuesday May 13th 2008 9:32 a.m. Source: The Age

A worker was trapped down a four-metre hole with a broken leg for several hours this morning, before being rescued and  flown by helicopter  to hospital.

Several crews worked for two hours to free the 37-year-old man, a spokeswoman for the Country Fire Association said.

The CFA received a call shortly after 9am and went straight to the scene near Denise Court in Narre Warren North.

"We had trench rescue and rope rescue CFA crews who used shoring techniques and ... lowered an ambulance officer and CFA firefighter into the trench and used a harness to extricate the man.''

Shoring involves securing the walls and edges of a trench, mine or hole to prevent more earth from falling into the hole, which is possibly what the worker was doing before being injured.

"We think he was being lowered into a trench by machinery and he has fallen from the platform (of an excavator) into the trench,'' she said. 

However, Michael Birt, from WorkSafe, said the man was working in the hole when the bucket of an excavator broke his leg. A WorkSafe team is investigating the accident.

A Metropolitan Ambulance spokesman said the man was taken by helicopter to the Royal Melbourne Hospital where he is being treated for a fractured leg

OHS News Tip: Trench Work Safe Work Method Statement

WA: Gas Leak Kills 54 Year Old Man

Friday May 9th 2008 11:41 a.m. Source: The ABC News

Police are investigating the death of a workman in Cloverdale this afternoon.

Witnesses found the 54-year-old man lying on the verge of a property on Robinson Avenue about 3:00pm.

Sergeant Dwayne Skehan says it is believed the man had struck a gas pipe while digging in the garden.

"We understand that he has been overcome by gas vapours and the reason for that was because he was doing some constructional digging in the area," he said.

An ambulance was called but officers found the man dead at the scene.

Fire crews spent the afternoon trying to contain the gas leak.

Dozens of people were evacuated from the area.

Worksafe is investigating the death.

OHS News Tip: Working Around Gas Work Method Statement

WA: Man Trapped While Cleaning Silo

Friday May 9th 2008 9:03 a.m. Source: The Esperance

Co-operative Bulk Handling terminal worker Jeff Mutch was pulled to safety after sinking into a storage cell full of peas at the CBH Esperance Terminal on Sunday.

Mr Mutch was buried up to his shoulders under the peas at 10.57am when he was sweeping the remaining peas and pea pods out of the cone shaped storage cell as part of the process involved in out-loading the peas.

When Mr Mutch noticed a blockage over the valve in the storage cell and when attempting to clear the blockage the valve opened and pulled Mr Mutch under the peas.

After alerting a co-worker by two-way radio, local emergency workers rushed to his aid.

FESA Area Manager of the Great Southern region Murray Hatten said about 30 emergency workers from State Emergency Services, Esperance Fire and Rescue Services, St John Ambulance, together with CHB workers, worked to rescue Mr Mutch in an operation that took nearly two hours.

Rescue workers pulled Mr Hutch out of the peas by stabilising him with a rope under his armpits, while using a mobile industrial vacuum cleaner to suck the peas surrounding him.

“It’s a bit like quicksand in some respects,” Mr Hatten said.

“Thankfully the local volunteers extracted him promptly and safely otherwise we would have had to send for back-up resources from Perth or Kalgoorlie.”

Mr Hatten said for all the time he has worked with FESA he has never been involved in this sort of emergency rescue.

Fortunately Mr Mutch was not injured, but despite the danger of being stuck underneath the peas Mr Mutch said it’s not an unsafe procedure, and it’s been going on for 25 years.

CBH Executive Manager for Logistics Tim Collins said the company will working over the next few days with the appropriate authorities to carry out a full review of the incident.

“We would like to thank all emergency workers for their prompt and professional response,” Mr Collins said.

OHS News Tip: Industrial Safe Work Procedure

NSW: Crane Collapsed Onto a Bus Depot in Sydney

Thursday May 8 2008 10:58 p.m. Source: ABC News

A crane has collapsed on top of a bus at a depot in Sydney's inner west.

The accident happened just before 8:00am (AEDT) at the bus depot on Balmain Road at Leichhardt.

The crane's drivers were lifting a concrete slab on the site next to the depot when the crane started to tip.

The drivers and a man washing the empty bus jumped clear just before the crane crashed into the side of the bus and smashed a number of windows.

A mechanic who was inside the bus at the time was treated for minor injuries.

State Transit says the bus sustained extensive damaged and part of the depot's refuelling area was also damaged.

But a spokesman says the accident will not affect services.

Emergency services and WorkCover are still at the scene

OHS News Tip: Working With Cranes Safe Work Procedure

QLD: Reports Find Closures Cut Injury Rates

Wednesday May 7 2008 2:26 p.m. Source: ABC News

The closure of high risk trails and jumps at the Black Duck Valley off-road recreation park in the Lockyer Valley has had an immediate impact on injury rates.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WH&S) says it put operators of the park "on notice" after Friday's findings of the state coroner that two deaths at Black Duck Valley had been preventable.

A spokesman for the division says operators closed all but one four-wheel drive trail from Saturday and also shut down long distance jumps and the acrobatic area for motorbikes.

Since the closures, WH&S says there have been no injuries reported requiring an ambulance.

OHS News Tip: Workplace Health and Safety

WA: Workplace Construction Fine Issued

Wednesday May 7 2008 2:17 p.m. Source: ABC News

WorkSafe has welcomed a fine imposed on a Bunbury construction company for not providing protection in elevated areas.

The Briklay Development Group was fined $14,000 after pleading guilty in the Bunbury Magistrates Court to failing to provide edge protection around stairs, balconies and suspended slabs.

WorkSafe inspectors issued a prohibition notice at the site in 2006 and ordered protection be installed.

During a subsequent inspection, there were still some areas without edge protection.

WorkSafe commissioner Nina Lyhne says the industry needs to improve its safety performance.

"I think it's very important that the building industry recognises that falls are a very significant hazard in their industry and WorkSafe expects them to take appropriate measures to protect workers from this hazard," she said

OHS News Tip: Working In Elevated Areas

QLD: 34yr Old Worker Crushed To Death

Wednesday May 7 2008 1:05 p.m. Source: Daily Mercury

A SARINA man, 34, was crushed to death in an industrial accident at Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT) yesterday afternoon.

The single man was working as a contracted labourer on the expansion of a jetty when the accident occurred.

A Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) spokesman said the service received a call that a man had been crushed at DBCT just after 3pm.

QAS Sarina arrived at DBCT at 3.20pm and assessed the man as deceased at 3.35pm; they did not attempt resuscitation.

Sarina Police and specialist officers from Mackay were investigating the accident yesterday.

Sergeant Dave Parnell, of Sarina Police, said the man was working with a crew of three others when the incident occurred, however he would not give any specific details of the accident.

"It was an industrial incident involving heavy machinery," he said.

The man worked for the John Holland Group which has an office at Mackay, Sgt Parnell confirmed.

Today, federal workplace health and safety officers from Comcare will fly into Mackay to investigate.

Sarina police are assisting Comcare and will conduct interviews with witnesses, Sgt Parnell said.

Last night Sarina police informed the man's family of his death.

News of the death spread fast among DBCT workers yesterday. A serious accident has not occurred at DBCT for several years.

In February 2004, DBCT worker Peter John Maclean was badly injured when the reclaimer he was operating fell more than 30 metres.

He suffered a broken shoulder, rib and head injuries.

In September 1983 a minibus plunged 18 metres off the DBCT jetty and killed five people on board.

DBCT is currently completing a $1.3 billion expansion.

The company is working on stages two and three which includes constructing a third conveyor belt, a new bund and yard machine.

When completed it will increase throughput to 85 million tonnes a year.

OHS News Tip: Working With Heavy Machinery

VIC: Worker Survives 11,000 Volt Shock

Wednesday May 7 2008 12:00 a.m. Source: Herald Sun

A ROAD worker was lucky to survive an 11,000-volt shock yesterday after he drilled into a major power cable on Church St Bridge.

The 22-year-old was hammer drilling concrete on the South Yarra bridge just before 8.30am when he struck electrical cables.

He suffered a huge electric shock, his hands were badly burnt and he had flash burns to his face.

He was taken to the Alfred hospital in a stable condition after paramedics treated him at the scene.

Citipower spokesman Damien Batey said the man, from Wallan, was lucky not to have more critical injuries.

"That section of our network does run at 11,000 volts . . . considering that, he's lucky to have escaped with minor injuries," he said.

Worksafe Victoria spokesman Michael Birt said the man had been preparing a section of footpath for paving.

He said WorkSafe and Energy Safe Victoria would investigate "job planning and the man's training and supervision".

The incident caused peak-hour traffic chaos, with cars blocked from crossing the bridge for up to two hours. About 170 Citipower customers had no power for an hour.

OHS News Tip: Working Around Electricity Procedure

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