For the latest update on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) news and information from across Australia.

OHS News - December 2006

OHS Forum goes Live

December 22, 2006 9:00 a.m.

The most comprehensive OHS Forum for Australian OHS Professionals has now been launched. Industries covered include Construction, Manufacturing, Mining, Hospitality and more. visit the Occupational Health and Safety forum at www.ohsforum.com.au

Woman, 31, dies in work accident

December 22, 2006 12:06pm Article from: AAP

A 31-year-old woman has been killed in an industrial accident at a cabinet-making factory in Melbourne.

The woman was operating an industrial router yesterday when the bit disintegrated and a piece hit her in the chest.

WorkSafe has launched an investigation into the accident at the East Bentleigh factory, in Melbourne's east.

WorkSafe executive director John Merritt said the death was a tragedy for the woman's family and workmates.

"With many businesses finishing today before holidays, we can only urge employers and workers to keep their mind on what they're doing and not be distracted by upcoming holidays and celebrations," he said.

The woman's death is the 29th reported to WorkSafe this year - 11 more than in 2005.

WorkSafe is also investigating the collapse of a steel building frame at a warehouse and office development in Laverton North, in Melbourne's west, today.

Most of the 40m by 70m frame collapsed but no one was hurt, a WorkSafe spokesman said.

Young men most prone to workplace injury

December 20, 2006 04:50pm Article from: AAP

ALMOST 10 per cent of young men are injured or become ill at work each year, latest Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) figures show.

About 700,000 of the 10.8 million people who worked at some time in the last 12 months experienced a work-related injury or illness - a rate of 6.4 per cent. 

ABS data out today revealed younger people generally experienced the highest rates of work-related injury and illness.

Men aged 20 to 24 had the highest rate of work-related injury or illness at 9.8 per cent, and the frequency was generally higher for men than women.

"Almost two-thirds of people who experienced a work-related injury or illness were men,'' the ABS report, Work-Related Injuries Australia, said.

The report said this was partly because 54 per cent of workers were men, but men were still at higher risk even accounting for this difference.

Sprains or strains were the most commonly reported conditions, followed by cuts or open wounds, and chronic joint or muscle conditions.

The ABS data also revealed the most risky jobs are held by intermediate production and transport workers, such as plant and machine operators, truck and train drivers, closely followed by tradespeople and labourers.

The most dangerous industries are agriculture, forestry and fishing, manufacturing, and construction and mining, while Queensland and the ACT are the most dangerous states.

The figures show almost one-third of injuries were received through lifting, pushing or pulling an object.

More than two-fifths of those injured had not received any occupational, health and safety training in the job in which the problem occurred.

About six in ten of injured or ill workers took some time off work, including 2.5 per cent who had not returned to work since the injury or illness occurred and 28 per cent who had five days or more off.

About six in ten also received some sort of financial assistance such as workers compensation.

Workers injured in formwork collapse

December 19, 2006 04:29pm Article from: AAP

Bulldozer driver injured fighting fires

December 17, 2006 10:50pm Article from: AAP

Man dies in mining accident

December 15, 2006 11:11am Article from: AAP

A MAN died in an underground mine in northwest Queensland early today.

Police said the 19-year-old worker was believed to have been carrying out electrical work when a cage fell to the ground at BHP Billiton's Cannington mine, east of Mt Isa about 2.15am (AEST).

It was not yet known exactly how the man died.

A BHP Billiton spokeswoman said the mine was closed while the death was investigated.

She said the company was helping the family and co-workers of the man whose name had not been released.
 

Big firms moving away from state compo

By Denis Peters

December 13, 2006 05:58pm Article from: AAP

SEVERAL more big employers have been given permission to self-insure for workers' compensation, allowing them to move out of the traditional state systems.

The Federal Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (SRCC) announced it had given approval to National Australia Bank Ltd, National Wealth Management Services Ltd and three John Holland group companies to become self-insured.

These companies will join others such as LinFox, Telstra, Pacific National and CSL Ltd which have moved within the realm of the Commonwealth Workers' Compensation Scheme (CWCS).

Companies must convince the SRCC that they are in competition with current or former Commonwealth authorities to be eligible.

The passage of amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991 this year made the moves from state systems possible.

"The commission was satisfied that these companies met the requirements of the legislation in respect of the management of workers' compensation claims and the standards set by the commission for the rehabilitation and occupational health and safety of their employees,'' SRCC chairman Les Taylor said.

The ACTU is passionately opposed to the new regime, saying it could mean substantially reduced payouts for injured workers and significantly lower the national standard of workplace health and safety.

"Unions are very concerned that health and safety protections for workers are typically much lower in the federal system and that payouts for permanently injured workers are also much less,'' ACTU president Sharan Burrow said.

"For example, the amount payable to a paraplegic is around 30-40 per cent less under Comcare than under Victoria's workers' compensation system,'' she said.

"And for a worker who loses a thumb and forefinger in a workplace accident, the payment under Comcare is $66,000 - around $50,000 less than the NSW State compensation payout of $114,000 and also much less than Victoria's $107,000.''

Ms Burrow said the CWCS and OHS system was not set up to deal with building industry employers like John Holland.

"Australia's construction industry is very dangerous and many workers continue to lose their lives in unnecessary workplace accidents,'' she said.

"It is appalling that the Federal Government would allow companies like John Holland to shop around for a cheaper workers' compensation system.

"These companies are moving out of the state and territory compensation systems so that they can cut costs and evade stronger health and safety regulations.''

"But the people who will suffer from this new move by the Howard Government are going to be workers who are injured.''
 

Rail managers sacked over sex harassment

December 13, 2006 11:30am Article from: AAP

FOUR Sydney-based RailCorp managers have been sacked and two others disciplined after a female employee complained of sexual harassment.

Anastasia Dhillon was a RailCorp secretary last year when she raised 116 complaints against seven managers, including sexual harassment and use of pornography in the workplace.

Ms Dhillon's complaints and a 12-month investigation spurred RailCorp management to implement tougher procedures for dealing with harassment.

For privacy reasons, RailCorp declined today to reveal the identity of the managers involved, but said four had been dismissed, one suspended for three months without pay, and another reprimanded.

A seventh manager was cleared by the investigation.

Following the investigation, RailCorp chief executive Vince Graham announced the establishment of a new anti-bullying and harassment steering committee, of which he would be a part.

RailCorp also would introduce a new early invervention complaints management system, and education and training programs to raise awareness in the workplace, he said.

"The changes will improve grievance-handling processes in RailCorp and raise further awareness of these issues among managers," Mr Graham said.

The disciplinary against the six managers, combined with the new grievance procedures, were a warning to all staff that "this kind of behaviour" would no longer be tolerated, Mr Graham said.

"I have previously indicated there is no place for bullying and harassment in any workplace," he said.

"RailCorp ... has a responsibility to do all it can to minimise this kind of behaviour and make sure there is appropriate support available when it does happen."

A RailCorp spokeswoman said Ms Dhillon was on sick leave with full pay.

Ride operator jailed over backpacker plunge

December 12, 2006 12:00 Article from: AAP

A RIDE operator has been jailed for almost three years after a backpacker suffered brain damage in a 20m plunge because she was not properly secured into the ride.

Steve Jay Clark, 43, was found guilty in Cairns District Court yesterday of causing grievous bodily harm to English tourist Lucy Keen, 27, on May 29, 2004.

The court was told Clark was hungover on the day of the accident in which Ms Keen plunged 20m to the ground.

Clark failed to properly secure her in a flying fox ride at Cape Tribulation in Queensland's far north.

The ride is a carrier suspended on cables that enables riders to enjoy a sensation akin to flying.

Prosecutor Angus Edwards said Ms Keen required 24-hour care and wasn't likely to recover from her injuries.

He said Clark had never expressed remorse for the injuries inflicted on Ms Keen.

The jury took one hour to find Clark guilty.

He was sentenced to two years and eight months jail, with a non-parole period of 16 months.

Ms Keen's parents, who travelled from England to be at the trial, embraced and cried as the verdict was read out.

Procedings are continuing with the tour Company.

More miners tested for legionnaires'

By Evan Schwarten

December 12, 2006 03:23pm Article from: AAP

ANOTHER 12 workers from a central Queensland coal mine are being tested for legionnaires' disease after two of their colleagues were admitted to hospital with it last week.

Mining giant Anglo Coal closed its Grasstree Creek mine, near Middlemount in Queensland's Bowen Basin, at the weekend after a second man tested positive to the respiratory disease.

A Queensland Health spokeswoman said 11 workers visited a Middlemount doctor suffering symptoms of the disease including coughs and fever.

Another worker was treated for pneumonia in a Mackay hospital last week.

All 12 were being tested for legionnaires' disease by Queensland Health officers.

The two workers admitted to Rockhampton hospital last week have already been discharged.

Legionnaires' disease is caused by the naturally occurring bacteria legionella, which can be found in ponds and creeks as well as in air-conditioning cooling towers and shower heads.

It causes symptoms similar to influenza or pneumonia including fever, headache, shortness of breath and muscle aches.

The disease cannot be transferred from human to human.

Central Area Health Service public health physician Dr Margaret Young said water samples collected from the mine over the weekend had been sent to Brisbane for testing, but results would not be known for four to seven days.

Dr Young said any workers or contractors from the mine who developed a cough or fever should contact a GP immediately.

She said if treated properly, patients normally improved within three to five days.

An Anglo Coal spokesman yesterday said the mine would remain closed until the company received the results of the testing.

Former QLD RAAF workers to take legal action

Former RAAF maintenance workers will file a class action against the federal government in their battle for compensation over health problems resulting from work on the F-111.

An inquiry five years ago heard former RAAF members who used toxic chemicals to repair the fuel tanks of the strike-fighters suffered a range of health complaints from cancer to blackouts and breathing problems.

The government has already paid out more than $20 million but has rejected many claims for lump sum payments because of what it says is a lack of scientific evidence linking chemical exposure to health problems.

The maintenance program, known as deseal-reseal, was conducted at the RAAF base at Amberley in Queensland between 1975 and 2000.

Compass Legal Solutions representative Debra Daniels will file class action proceedings in the Queensland Supreme Court.

Ms Daniels said while she could not go into detail before filing the claim, she expected up to 600 former workers could join the action.

"There's been ongoing discussion with members of the RAAF and only a small number of those have received ex gratia payments - the majority have been excluded," Ms Daniels said.

"Compensation discussions broke down so this was the only avenue that our clients could take."

Ms Daniels said the issue was one that should concern the wider community.

"I believe the public will be surprised once they hear the background of the whole debacle," she said.

"They signed up to serve their country and now the Commonwealth has neglected them and cast them aside.

"We have lost a number of them recently through suicide and death from injury, illness or disease - that's been distressing for the remainder as well.

"We are hoping the Commonwealth comes to the party and gives these personnel the compensation they rightly deserve."

The action - which has been two years in the planning - is being supported by the Vietnam Veterans Federation, which is setting up a fighting fund for applicants.

Fisherman's finger chopped off

December 07, 2006 10:20pm

Driver crushed to death unloading truck

December 07, 2006 03:17pm Article from: AAP

A TRUCK driver has been crushed to death by a load of steel at an Adelaide scrap metal factory.

Police said the man was killed at about 9am (CST) today at the Normetals Pty Ltd factory at Ottoway in Adelaide's north-west.

The 33-year-old was unloading one tonne of steel from his semitrailer when the accident happened.

SafeWork SA inspectors and police are continuing investigations at the metals processing factory and will prepare a report for the state coroner.

Contractor electrocuted

December 07, 2006 11:04am Article from: AAP

A MAN was electrocuted as he worked in an air-conditioning vent of an electrical goods supplier in central NSW.

The 26-year-old contractor was working on the roof of Kaye's Electrical in West Dubbo about 1.30pm (AEDT) when the accident happened.

"The police were called to the scene of the accident yesterday afternoon but we still can't release the name of the man," Inspector Dave Minehan of Dubbo police said today.

"WorkCover are conducting their own investigation into this matter and we are preparing a report for the coroner."

A spokesman for Kaye's Electrical said the man was a contractor called in to repair the air-conditioning.

Hardie exposed workers to asbestos

December 07, 2006 12:10am Article from: AAP

JAMES Hardie has been forced to close a western Sydney factory after exposing its workers to asbestos.

The Australia Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) said it first alerted plant managers at the Rosehill factory to the asbestos exposure after a union safety inspection on November 3, News Ltd reports today.

However, the union said James Hardie allowed the factory, that once produced asbestos but now makes cement sheeting, to stay operating for almost another four weeks, until November 28.

About 100 employees were working near the exposed friable asbestos for that time, the union said.

A James Hardie spokesman said the company was only notified in writing of the union's concerns on November 22, six days before the plant was shut.

Canberra man awarded $7.25 million for workplace accident

05 December 2006

A man who became a paraplegic in a Canberra workplace accident almost ten years ago has won an interim judgment of $7.25 million.

It's understood the ACT Supreme Court has ruled the man, 32 year old Michael Hay, is entitled to the money, although a finding has not been made about who was responsible for the defective cherry picker or the accident.

Mr Hay was injured when the cherry picker he was standing on collapsed as he worked on a communications tower in 1997.

New laws work against work accident victim

05 December 2006

William Hill spent four days on life support after falling four storeys from a building.

RED tape and changes to workers compensation laws have robbed a 22-year-old Ruse man of four years of his life.

In March 2003, William Hill was on a crane when he plunged four storeys from a building on a construction site, shattering his face, elbows and hip, and puncturing both lungs.

Since the accident, William has endured countless operations to rebuild his caved-in face and correct his injured hip and elbows.

But he has not been allowed to return to his computer science studies because his specialists, WorkCover and his case manager "will not sign off on his case".

Recuperating from an operation on his jaw last Saturday and speaking through his father William Sr, William said he had one simple wish - to get on with his life.

"He had finished one year of his degree and he was working to save for a car in the university holidays when the accident happened,'' William Sr said.

"He's had so many operations we've lost count and he is in a lot of pain in his teeth and jaw and elbows, but all this time he could have been doing some of his degree from home and getting on with his life.

"He gets frustrated by his situation and all the waiting. He's lost four years of his life and he gets nothing.''

William Sr said changes to the workers compensation laws in November 2001 - which were meant to get victims back to work faster and include the 15 per cent mobility clause - often worked against victims.

"There are so many other people in the same or a worse situation than William,'' he said.

"The pendulum has swung too far away from the victim. William had to sit through the Industrial Relations Court for a whole week and relive what happened to him so WorkCover could sue the company.

"We can't launch civil action because he doesn't have less than 15 per cent mobility.

"He'd have to be practically dead for us to be able to take action.

"That's a fine victory for WorkCover but there was nothing in it for us.''

William Sr said his son's latest operation should have been his last but complications with the surgery might postpone the signing off of William's case.

"This operation was to have teeth implanted and that would have been it but they told us there wasn't sufficient bone in the jaw,'' he said.

Campbelltown State Labor MP Graham West said the workers compensation law changes were aimed at stopping lengthy court battles with insurance companies.

"All laws need to be continually reviewed to ensure they are working,'' he said. "This case is a concern and if this man has been held up I will raise this with the minister."

A spokeswoman from WorkCover said the organisation would look into William's case if he contacted the WorkCover claims assistance service on 13 10 50.

Westralia Sailors Win Compensation

December 06, 2006 09:50am

Article from: AAP

THE federal Government will pay $3.1 million in compensation to five sailors injured in one of Australia's worst peacetime naval disasters, following an eight-year legal battle.

Two other sailors will meet government lawyers tomorrow in a bid to resolve their compensation claims, which lawyers hope will finally draw the saga to a close.

The seven were injured in an explosion aboard HMAS Westralia in 1998.

Four sailors were killed when a burst fuel hose sprayed diesel oil onto a hot engine, causing a fireball to rip through the engine room of the ship.

In August, the federal Government admitted liability after reaching settlement with the two companies whose work was blamed for starting the engine room blaze.

The decision cleared the way for the surviving crew members and the families of the dead men to claim compensation.

A spokesman for law firm Slater and Gordon said the $3.1 million compensation agreement for five of the sailors was signed yesterday.

The lawyer for the remaining two sailors, Max Jeganathan, said the Registrar of the District Court of WA ordered them to meet federal government representatives for pre-trial mediation tomorrow.

Mr Jeganathan said he hoped commonsense would prevail and the cases could be resolved swiftly for survivors Graeme Hollis and Kevin Herridge.

"There's been various types of very, very tragic and sad injuries that have been suffered by these clients ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder to depressive disorders to various other psychiatric conditions and psychological distress that they've all had to endure," he said on ABC radio.

"We just hope that the federal Government comes with a reasonable and a positive attitude, as we will, hopefully to get these two gentlemen some closure before Christmas so we can have all seven cases settled and finished with so they can move on with their lives."

The ship was decommissioned in Perth in September.

Melissa Munday, one of the five to receive compensation, said she hoped settling her claim would help her end memories of the disaster.

Ms Munday was a member of the ship's fire brigade and had to stand guard over a dead body to prevent firefighters trampling it as they fought the blaze.

"It's not the money, it's the fact that it's finally over and I can concentrate on getting on with life," she said.

Man charged over death at remote mine

December 04, 2006 02:43pm Article from: AAP

A 27-year-old man has died after an altercation on a mine site near Newman in the remote north-east of Western Australia.

The man, who lived in the southern Perth suburb of Spearwood, died at Royal Perth Hospital after being airlifted by the Royal Flying Doctor Service following the incident about 2.15am (WDT) on Sunday.

Police allege he struck his head on the ground after being pushed during an altercation with another man at the Yandi iron ore mine site.

A 21-year-old Forrestfield man was later arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm after police intercepted him about 30km from Mt Magnet.

Police said the charge was likely to be upgraded once a post-mortem examination was completed.

The Forrestfield man was due to appear in Geraldton Magistrate's Court today.

Builders crushed by steel beams

December 01, 2006 05:09pm - Article from: AAP

TWO builders were seriously injured when steel beams fell on them at a central Sydney building site today.

Three steel beams weighing 340kg each fell 5m onto the men at the Oxford St site about 11am, the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) said.

The men, aged 20 and 44, had spinal, head and neck injuries, as well as suspected rib, leg and hand fractures, the CFMEU said.

The union said the accident happened just days after it was denied entry to the site and its officials were racially abused while trying to investigate alleged safety breaches.

CFMEU officials visited the site in Darlinghurst after complaints from workers.

The union said its officials were refused entry by the builder, ICMG, and by inspectors from the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).

Comment is being sought from ICMG.

Airline faces charges

December 01, 2006 04:35pm - Article from: AAP

A REGIONAL airline involved in one of Australia's worst plane crashes could face criminal charges for allegedly failing to report safety incidents.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said today it had referred Transair to the federal Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after receiving evidence alleging its parent company Lessbrook Pty Ltd failed to report 25 potentially dangerous incidents.

"Legislation requires various incidents to be reported and as such we have referred the matter to the Department of Public Prosecution for consideration," deputy director of aviation safety investigation Julian Walsh said.

The move comes just days after the Brisbane-based airline was grounded by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which said it had serious concerns about its flight operations.

A Transair commuter plane crashed in May, 2005, near Lockhart River in far north Queensland, killing all 15 people on board.

Mr Walsh said the 25 alleged incidents happened between 2003 and 2005.

The alleged safety problems include gear failure on take-off from Bamaga on the Cape York Peninsula, a cabin pressurisation warning near Cairns, a burning smell near Inverell in NSW and a problem with flaps on a flight from Gunnedah to Sydney.

The ATSB is now preparing a brief of evidence and is expected to present it to the DPP in the next few weeks.

Mr Walsh said it would then wait for the DPP to advise them and what should happen next.

Comment was being sought from Transair.

Work accident victim in stable condition

1/12/06

A 19-year-old man who had both of his legs amputated in an industrial accident near Bunbury last week remains in a stable condition in hospital.

The man climbed into a masonry cutting machine at Lido Limestone at Picton last Tuesday.

He was flown to Royal Perth Hospital, where surgeons managed to reattach one of his legs.

A hospital spokeswoman says his condition is continuing to improve.

WorkSafe WA says its inspectors are yet to interview the man, but are continuing to inspect the machine at the work site.

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