08:31 am, Tuesday 9 February, 2010

WA new rules certifying workers who remove asbestos are armed proper skills and knowledge will soon take effect.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said the new licensing requirements for the removal of more than ten square metres of asbestos are aimed to minimise the risks of working with asbestos products.

“There is still a large amount of asbestos in WA and we need to make sure that its removal is carried out only by workers who have the proper knowledge and skills to perform the task safely,” Ms Lyhne said.

“A National Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos has been in existence for many years, so there has always been a requirement for working safely with asbestos. These changes aim to improve compliance with the code.

“Asbestos cement products do not pose a risk to health if they are left undisturbed in buildings. However, there is a serious risk of exposure to asbestos fibres during the disturbance or removal of asbestos-containing materials unless basic safety precautions are followed.

“Concerns have long existed about the potential for serious health effects from exposure to asbestos where these safety precautions are not followed.

“These concerns resulted in the Commission for Occupational Safety and Health recommending stronger controls on the removal of asbestos cement sheeting.

“A large amount of consultation has taken place, with input from industry representatives, unions, organisations and members of the community all being taken into consideration when deciding to implement the changes.

“Unfortunately Western Australians have the sad legacy of Wittenoom to remind them of the potential hazards of asbestos, and these changes are part of the State Government’s commitment to the future safety and health of all Western Australians.

“The obvious advantage of licensing for the removal of asbestos is that it will ensure that only workers who possess the required knowledge, skills and safe systems of work to do the job safely will be able to perform the work.”

Starting 1 June 2010, companies removing more than ten square metres of bonded asbestos in a workplace will need to hold an asbestos license and to complete an approved training course.

WorkSafe will begin accepting applications for asbestos licenses from 1 March 2010.

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06:40 pm, Monday 8 February, 2010

WorkSafe has called out businesses to step up their anti-bullying policies and to deal with workplace bullying if the issue arises.

WorkSafe acting Executive Director Stan Krpan said today‘s judgment in relation to workplace bullying suffered by Brodie Panlock is a message to the entire community.

Melbourne Magistrate Peter Lauritsen has fined Ms Panlock’s employer, Map Foundation trading as Café Vamp, $220,000. Three of Ms Panlock’s coworkers and a company director of Map Foundation’s have been convicted and fined a total of $115,000.

Magistrate Lauritsen heard that the 19-year-old Panlock worked as a waitress at Hawthorne’s Café Vamp. She was bullied by three workmates, yet her employer allowed it to go on.

An earlier Coroners inquest found Brodie committed suicide after being bullied in 2006.

The magistrate said the cafe’s working environment was poisonous. He noted the persistent bullying of Ms Panlock was in the worst category, but nothing was done to stop it.

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05:57 pm, Monday 8 February, 2010

A man suspected of breaking in at a Scarborough Beach Road industrial site has been found dead on Tuesday.

Police spokesman Graham Clifford said the man “shouldn’t have been” on the premises of electrical business ABB Australia in Osborne Park.

“It looks like an incident of misadventure rather than anything suspicious,” he said.

“He shouldn’t have been there and whatever he was doing caused his death.”

Seargant Grifford said a worker found the man’s body about 7.45am at the site of the electrical transformer manufacturer.

The spokesman said investigations are being conducted by both Worksafe and police the .

He could not confirm reports whether the man was electrocuted or not.

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05:26 pm, Monday 8 February, 2010

The High Court of Australia has rebuked WorkCover NSW over its prosecution of a Picton farm owner.

The highest court of the land has handed down its ruling on Wednesday, finding Southern  NSW farmer Graeme Kirk’s appeal meritorious.

WorkCover took action against Mr Kirk over the death of his farm manager in 2001.

The manager Graham Palmer was killed when he drove a quad bike down the side of a hill on the southern NSW property, where it overturned.

The Industrial Relations Commission  had found Mr Kirk guilty of failing to observe his employee, and was fined $121,000. He appealed his case all the way to the High Court.

The Court found it absurd that Mr Kirk was prosecuted over the manager’s inexplicable recklessness, who had skill and experience much greater than his own.

“The suggestion that the owners of farms are obliged to conduct daily supervision of employees and contractors – even the owners of relatively small farms like Mr Kirk’s – is, with respect, an astonishing one,” the decision stated.

WorkCover was ordered by the Court to pay Mr Kirk’s cost.

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08:30 am, Saturday 6 February, 2010

Unions have called for a review of the safety standards related to the Federal Government’s ceiling insulation system following four related deaths since its introduction last year.

The most recent incident involves a 25-year-old contractor who was electrocuted on Thursday in Millaa Millaa. Paramedics who responded to the scene were unable to resuscitate the man.

Queensland Council of Unions spokeswoman Amanda Richards said the Thursday incident was the fourth ceiling insulation casualty in Australia since October.

Ms Richards praised the new safety measures introduced by Environment Minister Peter Garrett last year, requiring a formal risk assessment for each job and establishing a name-and-shame register for deregistered installers.

However, she said more was needed to protect contractors.

“One death is too many, each of these deaths is senseless,” she said.

She said unions had raised concerns about the growing number of contractors being listed under the scheme, as well as the workers’ lack of training.

“Businesses in this industry need to take the health and safety of their workers seriously and ensure there are safe systems in place,” Ms Richards said.

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07:16 pm, Friday 5 February, 2010

A packaging company has been fined by the Industrial Court on Monday over two work-related injuries in a span of four days.

Industrial Magistrate Stephen Lieschke has ordered Detmold Packaging Pty Ltd to pay a fine of $26,400 for the first incident and $22,500 for the second. He also ordered that copies of the decisions be given to all the Brompton-based company’s workers.

Two employees had their hands trapped in unguarded machinery in two separate incidents on September 2007.

On 7 September 2007, a 36-year-old man suffered hand injuries when he tried to remove loose paper from a printing machine. As he was doing so, his hand made contact with the moving rollers of the machinery.

Magistrate Lieschke heard that the machine guard had been removed for cleaning, but was not replaced after.

The dangerous practice was already identified ten months prior to the incident, when a formal safety analysis was conducted. However, the company did not do anything to interlock the guard to cut the machine’s power when removed.

In the second incident four days later, a female worker suffered a hand injury was attempting to remove loose paper from a heat operated shrink wrapping machine.

SafeWork SA argued that inadequate guarding was likewise a key factor in this incident. The workers had not been made aware of safe operating procedures for the machines in both instances.

SafeWork SA says the cases is another reminder of the hazards of unguarded machinery.

“Thousands of injury claims are lodged each year in SA as a result of inadequately guarded machinery,” says Executive Director, Michele Patterson.

“Solutions such as guards and lock-out devices, as well as good safety training are crucial to preventing such harm, but we need workplaces to heed the message and enact these measures before someone gets hurt, not after the event.”

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06:29 pm, Friday 5 February, 2010

WorkSafe has begun investigations on the death of a man at a swimming pool company in Ascot.

The man’s age and identity have not been revealed, but a WorkSafe spokeswoman said the man was found dead in a container at Polypools International on Great Eastern Highway.

The work-related death was reported to authorities about 1pm on Tuesday.

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05:53 pm, Friday 5 February, 2010

Timber company Pinetec Ltd was fined $60,000 on Friday over an incident in which a worker’s hand was caught in a machinery.

Pinetec, whose worker’s hand was badly injured, was accused of failing to provide a safe working environment.

On 9 August 2006, the man’s hand was caught in the cutting head of a moulder in the company’s Collie timber mill. His right hand and part of his thumb were severed as a result.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said the tragic incident could have been prevented if the timber company had undertaken measure to control who could access the machine.

“Pinetec should have ensured that its employees understood the importance of safe work with this machine and provided training and instruction about how to use the machine,” Ms Lhyne said.

“Further steps could also have been taken, such as a time-delay mechanism or a key-lock system on the door into the enclosed area where the machine was located.

“Many workers have been seriously injured and even killed when access to equipment or machinery has not been controlled. It is absolutely crucial that safe systems of work are in place.”

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05:23 pm, Friday 5 February, 2010

A contractor has been electrocuted while working in the roof of a house in North Queensland yesterday.

The 25-year-old man was installing insulation in the ceiling of a Millaa Millaa house when he suffered an electric shock.

The paramedics who arrived on the scene performed CPR on the man, but he could not be resuscitated. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

This is the third death connected installation of insulation in Queensland since the rebate scheme was initiated by the Federal Government.

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08:40 am, Thursday 4 February, 2010

Talks between the SA Police Association and Commissioner Mal Hyde have led to a new drug and alcohol policy, subjecting police officers to testing on on duty.

The changes were approved by Cabinet on 25 January 2010. They are expected to be introduced at the end of the year if the Government is re-elected on March 20.

Under the proposal, officers suspected of taking drugs or drinking alcohol while on duty will be tested.

There will also be mandatory testing in certain situations, such as in the events of a discharge of a firearm, high-risk driving and after a workplace accident.

Refusal to provide a specimen for testing will result  in disciplinary action.

Under the new policy, testing will now be a prerequisite for anyone applying to join the police force.

Similar drug and alcohol testing are already in place in NSW, Queensland and Tasmania and by the Australian Federal Police.

Police Association SA president Mark Carroll said the issue was about the safety of its members and of the community.

“The circumstances applicable to mandatory testing will be legislated and include those cases in which police officers take part in high-risk driving or use their firearms,” he said.

“Testing of this type will serve to reassure the community and underscore the professionalism for which SA police are known.”

Police Minister Michael Wright said the policy aims to strengthen public confidence in police even more.

“It is imperative SAPOL ensures all steps are taken to prevent and deter any potential incidence of drug use in the workplace,” he said. “Police have the right to lawfully use force, even lethal force if necessary.

“It’s therefore important that the community is assured that anybody with those rights is not under the influence of drugs.”

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