07:36 am, Tuesday 20 January, 2009

Source: Manufactures Monthly

The Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) today released a research report on The Occupational Health And Safety (OHS) implications of accurate data for the design of Australian workplaces. The accuracy of anthropometric data is an emerging issue that is a focus of research for the ASCC.

ASCC Chairman, Mr Bill Scales AO, commented on the release of the report: Sizing Up Australia: How contemporary is the anthropometric data Australian designers use?

“This report follows up on the previously released scoping paper on the implications of overweight and obe sity for workplace health and safety and workers’ compensation,” Mr Scales said.

The report, Sizing Up Australia: How contemporary is the anthropometric data Australian designers use investigates what anthropometric data is being used by designers of workplace equipment and products and assesses whether this data reflects the contemporary Australian workforce.

The ABS found in 2008 that more than 7 million Australians aged 18 years and over are overweight or obese, representing an increase of 2.8 million over the previous 15 years.

Anthropometric data are the measurements of the human body form used by designers to represent the human shape and size in designing products, spaces and systems.

“A number of emerging issues including the extent of overweight and obesity amongst the Australian workforce may have implications for the designers of workplace equipment and products,” Mr Scales said.

“This initial research suggests that existing Australian anthropometric data may not adequately represent the current Australian workforce. Australia’s anthropometric dimensions have changed due to improved nutrition, increasing rates of obesity, ageing and different migration patterns.

“Australian designers in this study told us they were concerned that they were using out of date or inaccurate data and they want access to data which accurately reflects the current body shape of the Australian workforce.

“More accurate Australian anthropometric data and tools will help our designers make workplaces safer,” Mr Scales said.

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:38 am, Monday 19 January, 2009

Source: Perth Now

More than 100 container trucks are Transporting Dangerous Chemicals from Fremantle along Perth highways every weekday.

Figures obtained by The Sunday Times from Fremantle Ports show about 2600 containers are being moved in or out of the port by truck from 6am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Up to 5 per cent - or 130 - of them contain dangerous goods including aerosols, paints, solvents, acids, cleaners, pesticides and herbicides. Fremantle Ports said a “small percentage” were high-hazard categories and included mining, industrial and laboratory chemicals.

City of Fremantle Mayor Peter Tagliaferri said proposed lead carbonate exports would double the quantity of Hazardous Cargo.

Magellan Metals wants to rail bagged and containerised concentrate from its mine near Wiluna to Fremantle for shipment.

“We have continued to say that this would be unacceptable to public safety and the environment,” Mr Tagliaferri said. “The risks of contamination through spillage, seepage or accident are just too high.”

Some of the volatile and potentially deadly road cargo includes:

Ammonium nitrate - a chemical used as a fertiliser and as an ingredient of explosives.

Sodium cyanide - a chemical with a long history of use in goldmining (processing).

Lead nitrate (rail only) - a chemical used in small amounts in goldmining (processing).

Fremantle Ports handled 580,000 containers in 2007-08, up from 440,000 in 2004. They are carted along the busy transport corridors of Leach Highway, High St and Stirling Highway, via Tydeman Rd or Port Beach Rd.

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:29 am, Monday 19 January, 2009

Source: Geelong Advertiser

A 27-year-old Powercor worker remains in hospital following Thursday’s High-Voltage Electrical Explosion at Waurn Ponds.

Police said two Powercor workers were attempting to reconnect two lines to a powerline on Hams Rd when an explosion occurred about 2.30pm.

One of the men suffered burns to his face and the other received chest burns.

The 27-year-old Waurn Ponds man was in a stable condition in Geelong Hospital yesterday afternoon while his colleague, a 50-year-old Grovedale man, was released from hospital on Thursday night.

WorkSafe Victoria, Powercor and Energy Safe Victoria are all investigating the incident, but WorkSafe spokesman Paul Fallon said the cause of the explosion was still unknown.

Mr Fallon said he didn’t know how long the WorkSafe investigation would take.

Powercor’s Ryan Auger said he was unable to provide further details about the explosion as the investigation was ongoing.

Powercor said on Thursday it was assisting the injured men and their families.

The police’s Sergeant Kevin Warburton said on Thursday it appeared the lines the men were working on were live.

The men had been working in a cherry picker on the southern side of the powerline.

Workers in the area described a large flash and loud bang while the pair were working on the lines.

Up to 40 nearby homes were left without power until late in the evening.

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:18 am, Monday 19 January, 2009

Source: Geelong Advertiser

Jenny Lourie is quite happy planning for things she hopes never happen.

Ms Lourie is  senior process safety engineer at Shell’s Geelong refinery. One part of her job is to come up with  contingency Plans For When Things Go Wrong.

Proudly, she says, that is  rare.

The Lovely Banks engineer recently accepted an award from the petroleum giant’s global manufacturing business for leading a two-year safety review of the refinery’s complex systems.

The review was part of the refinery’s Major Hazard Facility licence.  Ms Lourie went all the way to Houston, Texas, to accept the accolade for her work.

Not only was the review well received but used as an example for other refineries to study.

“Our safety case is part of our licence to operate and has become a platform for information sharing across our refinery and other refineries,” she said.

“While the team was specifically looking at making sure the Geelong refinery remains safe, the unexpected benefit has been the take-up of the Geelong audit methodology at other Shell refineries, either in a trial or in a modified format.”

Ms Lourie, who hails  from central Victoria,  moved to Geelong in 1989 to work with the petroleum firm. She left  to work with WorkSafe Victoria for 51/2 years before returning to the company.

Refinery general manager Huck Poh said Ms Lourie’s work was a “driver for risk reduction”.

Ms Lourie,  an accomplished engineer in her own right,  has been successful in a  traditionally male-dominated environment.

“When I first started at Shell I was one of only two female engineers in the refinery . . . there is now so much diversity in the workplace,” she said.

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:59 am, Friday 16 January, 2009

A man has been killed working with heavy equipment at a metal recycling factory.

WorkSafe Victoria is investigating a fatality this week where a 13-tonne bailing unit fell on a worker while he was installing a metal bailing machine.

One piece of the machine had been installed and the workers were using cranes to lower the second part into place. A guidance rope broke, causing the machinery to move and crush the man.

WorkSafe says this is the first workplace fatality for Victoria in 2009. WorkSafe spokesman Paul Fallon said January yields the highest figures for workplace accidents. The authority has called for vigilance on the part of workers returning from holidays, especially while Working Around Heavy Machinery.

“We had three deaths last year in January,” Mr Fallon said.

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:42 am, Friday 16 January, 2009

State government authorities covered up an accident last year at a water recycling plant near Brisbane in which more than 500,000 litres of Industrial and Hospital Waste Water Were Spilled.

The spill at the Bundamba Advanced Water Treatment Plant near Ipswich last July resulted in a report to the state Environmental Protection Agency. In November, the Bligh Government was forced to suspend plans to pump recycled water to Brisbane’s Wivenhoe Dam from early this year following a series of reports in The Australian that raised concerns about water safety.

However, recycled effluent will be added to drinking water supplies if dam levels fall below 40per cent; they are now at 46per cent.

Critics of drinking recycled water argue that accidents arising from human error are the main reason for concern about its safety. The Bundamba plant is treating effluent that will be pumped to Wivenhoe Dam if dam levels fall.

Government sources told The Australian that a large spill of effluent occurred at Bundamba and compliance officers at the plant told managers it was sufficiently serious for a report to be prepared for the EPA.

However, the authorities decided not to publicly reveal the spill because of the sensitivity surrounding the recycled water debate. When first asked by The Australian to confirm the information, the government-owned Western Corridor Recycled Water Project company said: “We are not aware of any recent spill at the Bundamba plant.”

When pressed, the company admitted that a spill had occurred, comprising 540 kilolitres of effluent as well as 120kl of water used to clean the plant membranes.

The water had been treated to a level that made it “suitable for irrigating golf courses”.

The company said in a statement that the water had soaked into the ground; there was no runoff into the Bremer River; and there had been no risk to public health or safety.

The spill occurred because valves on the industrial waste pipeline were not properly closed after rectification works.

“The valves were closed immediately the spill was identified and the Environmental Protection Agency was notified of the incident,” the company said. “Safety is the No1 priority for the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project. We operate according to strict standards and we take our environmental responsibilities very seriously.”

Confirmation of the spill emerged as Premier Anna Bligh was forced to defend the $2.5billion recycled water scheme following revelations by The Australian that no companies had signed up to use treated effluent.

Ms Bligh said 40 megalitres of water a day from Wivenhoe Dam was being saved because the government-owned Swanbank and Tarong power stations were using recycled water.

“This pipeline is not only about today’s water needs,” she said. “It’s about planning for the future needs of one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions.”

Ms Bligh said that with a potential lifespan exceeding 50years for the western corridor pipeline, it was probable that industries using water would in future be attracted to land in its proximity

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:37 am, Friday 16 January, 2009

Two linesmen received Electric Shocks and were badly burned while working at Geelong this yesterday afternoon.

They are in a stable condition in hospital.

WorkSafe Victoria’s Eric Windholz said the men had been fixing a high voltage cable at Waurn Ponds when there was an explosion.

“We’ve got inspectors at the scene right now doing thorough inquiries into the incident, so it’s too early to know the cause for sure,” he said.

“But unfortunately one of the men has suffered burns to his face and the other burns to his chest.”

Earlier today, a worker received serious head injuries in an accident at a paper supply company in Dingley in Melbourne’s south-east.

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:19 am, Thursday 15 January, 2009

Toni Lynch says she was one of Stuart Ramsey’s most conscientious workers, but it wasn’t enough to stop her from being sacked.

Ms Lynch was one of a number of workers sacked from the Grafton abattoir just before Christmas.

Like many workers at the abattoir, Ms Lynch Suffered A Few Injuries During Her Employment at Ramsey Meats, but she said getting back to work as quickly as possible did her no favours.

When she Injured Her Back Lifting A Heavy Meat Tray in April last year, Ms Lynch said she asked to take a week’s annual leave rather than claim worker’s compensation.

She claims her boss, Michael Considine, accepted that offer.

Then, late last year, Ms Lynch injured her thumb at work.

She consulted her doctor and was placed on light duties. A month later Ms Lynch went back to her doctor to ask to be cleared for normal duties.

“The doctor said he wanted me to continue with physio and stay on light duties because I wasn’t ready to resume my normal workload,” she said.

“But I argued with him and said ‘no’ because I was worried about losing my job.”

Weeks later however, Ms Lynch was sacked.

“I have no doubt I was sacked because I’d been on worker’s compensation,” she claims.

“It really shattered my confidence. It’s the first time I’ve ever been sacked. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

Just one week before being sacked, Ms Lynch badly burned her hand at home, but she chose to go to work instead of using the sick leave she had accumulated.

“The only reason I stayed there so long was because of the friendships I made,” she said.

“I’m not even that worried about the money they owe me, it’s just the principle of the matter. I just don’t want anyone else to have to go through what we have.”

The Daily Examiner attempted to contact Mr Ramsey and Mr Considine for comment but were unable to reach them.

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:26 am, Wednesday 14 January, 2009

A worker has died after an early-morning Industrial Accident in Canberra.

The 57-year-old man was operating a vehicle-loading Crane attached to the back of a truck behind shops in suburban Evatt about 4.50am (AEDT) today.

Initial investigations indicate the man was crushed by the arm of the crane as he was using it to load a hopper onto the back of the truck.

He died at the scene.

ACT police and ACT WorkCover inspectors are investigating the incident and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

07:13 am, Tuesday 13 January, 2009

WorkSafe is investigating the death of a 29-year-old Cleaning Supervisor at the Malaga Markets yesterday morning, who appeared to have been electrocuted.

WorkSafe said the man was believed to have been checking a dishwasher that was malfunctioning when The Electrocution took place.

Inspectors from EnergySafety attended the site yesterday and WorkSafe said its inspectors will continue investigating the circumstances today.

WorkSafe acting executive director Chris Kirwin said any work-related death was a tragedy, and relayed his sincere condolences to the man’s family.

Mr Kirwin also reminded workplaces that an electrical safety checklist was included in the booklet The First Step, available on WorkSafe’s website at Www.Worksafe.Wa.Gov.Au.

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know