07:31 am, Thursday 23 April, 2009

Source: The West

A national campaign aimed at reducing Aggression-Related Injuries in hospitals has been praised by the Australian Medical Association.

The campaign, an initiative of Workplace Safety Authorities across Australia, is set to start this month and aims to cut injury rates resulting from aggression in emergency departments, other clinical areas and other hospital-based services.

AMA WA president Gary Geelhoed said aggression in WA hospitals, particularly against nurses, had been a well publicised problem and needed review.

He said he was confident the campaign would help the situation.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said the three-month campaign would explore aggression management systems and examine the success of hospital’s existing controls.

“There are close to 11 injuries each month to workers in WA hospitals related to aggression,” she said.

“In 2006-07 there were 80 injuries of this type in WA, and more than quarter of them were serious enough to result in the workers involved having to take more than 60 days off work.”

As many as 30 hospitals will be visited in metropolitan and regional WA as part of the campaign.

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07:31 am, Wednesday 22 April, 2009

Peak hour traffic was thrown into chaos at Bli Bli yesterday after an Energex truck rolled on the corner of Willis and Nambour-Bli Bli Roads.

The three occupants inside the work truck were unharmed after their Vehicle Overturned just before 8am as it did a right hand turn.

The windscreen popped out, allowing the workers to free themselves.

But there was nowhere for the traffic to go after the crash blocked one of Bli Bli’s busiest intersections.

Fire crews were needed to clear a small amount of oil off the road.

Police officers conducted an initial investigation into the crash before the truck was towed to an Energex depot in Brisbane.

Energex will also conduct its own investigation for Workplace Health And Safety Purposes.

Traffic was blocked for more than half an hour as emergency services cleared the scene, leaving the early morning work and school commuters with nowhere to go.

It was not the first time a vehicle has overturned on the corner and some truck drivers look for alternative routes to avoid the sharp turn.

“I don’t go that way unless I have to,” one driver, who did not want to be named, said.

“It can get you into trouble. You have to turn hard to make the corner and sometimes it ends like this.”

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07:22 am, Wednesday 22 April, 2009

A Welder is in a serious but stable condition after an explosion at Alexandra this morning.

The 31-year old local man was welding a fuel tank mounted on a trailer at the Department of Sustainability and Environment Depot in Nihill St around 8.15am.

A WorkSafe inspector and investigator are at the scene.

The explosion happened in a shed. The injured man has burns to his face, hands and upper body.

Today’s incident prompted a WorkSafe warning for all employers and workers to  ensure  high safety standards were in place, and used, at all times.

It follows a mobile crane tipover at Port Melbourne yesterday. The driver of the crane which was one of two moving a 13-tonne pipe, escaped with minor injuries.

WorkSafe’s Executive Director John Merritt urged employers to adopt a back-to-basics strategy to ensure injuries were prevented.

“What hurts around 29,000 people each year and has killed 11 since 1 January is a simple failure, in most cases, to apply knowledge about what causes serious safety incidents.

“There’s no mystery about what kills and maims people at work. It is almost universally, basic safety matters.

“You have to take action whether you’re an employer or worker. You need to speak up if a problem is identified and ensure it is eliminated.”

WorkSafe has a range of publications which deal with safety issues in all industries. They can be found online at Www.Worksafe.Vic.Gov.Au or call WorkSafe’s telephone advisory service on 1800-136-089.

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07:37 am, Tuesday 21 April, 2009

ource: Courier Mail

Australian workers are putting up with Bullying And Sexual Harassment because they fear a complaint against offenders would mean “career death”.

Almost two thirds of Australian workers say they have been bullied at work, and nearly one third claim to have been sexually harassed, according to a survey by employment websiteCareerOne.Com.Au. It showed 74 per cent of of sexual harassment cases went unreported, often because workers feared the impact it would have on their job.

Australian Human Rights Commision sex discrimination commisioner Elizabeth Broderick said the findings were no surprise, and said the dire economic climate would reinforce the culture of silence.

“Job security is now seen as all-important,” she said. “People will be reluctant to do anything.

“It’s too soon to tell, but I would expect (low levels of reporting) to become worse.”

She cited one case where female cashiers at a South Australian supermarket were told they had to wear see-through shirts. Some were just 15 years old.

“They changed the uniform, and it was literally see-through. You could tell it was see-through, but all the girls had to wear it,” one of the cashiers told Ms Broderick during a listening tour last year.

“In winter I’d wear a skivvy underneath it and get told to take (the skivvy) off. You’re there in a see-through top and lacy bra scanning things. We complained about it, and we were told to take off the singlets underneath.

“All the men were older, and all the girls were between 15 and 18. When nothing came of the complaints I just wore the top.”

In another case, a worker told Ms Broderick: “If my uncle does it, I know it’s wrong. But of it’s my boss or manager, I wonder if that’s just how the workplace is.”

Of the 62 per cent of respondents to the CareerOne.com.au survey who said they had had been bullied at work, most said a more senior person was responsible. Alarmingly, 59 per cent said they didn’t report the incident.

Bullying behaviours most common in the workplace include name calling, public humiliation, deliberately leaving someone out of a communication loop such as an email list, assigning someone meaningless tasks, stealing ideas, taking credit for another person’s work and spreading rumours.

Kate Southam, editor of CareerOne.com.au said the economic crisis had made workers feel vulnerable.

“In the current climate where thousands of jobs are being slashed, employers have more power and workers are suffering poor conditions such as bullying fear losing their job if they complain.

“Redundancies also create greater workloads for those left behind adding to the stress caused by the challenging economic conditions. Poorly trained managers who can’t cope can resort to bullying.”

But while most complaints remain unreported, some have resulted in court action.

In one case, an African refugee who fled his homeland to avoid persecution was granted the right to sue supermarket giant Safeway after he was allegedly subjected to racial taunts, sexual harassment and discrimination at his job.

Sioum Tewolderberhan told a Melbourne court a superior pushed a trolley into his knee and another threw a carton at him, but he put up with harassment to feed his family instead of living off welfare payments.

In the five years to 2004, he claimed he was: called a black —-, not paid allowances or given rostered days off until union action; continually transferred between stores and called a troublemaker for alerting the union.

“My dream was to improve myself and now that dream has gone far, far away,” he told the court in December.

His lawyer Harry Nowicki said there were a growing number of cases of bullying in the workplace, but it was difficult to prove workers had suffered severe psychological injuries.

He said his client’s injuries, which led to the loss of his family and friends, was so severe a judge had ruled Mr Tewolderberhan could sue.

And Ms Southam warned employers could ultimately carry the fallout from sexual harassment and bullying case.

“Employers who turn a blind eye to bad behavious at work are failing to realise how much bullying and sexual harassment is costing them in lost productivity and staff loyalty,” she said.

“Tolerating bullying and harassment is just bad business practice.”

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07:29 am, Tuesday 21 April, 2009

Source: Courier Mail

A school was not committed to safety issues when a boarder was sucked down a drain, causing a “catastrophic” brain injury, court documents claim.

The prestigious private Southport School embroiled in Queensland’s largest personal injury lawsuit has also been accused of creating “a high risk of drowning” just after the incident by placing bars over a sump at the site where Myles Hill, then 12, was sucked down a drain while boogie boarding in the school’s flooded grounds in February 2003.

Hill, through his family, is suing the school – and its Anglican Church legal arm, the Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane – for $11.7 million, claiming its negligence caused his injuries, for which he is said to need 24-hour care.

The Synod has so far denied negligence, accusing the now 18-year-old of causing or contributing to his injuries.

In the latest public documents filed in the Supreme Court, David Randall & Associates – theWorkplace, Health And Safety consultants named earlier this year by the Synod as a third party in the case – accuses the school of not being “committed to workplace health and safety issues, as is evidenced by many workplace health and safety issues not being actioned in a timely manner or at all, due to either inadequate funding or a lack of commitment to improving safety”.

The documents list 12 potential hazards the school was allegedly briefed on between 1996 and 2002, with some allegedly still not rectified as of last month. The list includes safety glass, first raised as an issue in February 1998, allegedly only being installed in 2005 after an injury to a student.

A boatshed fuel store, which did not comply with mandatory Australian standards, was allegedly still outstanding, as were recommendations from a Security Audit conducted in 2002 following a security breach in the boarder’s area.

TSS headmaster since 2004 Greg Wain said the school took workplace, health and safety very seriously, with senior staff attending regular meetings.

“We believe that the safety fence erected at the drain is appropriate and provides a safe environment for our boys,” Mr Wain said. “In addition, that area is out of bounds for all students when there is any evidence of heavy rain or surface flooding.

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07:26 am, Monday 20 April, 2009

Source: ABC News

Coroner John Olle has found Quad Bike manufacturers must ensure bikes are only sold to people who have completed a certified training course.

In several cases, the riders died after their quad bikes rolled while they were towing a trailer on hilly terrain.

Mr Olle has found quad bikes should only tow loads on flat ground.

Wendy Ferguson’s 16-year-old son died in a quad bike accident.

She says people do not understand the risks.

“People are under the impression that it’s safe and they’re not,” she said.

“I think there’s a lot of holiday places… and they’ve got them available and they don’t know the dangers.”

The coroner has also called on the Consumer Affairs Department and Worksafe to enforce the rules.

Lyn Fragar of Farmsafe Australia says the findings highlight the responsibility of suppliers to ensure buyers of quad bikes receive proper training.

“These are machines that are in certain circumstances unstable and unsafe and shouldn’t be being used in some circumstances,” she said.

“And armed with good information, maybe operators would look for alternative machines.”

The coronial inquest examined the deaths of eight people aged between three and 73.

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07:18 am, Monday 20 April, 2009

WorkSafe is investigating an incident in which a Mobile Crane tipped this morning leaving the machine on its side.

WorkSafe believes two cranes were moving a 13tonne pipe late this morning when one stopped suddenly causing the other to tip.

The driver of the crane climbed out of the cabin and was later taken to the Alfred Hospital for a check up.

WorkSafe issued a Prohibition Notice against the crane requiring the owned to ensure it is checked by a competent person and that any necessary repairs are made before it returns to service.

Work practices are being reviewed at the site in Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne.

WorkSafe’s Executive Director John Merritt urged companies using cranes to ensure they were suited to the work required of them and to ensure work was properly planned and safely executed.

“Cranes are large machines which can have horrific consequences if something goes wrong. WorkSafe deals with a number of incidents each year.

“In early February a crane tipped at a Brighton retail business while moving a load of roofing material. In that case it was only stopped from falling over by a building.

“Last year at Northcote, the driver of a truck-mounted crane died as he unloaded steel coils. His truck tipped and was trapped between his vehicle and the one next to it.

”The Safe Work Practices required when using any sort of crane have been in place a long time. They must be used.“

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07:22 am, Wednesday 15 April, 2009

Source: Adelaide Now

A mail man chased by a vicious canine may be cliched but it’s a genuine safety issue dogging our posties, with an average of two attacks every month in SA.

Australia Post spokesperson Joshua Zugajev said figures released today showing the number of postie injuries were concerning.

“Research shows that one postie is being attacked by a dog or struck by a reversing Vehiclearound every four working days,” he said.

In South Australia, there are 685 posties who deliver to around 495,000 letterboxes each day.

Reversing vehicles also pose a threat to the safety of postal workers.

In the past 12 months, 25 posties have been attacked by dogs and 35 hit by reversing vehicles while delivering mail. The injuries sustained range from minor scratches and torn pants to injuries that require hospital attention.

“Every day our posties face safety issues that most of us wouldn’t dream of while sitting at our desks in our offices,” Mr Zugajev said.

“It’s easy to forget that a postie’s workplace is out in the community, so we’re reminding everyone that they play a role in helping to keep their trusty local posties safe.”

Port Adelaide and Lonsdale have been listed as dog-related injury hot spots.

Three posties each from those two delivery centres were attacked last year by dogs.

Glynde and Port Adelaide were the danger areas for accidents involving cars, with four posties from each delivery centre being struck.

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07:36 am, Tuesday 14 April, 2009

For more than 20 years Margaret Dawson washed her father and husband’s work clothes.

Once a week she would take their clothes out the back, shake off the Asbestos dust and put them in the washing machine.

Little did she know that weekly ritual would cost the 64-year-old her life - and potentially pave the way for thousands of other families to seek compensation.

Mrs Dawson’s father Gilbert Batchelor and her husband Maurice Dawson were both long-time employees of building material producer James Hardie.

In May 2007, Mrs Dawson was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

She launched legal action against James Hardie through the Dust Diseases Tribunal, claiming the washing of the clothes led to her fatal illness.

In a legal first, the tribunal not only paid her almost $350,000 in personal compensation but another $193,000 in unpaid earning for looking after her two grandchildren.

Mrs Dawson did not live to hear the outcome, dying only eight months after being diagnosed.

In 2001, Mrs Dawson moved in with her daughter Corina Novek, giving up her job as a medical secretary a year later to raise her only grandchildren and allow Mrs Novek to return to work.

“The kids just adored her,” Mrs Novek said yesterday.

“She would take them to the library, she was always at the pre-school concerts, she did everything with them.

“I remember sitting around in the kitchen saying I can’t believe this is happening,” she said of her mother’s diagnosis.

“The kids didn’t understand, they just saw Nanny getting sicker.”

Her family described the 18-month battle against James Hardie as “disgusting” - the company appealed to the Supreme Court before finally losing the case late last month.

“I know she would be happy that this will help other families. But I would give it all back in a second to have her back,” she said.

Despite her rapid decline, Mrs Dawson was determined to ensure her grandchildren were looked after, directing that much of the money be set aside for them.

Yesterday, James Hardie vice-president of investor and media relations Sean O’Sullivan refused to comment on the case.

He said it was a matter for the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund.

The fund was set up by the company 2001 in an attempt to avoid their obligations to asbestos victims.

Asbestos Diseases Foundation Of Australia president Barry Robson, who alongside Bernie Banton led the fight to ensure all James Hardie asbestos victims had access to compensation, described the case as a “huge decision for asbestos victims”.

“It’s a breakthrough. It recognises victims who even though they may be ill themselves are still providing care for others,” he said.

The family’s solicitor Ann-Maree Pascoli from Turner Freeman said Mrs Dawson had shown amazing courage despite a “relentless” fight from James Hardie.

“Margaret was extraordinary. She was determined to fight the matter,” she said.

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07:28 am, Tuesday 14 April, 2009

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

The State Government has downgraded Truck Safety checks, saying new technology has made inspections at its seven roadside weigh stations less important.

A sharp drop in the number of trucks being inspected at the heavy vehicle checking stations has outraged the State Opposition, which says holiday motorists are at risk from dangerous juggernauts and visual inspections are vital for detecting defects.

Figures from the Roads and Traffic Authority show 82,173 fewer trucks were scrutinised at the checking stations last year than the year before, even though an internal RTA report had noted more than a quarter of the trucks involved in road crashes had “serious or dangerous” faults.

RTA figures obtained by the State Opposition under Freedom of Information laws show the biggest drop in inspections occurred at the 12 Mile Creek checking station, on the Pacific Highway near Port Stephens, where there were 138,219 inspections last year and 178,801 the year before.

At Marulan, on the Hume Highway, inspections fell from 581,042 to 550,021; and at Kankool, on the New England Highway near Tamworth, there were 27,369 fewer inspections last year than the previous year.

The two Mount White checking stations on the F3 also recorded declines. At the northbound station there were 201,824 inspections last year, down from 227,421 in 2007. And at the southbound station, which opened in June 2007, there were 117,420 checks in the first six months of operation but just 99,041 in the same period last year.

Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell said the figures showed the Government did not understand the risk motorists faced on the state’s roads.

“With 80 per cent of Australia’s total long distance road freight using NSW roads, this reduction in checks puts motorists in danger,” he said.

“These stations are meant to enforce the state’s tough truck safety laws. The figures show those laws aren’t being enforced.

“Heavy trucks are involved in around one in five fatal crashes and cutting the number of inspections can only result in that figure increasing.”

Roads Minister Michael Daley said new technology meant the truck safety enforcement regime was no longer dependent on “the number of trucks inspected” at the checking stations.

“Instead, an automated computer assessment of a vehicle’s or driver’s history is carried out at these stations to select high risk vehicles for more detailed inspections,” he said. “In fact, over the past financial year the RTA screened 2.8 million heavy vehicles – which is an increase of 500,000 from the previous year.

“It’s important to remember that heavy vehicle inspections at the checking stations are just one component of the State Government’s enforcement regime.

“Other features include 100 high-tech enforcement cars that conduct random roadside checks, 27 Safe-T-Cams on known heavy vehicle routes and 280 inspectors.

“The Safe-T-Cam operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week to detect speeding and fatigue infringements, while RTA inspectors can perform random inspections of heavy vehicles on any road at any time.

“These checks are saving lives. The number of people killed in heavy vehicle fatal crashes dropped, from 95 in 2007 to 75 in 2008.”

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