06:49 am, Friday 31 July, 2009

Recent scaffolding incidents across Australia, which have resulted in the deaths and injuries of a number of workers, has prompted workplace safety authorities to undertake a national intervention campaign to improve Scaffolding Safety in the construction industry.

Workplace safety inspectors from all states will visit residential and Commercial Construction sites to ensure safe work procedures are in place to address the risks of erecting and using scaffolding.

Inspectors will be undertaking inspections over two months during August and September.

WorkSafe believes on-site visits would raise awareness of safety issues relating to scaffolding and improve the ability of contractors, employers and workers to identify, assess and control the hazards and risks associated with scaffolding.

The campaign is also designed to assist those trades linked to construction, such as form workers,Brick Layers, tilers and Painters, to identify, assess and control the risks of working with scaffolding.

Report by Let us know

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

06:35 am, Friday 31 July, 2009

A minibus driver who Fell Asleep at the wheel before it crashed into a tree in the south-east of South Australia is likely to face charges.

There were about a dozen passengers on the minibus when it Rolled And Crashed into a tree on a road about 18 kilometres from Penola, just before 5:00pm on Wednesday.

Two passengers were thrown from the minibus by the impact.

Seven people were taken to Mount Gambier Hospital, others to Penola and one was flown to Adelaide with a suspected spinal injury.

Those on the minibus were vineyard workers from Korea who were working in the Penola area.

Report by Let us know

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

06:20 am, Wednesday 29 July, 2009

Safety failings in the Meat Processing Industry have again been highlighted by the prosecution of Diamond Valley Pork Pty Ltd, which has been convicted and fined $45,000 in the Werribee Magistrates Court.

WorkSafe Victoria prosecuted the company after a worker lost three fingers in January 2007.

Diamond Valley Pork pleaded guilty to two charges relating to its failure to properly train workers and provide Safe Plant And Systems Of Work.

Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge was told a man employed by a labour hire company at the firm’s Laverton North processing plant lost three fingers when his hand came into contact with a rotating shaft or paddle of a meat-mixing machine.

WorkSafe’s investigation found the machine was not adequately guarded as covers could be removed while the machine was running. There was no cut off switch to stop the machine operating if the covers were removed.

A safety switch designed to turn off the machine if the top door was opened could also be by-passed.

Although the injured man’s supervisor told investigators dangers had been pointed out during on-the-job training, WorkSafe found there were no safe operating procedures in relation to the operation of the meat mixing machine.

While reaching across to turn off the machine, the injured man was struck by the mixing paddles and three fingers were amputated.

He was taken to hospital where he had surgery to re-attach his fingers. He has since had a number of operations to facilitate the operation of them.

The court noted it was a serious breach that involved serious injury that was foreseeable and preventable.

The Director of WorkSafe’s Manufacturing and Logistics Division, Ross Pilkington, said while some improvements in claims numbers were occurring in Victoria’s meat industry, the overall rate was still three times the rate for the manufacturing sector.

He said employers and unions were working closely with WorkSafe to achieve further improvement.

Injuries to the hands and fingers are the single biggest cause of injuries in the meat industry recording 22% of all workers compensation claims.

“Guarding to prevent access to moving parts of machines and electrical interlock switches that protect workers were fitted after this incident.

”As with so many incidents like this, the safety improvement work was done too late for the man who went through the trauma of losing three fingers.

“It is immensely frustrating that, in an industry with a poor safety record, that simple, effective and inexpensive steps are not taken to prevent people being hurt.

“Protection is better then perceptions of productivity.

“Taking short cuts with safety and allowing them to be taken is a short cut to a permanent injury or death. It’s also a short cut to prosecution,” Mr Pilkington said. A range of health and safety solutions and statistics for the meat and other industries, including a poster, can be found on WorkSafe’s Website.

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

06:36 am, Tuesday 28 July, 2009

Source: ABC News

Papua New Guinea’s chief inspector of mines has revealed that work at a $1.7 billion nickel mining project has been suspended because of Health And Safety Concerns.

The chief inspector of mines, Mohan Singh, ordered a halt to Construction Work at the Ramu nickel mine in Madang Province last week.

Mr Singh went to the site to investigate an accident in May in which a worker was injured after being run over by a Tractor.

He has not released the reasons for his stop work order.

The China Metallurgical Construction Group Corporation, the mine’s majority owner, says it is working to address the issues and hopes construction will resume this week.

The project has been plagued by disputes with local workers.

After the accident in May, local workers bashed several Chinese employees and the project was temporarily shut down.

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

07:17 am, Monday 27 July, 2009

Source: News.com.au

A warehouse has collapsed in an Intense Fire that consumed the 900 square metre building in Sydney’s west early last week.

The fire, which sent flames 50m into the sky, was still smouldering more than six hours after it was reported because it is too dangerous for firefighters to enter the unstable remains.

Hazardous material experts are at the industrial area on Anvil St, Seven Hills, to monitor Asbestos Levels in the structure.

The roof of the warehouse collapsed when fire erupted through it about 2.30am, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Three walls have fallen in and a demolition team has been called to remove the last standing wall.

Fire experts believe the blaze was burning for hours before pressure blew the roof of the warehouse off and sent thick, black plumes of smoke into the sky.

Witness Alex Veljanovski, a worker at a nearby recycling plant, was the first to report the blaze.

“I made the call to triple zero and told them there was a bloody big fire out here,” he said.

“The flames were going 50m into the sky, it was huge – and fast. I’ve seen bushfires before but I’ve never seen anything go up that quickly.

“It was loud. That is what got my attention, the sound of fire crackling.”

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

07:17 am, Monday 27 July, 2009

Source: News.com.au

A warehouse has collapsed in an Intense Fire that consumed the 900 square metre building in Sydney’s west early last week.

The fire, which sent flames 50m into the sky, was still smouldering more than six hours after it was reported because it is too dangerous for firefighters to enter the unstable remains.

Hazardous material experts are at the industrial area on Anvil St, Seven Hills, to monitor Asbestos Levels in the structure.

The roof of the warehouse collapsed when fire erupted through it about 2.30am, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Three walls have fallen in and a demolition team has been called to remove the last standing wall.

Fire experts believe the blaze was burning for hours before pressure blew the roof of the warehouse off and sent thick, black plumes of smoke into the sky.

Witness Alex Veljanovski, a worker at a nearby recycling plant, was the first to report the blaze.

“I made the call to triple zero and told them there was a bloody big fire out here,” he said.

“The flames were going 50m into the sky, it was huge – and fast. I’ve seen bushfires before but I’ve never seen anything go up that quickly.

“It was loud. That is what got my attention, the sound of fire crackling.”

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

07:01 am, Monday 27 July, 2009

WorkSafe is investigating an incident where a worker sustained an injured hand when a 50 tonne Crane he was operating tipped over on Thursday.

The accident occurred at an Engineering consulting and contracting service in West Kalgoorlie.

The man was flown to a Perth hospital for treatment.

The privately owned company employs more than 180 personnel, including apprentices, trades personnel and supervisory and professional staff, from workshops and offices in Kalgoorlie, Kambalda and Ravensthorpe.

Report by Let us know

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

07:08 am, Thursday 23 July, 2009

Source: Penrith Star

A worker at a Luddenham licensed premises challenged two Armed Robbers after they stole an amount of cash last night.

The two men wearing dark clothing entered the premises at around 7.40pm.

Police say one of the robbers threatened the male employee with a gun before they escaped from the Adams Road premises in a medium-sized sedan.

They were last seen travelling on Adams Road towards Elizabeth Drive.

Noone was injured and no shots were fired.

The men kept their faces covered during the robbery.

Green Valley police are appealing for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers, 1800 333 000.

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

06:54 am, Thursday 23 July, 2009

Source: Tweed Daily News

Marie Hutchinson knows about Workplace Bullying and the debilitating effect it can have on its victims.

A lecturer at Southern Cross University, Dr Hutchinson completed her PhD in workplace bullying, focusing on the nursing sector.

“Most studies show up to 80 per cent of nurses experience bullying,” she said.

“The bullying is mostly verbal, where people are humiliated and their competence is bought into question. It can end in nurses reducing their work hours or to even leave their job.”

Dr Hutchinson said as well as the emotional toll of being a victim of bullying, it can also affect a person’s physical health.

She said exposure to bullying could lead to increased consumption of alcohol and cigarettes.

However, the practice is not confined to nursing, according to UnionSafe NSW, which recently conducted a survey on the issue.

It found 74 per cent of workers had experienced workplace bullying.

After community feedback to this newspaper’s successful ‘Stop Bullying’ campaign over the past six months, including a number of community and youth forums to tackle the problem, The Northern Star will now hold a Bullying in the Workplace Forum at Southern Cross University on August 5, from 6pm to 9pm.

WorkCover NSW says workplace bullying is a ‘repetitive behaviour that is inappropriate, unreasonable and sometimes aggressive’.

It said workplace bullying was a serious occupational health and safety issue.

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

06:48 am, Wednesday 22 July, 2009

Source: The Age

A Melbourne man who has practised as a psychologist in two states for more than a decade since migrating from Serbia is facing hundreds of charges that he defrauded the Victorian WorkCover Authority and Transport Accident Commission of about $1.3 million.

The case raises fresh concerns about the extent of background checks conducted by professional registration boards before they endorse new health practitioners in Australia.

Dusan Milosevic, 43, of St Albans, was remanded in custody yesterday after a senior WorkCover investigator told the Melbourne Magistrates Court that Milosevic’s registrations as a professional practitioner were based on apparently fake university credentials.

The court heard Milosevic was already facing 150 charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception for invoices he submitted to WorkCover for consultations purportedly done when he was not in the country.

But WorkCover yesterday filed a further 173 charges relating to $1.2 million of billed consultations since 2001. Late yesterday, the TAC filed a total of 34 charges against Milosevic, also alleging he obtained or attempted to obtain financial advantage by deception.

It claims Milosevic has treated 24 TAC clients in 430 separate consultations since 2003. The value of those consultations was $55,000.

Ian Freckelton, SC, for WorkCover, opposed any extension to Milosevic’s bail conditions, telling magistrate William O’Day that Milosevic “lives by deception” and the number of charges and size of the alleged fraud was unparalleled for a profes- sional practitioner in Victoria.

“He is not to be trusted,” Dr Freckelton said, adding that Medicare also was investigating Milosevic and further charges were likely.

A senior WorkCover investigator told the court the University of Belgrade had debunked Milosevic’s long-held claim that in 1990 he obtained a graduate diploma in behavioural and psychological science and that he completed a master’s course in 1995.

WorkCover investigator Jim Wason said the dean of the University of Belgrade’s faculty of education and another university official had confirmed there was no record of Milosevic ever attending the university. And, he said, the university had advised it did not begin offering the master’s course until 2004.

Milosevic sat in the front row of the court but did not say anything. His lawyer, Manny Nicolosi, told the court his client was adamant his qualifications were genuine. Mr Nicolosi said the charges would “fall by the wayside” if Milosevic was shown to have authentic credentials.

The court also heard from Milosevic’s friend Aleksandra Matovic, who, in faltering English, said she remembered meeting Milosevic once or twice a week between 1987 and 1989 at the university’s small campus cafe and in some criminology classes.

But Ms Matovic, who said she had been particularly close to Milosevic and his wife, Jovanka, for several years, could not confirm if Milosevic had completed his studies.

Mr O’Day remanded Milosevic until September 14, when the court will hear directions about his future committal hearing. He said Milosevic presented an unacceptable risk and was unlikely to meet his bail conditions.

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