07:30 pm, Tuesday 22 December, 2009

For workers, sustaining a musculoskeletal injury is a common occurrence. In Victoria alone, 400 workers each week experience this kind of preventable injury.

A musculoskeletal injury refers to an injury to the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments or soft tissues.

It may manifest in a number of conditions such as muscle sprain and strain, back pain, abdominal hernia, soft tissue injuries, fracture and dislocation, tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Records show that in Victorian workplaces, the two leading causes of this type of injury are manual handling and slips, trips and falls. This injury may happen to anyone regardless of a worker’s age or the industry he is in. The injuries may occur suddenly as a result of a single event, or the symptoms can reveal slowly over time.

The high incidence of musculoskeletal injuries can be minimized; the solutions usually point to a stricter implementation of Safety Procedures, especially when it comes to Manual Handling. Better Safety Training can also help inform the workers of ways to prevent sustaining a musculoskeletal injury.

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07:30 pm, Tuesday 22 December, 2009

A company which cleans and repairs storage tanks for the chemical industry has been convicted and fined on Wednesday after a worker died in an empty tank.

Altona North company Depot Vic Pty Limited, formerly known as Hyde Park Tank Depot Pty Ltd, pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace. It also pleaded guilty to failing to provide proper training and instructions to its employees.

The country court Judge Roy Punshon imposed a $500,000 fine on the company.

On 16 August 2007, 42-year-old Geoffrey Johnson of Werribee was cleaning the inside of a 25,000 litre tank nearly three metres high at the company’s premises. He was using a chemical to remove latex when he was overcome by chemical fumes.

He was later found dead inside the large empty tank by co-workers who tried to revive him, to no avail.

Investigations revealed that the company’s Work Method Statements, as well as its Safety Training, were inadequate.

Depot was not able to produce a Material Safety Data Sheet for the chemical used on the day of the incident. It would have indicated that the product contained methylene chloride, a chemical which may result to dizziness, impaired co-ordination and headaches for anyone using it.

WorkSafe said a concentration of 20,000 parts per million of the chemical in the tank can be “acutely lethal”. A concentration of 50,000 ppm is considered as “immediately life threatening”.

WorkSafe found several other infractions by the company, including the lack of confined space entry permits and inappropriate breathing equipment during tank cleaning.

The absence of a rehearsal of emergency procedures was also noted by WorkSafe. It was revealed that a co-worker entered the tank to rescue Mr Johnson without personal protective equipment. He had to get out after about 30 seconds because of dizziness.

The Director of WorkSafe’s Manufacturing, Logistics and Agriculture Program, Ross Pilkington, working in confined spaces are high-risk, high-consequence environments.

“With the addition of chemicals and gases into these places, those risks are magnified,” Mr Pilkington said.

“Safeguards include having, and using, systems of work which incorporate safe work procedures, appropriate atmospheric testing and personal protective equipment saves lives.

“Developing hazard identification and risk assessment systems to control access such as a ‘confined space entry permit’ is a common approach.”

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07:06 pm, Tuesday 22 December, 2009

SA businesses have 12 months to prepare for the new Code of Practice for First Aid in the Workplace.

According to SafeWork SA, the  first aid guidelines  been approved and will be fully implemented on 10 December 2010.

The 12-month transitional period has been provided to allow workplaces to study and consider the provisions of the new Code (such as first aid kits, training and facilities) and to enable them to meet its requirements on December 2010.

SafeWork SA says new and best practices were compiled to draft the new Code of Practice. The directive will give more flexibility to companies, which will enable them to tailor their first aid kits to their type of business.

SafeWork SA executive director Michele Patterson said consultations with businesses spanning two years revealed that current first aid kits were at times irrelevant to workplace needs of some companies.

There was also a need to change the standards set for trained first aid personnel. Ms Patterson said SA’s requirements were below those set in almost every other territory’s jurisdiction.

“The new Code will therefore lift requirements for trained first aiders to a standard more relevant to contemporary workplace needs,” she said.

The New Code of Practice for First Aid in the Workplace, together with explanatory notes, will be published on the website of SafeWork SA.

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07:30 pm, Friday 18 December, 2009

A $100,000 fine has been imposed on a Bunbury company over an incident that cost a young worker one of his legs.

In November 2006, an 19-year-old employee of Giacci Bros Pty Ltd was working at Lido Limestone Pty Ltd, a related company that produced and sold reconstituted limestone blocks.

The worker was set to operate one of the company’s machines. After he started the block making machine, he realised that it needed to be cleaned following the previous day’s use.

The hydraulics of the machine engaged while he cleaned its hopper and moulds. As the feed tray of the machine moved, the worker was pulled in by its moving parts. The young man’s right leg was torn from his body at the hip as a result.

Investigations showed that the machine has two key slots, although only one key must be inserted at any time to ensure the workers’ safety. It was found that both keys were inserted in the machine when the accident happened.

It was also revealed during the court hearings that there was no clear safety procedure as to the use of the keys.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said the incident is a reminder that Work Method Statements must be established, and that these must be strictly followed.

“It seems the use of the two keys to this machine was not being controlled, allowing a young worker to enter an obviously hazardous area when the machine was able to begin operating,” Ms Lyhne said.

“It was also revealed in court that the young man was not given any formal training for this machine, nor was he shown the operator’s manual.

“He was shown how to operate the machine and how to clean it, but was never instructed to remove the key when cleaning the machine, even though the site manager and another employee underwent a written assessment on the risks of using the machine.”

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07:30 pm, Friday 18 December, 2009

The increasing work load for the Christmas season means companies will employ additional workers on short term contracts. To compensate for the busy period, new and young workers are usually employed.

According to WorkSafe WA, the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984- specifically the duty of care provisions – must always be taken into account.  These provisions require employers to provide information, instruction and training to make sure new employees are able to work free from workplace risks.

WorkSafe WA advises employers to provide induction training for new workers to give them the necessary knowledge regarding workplace safety and health issues.

In mining, construction and other high risk industries, safety induction is a must. This is required as part of regulatory requirements of their particular industries.

In industries where induction is not mandatory, it is  important for employees go through training which is applicable and useful. This is to ensure that new employees develop safework attitudes at the outset.

WorkSafe WA also reminds employers that induction is more than just giving a handout of safety policies for employees to read. Relying on employees to know the Work Method Statements on their own is not an assurance that everything will be absorbed by the employees.

An effective way is for an employer to know beforehand the most important points that every employee needs to know. After doing this, the employer must find a way to convey the information in a manner in which the employees absorb the information.

WorkSafe WA gives the following pointers in conducting effective induction training:

• face to face discussion with safety and health specialists such as safety and health officers or OHS reps;
• checklists;
• reading materials with some question and answer type testing of
• understanding;
• peer to peer induction; and
• classroom based learning.

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07:22 pm, Tuesday 15 December, 2009

On August 18, 2007, Cameron Peterson was working for an Asbestos Removal company when he got the shock of his life.

While working on a roof at a Mulgrave site, Mr Peterson made contact with a power line, causing 11,000 volts to course through his body.

Two years have passed, yet it is still painful for the Croydon North man to recount the incident. However, Mr Peterson said he is still lucky to be alive.

“We had taken one half of a roof off and I was taking fasteners off the other side to prepare for the next day,” Mr Peterson said.

“I didn’t realise the knuckle boom lift I was using was resting on a line.

“As soon as I touched a metal fastener it earthed.”

Mr Peterson said he felt like “being cooked from the inside”.

“It was hard to even scream – the guys told me to jump out on to the roof and I managed to do that,” he said. “That’s when I realised I was on fire.”

Mr Peterson suffered third-degree burns covering almost half of his body. He has endured eight skin graft operations since the fateful day.

He said he is still unable to work up to this day. He can’t spend long periods in the sun as well.

“I am waiting for another skin graft after which I hope to find a suitable job in a cool environment.”

Mr Peterson’s employer, Asbestos Audits (Australia Pty Ltd) has been charged along with its director for Occupational Health and Safety Act violations by the Victorian Workcover Authority .

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07:15 pm, Tuesday 15 December, 2009

The Rockingham Magistrates Court has imposed a $6,500 fine on Generation Homes for failing to implement the required Safework Procedure in one of its building sites.

The construction company entered a guilty plea last month for a July 2007 workplace accident.

A subcontractor was laying wooden floor on a second story of a house when fell 2.4 metres, because of the absence of an edge-protection at the top of the internal stairwell.

Initial findings reveal that an edge protection was set up, but was removed prior to the accident to make the job easier.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne says the accident could have been prevented.

“It’s really disappointing to see a lack of fall protection in workplaces because falls are readily preventable and it need not be difficult or costly to ensure that suitable barriers or fall arrest systems are organised before a tragedy can occur,” MsLyhne said.

She said information on fall protection can easily be obtained, and added that she would expect a building company to know of the need to prevent falls.

“Falls are one of the most significant causes of workplace death in the construction industry, and seven Western Australian workers have died in just over 12 months as a result of falls. A further 1295 are injured each year, many seriously and permanently.”

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02:12 pm, Monday 14 December, 2009

The crash of a firefighting helicopter at Dorrigo on the north coast of NSW has caused the death of one firefighter and critical injuries to the aircraft’s pilot.

The helicopter, contracted to the NSW Rural Fire Service, was trying to contain one of over 100 landscape fires in the state when it crashed on Wednesday.

Paramedics who arrived at the crash site found one person dead on the spot and another fighting for his life with critical chest, back and head injuries.

The incident was the third incident involving helicopter safety issues in a span of 24 hours.

Two helicopters had near-fatal incidents after their machines clipped each other in mid-air over a bush fire in NSW Central West on Tuesday. On the same day, an engine trouble forced a helicopter pilot to make an emergency landing about 40km southeast of Tamworth.

Premier Kristina Keneally said Wednesday was a tragic day for NSW.

“Today, a man has lost his life in the effort to save others. There is no greater act of service than to lay down your life for your fellow human beings,” she said.

Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan said the tragedy underlined the firefighters’ dangerous work.

“It is a very sad day, but also a very strong reminder of the challenges and hazards faced by the fire services,” he said.

An investigation is underway to look into the specific cause of the fatal crash.

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01:34 pm, Monday 14 December, 2009

An 84-year-old windmill in the Emerald Botanic Gardens that has become a tourist spot has been pulled down because of safety issues.

The 20-metre windmill has been lowered on the ground in order to repair the structure, instead of allowing it to remain upright and let the maintenance men work at heights.

Central Highlands Regional Council maintenance manager Lawrie Stanton said the work will go on for the next few weeks. It will stand tall again once all the repairs are finished.

“Some work has to be done on the sails and pumping mechanisms and that sort of thing. And with workplace health and safety issues, it’s easier to do it on ground than in the air,” he explained.

“It’s been there now since 1995 and it hasn’t had any maintenance in that time.

“We don’t want it to sit on the ground any longer than it has to.

“It is a very old mill. It was owned by the Cominos family out at Marathon Farm and they donated it to council some years ago.

“We’ll try to get locals to fix it but there aren’t many people who work on windmills anymore.”

Mr Stanton said the windmill will be repainted if there is enough left in the budget.

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12:57 pm, Monday 14 December, 2009

WorkSafe has announced its campaign to remind employers of their duties to have return to work programs in place for injured workers.

The campaign is currently ongoing and will run for the rest of December 2009.

The campaign comes in the heels of recent investigations revealing instances of illegal termination of injured workers.

WorkSafe said that it is the legal obligation of companies to provide suitable employment for their injured employees within the first twelve months after a claim has been allowed.

WorkSafe’s Len Boehm said return to work policies cannot simply be ignored by companies, even if the procedure can be complex at times.

“Whether you are downsizing or changing the structure of your workplace, your legal obligations remain the same,” he said.

According to WorkSafe, employers will be guided by its inspectors on the procedures for easier compliance.

A company’s return to work program may be incorporated into a company’s OHS Policy Manual.

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