05:39 pm, Friday 25 June, 2010

Insulation installers and industry groups have raised concerns that the people tasked by the Federal Government to conduct safety inspections are not properly trained.

Around 200,000 affected homes are currently being looked into by Government inspectors under the botched insulation installation scheme amid safety and fraud issues.

Around half of the 50,000 homes installed with foil insulation had been inspected.

According to National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) CEO James Tinslay, tight restrictions have been set up to ensure the workplace deaths under the discontinued insulation program will not be repeated.

“NECA has been working closely with the department to develop safe work procedures to ensure the safety of both workers and the householders,” Mr Tinslay said.

“It could be that there might be a couple of months added to that. NECA wouldn’t see that as a major issue because we know the program will be carried out correctly and we’re very happy with the procedures that have been put in place.”

However, Mr Tinslay is not as sure about the inspections being conducted, saying his group has reported apparently sloppy work by some inspectors.

“I have heard of a couple of instances where the people who were inspecting the bulk insulation didn’t meet the expectations that we would have of somebody competent to undertake the inspection,” he said.

“That is a worry; it was a few months ago and these have been passed on to the department.”

This concern was echoed by a cellulose insulation manufacturers’ group, stating that many inspectors do not have extensive experience with cellulose insulation. It said problems were often reported about the product when there are none.

The Assisting Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, allays the fears on the inspection issue.

He said he is optimistic the inspections will be conducted professionally.

“We’ve done, to the best of our capacity, the work to consult with the industry using an expert advisory panel to devise the training program for inspectors to carry out the inspection work that’s been going on for some period of time now,” he said.

“I haven’t seen a shred of evidence to suggest that inappropriate results are being recorded.”

The Federal Opposition has raised concerns due to the refusal of the Government to release the program’s results.

According to Environment spokesman Greg Hunt, the numbers for defects and dangerous roofs have been withheld from the public.

“That is rightly something to which they should have access,” he said.

“The program on its current rate would take seven years to inspect every home done in seven months under the home insulation program.”

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

06:10 pm, Wednesday 23 June, 2010

No further landslides have been reported at an ore mining site on Tasmania’s west coast since a major crash happened almost a week ago.

The major landslide took place on Thursday, when almost half a million tonnes of rock collapsed to the Savage River mine.

The mining company’s chief operating officer (COO) said the area has stabilised, although there will be no mining operations in the area for some time.

“There’s been no further movement, it’s as it was effectively the minute after it happened,” he said.

“We’ve had the opportunity because the area’s stabilised and with a lot of supervision available on site, we were able to move two pieces of equipment that had previously been held down there; a bulldozer and an excavator.”

According to the COO, the landslide is unlikely to impact the workers.

The safety system at the mine identified the issue early, allowing evacuation of the workers before the rockfall took place.

The COO said the mining plan is being modified in order to deal with the rockfall without affecting the workforce or the production.

“At this stage it won’t affect anything, we may need to look at that, review that as we go,” he said.

“We work openly with the workforce, they know exactly what we’re doing as we do it and we’ll keep them involved and most of the planning that happens involves them helping us plan.”

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

05:17 pm, Wednesday 23 June, 2010

A man has died on Monday in an industrial incident in central Queensland.

The 57-year-old man was killed at a Scotland St, Bundaberg business site, Police said.

A Department of Community Safety spokesman said an emergency call was made at 8.15am (AEST). Ambulance and fire services responded to the scene.

It was reported the man had been trapped under an equipment.

He had been freed by his colleagues before the arrival of the paramedics at the site.

The man, who suffered multiple injuries, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland inspectors are expected to investigate the incident.

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

09:22 am, Monday 21 June, 2010

An independent audit and review have found that asbestos exposure continues to be a problem for Queensland schools due to negligence and flaws in the way the hazardous substance is managed.

Criticisms have been directed at the State Government for a lack of enforcement of its policies and procedures on asbestos, with auditor John Gaskin making 13 recommendations.

Among the recommendation are training for principals and volunteers, a compliance plan for contractors, and an incident management plan for schools.

Separate incidents at schools in Mackay and Indooroopilly had involved fears of asbestos exposure to students and teachers, including an instance where students had to shower in their uniforms after the collapse of a ceiling that contained asbestos.

“The issues that contributed to the occurrence of these incidents included lack of communication, poor understanding of DET (Department of Education and Training) policies and procedures, and non-compliance with Workplace Health and Safety legislation by contractors,” Mr Gaskin said.

“An area of risk which needs to be addressed is the contractors and others who may be employed to carry out normal maintenance work in schools, or do so on a voluntary basis, as asbestos issues could arise through these activities.

“Principals are to be aware of any contractors employed on a day-to-day basis who undertake building or maintenance-related works of any description.”

According to Mr Gaskin, there is currently no requirement for reviewing a contractor’s compliance with BSA (Building Services Authority) licensing or asbestos management qualifications.

Education Minister Geoff Wilson said all the recommendations will be adopted, including a lifetime ban for negligent contractors.

“Any individual or organisation found to have contravened regulations in relation to working with asbestos will be dealt with severely,” he said.

“This includes the option of being indefinitely banned from performing future work on, or in Department of Education and Training Facilities.”

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

08:15 am, Monday 21 June, 2010

A man has died at a north Queensland weir yesterday while performing maintenance work.

The cause of the maintenance worker’s death is unknown, although he is presumed to have drowned.

According to police authorities, the man was reported missing after the structure he was working on submerged into the Pioneer river around 1.35pm.

The man, aged in his 20s, was with two other workers inside a platform attached to the dam wall when it sank.

A police spokeswoman said a surge of water hit the three workers. The two workers were able get out of the structure.

Despite escaping, they were not able to help their workmate.

Paramedics who arrived at the scene treated the two survivors.

The RACQ Central Queensland Rescue Helicopter and the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service’s swiftwater rescue team helped in searching the water for the missing worker but were unable to find him by nightfall.

According to police, the search was called off about 6pm. Police divers were on standby to search the area at first light the next day.

A spokesman for the weir company said their representatives were at the scene yesterday cooperating with Workplace, Health and Safety Queensland officers who were looking into the incident.

The company is being prosecuted following a November 2008 collapse of its weir in Blackwater, in which a four-year-old girl was killed. In the 2008 incident, the section of the structure’s inflatable storage bar burst, sweeping the child to her death.

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

06:24 pm, Saturday 19 June, 2010

The Perth Magistrates Court has fined the owners of a restaurant on Tuesday after failing to respond to an Improvement Notice issued by WorkSafe inspectors.

The two partners of a William Street restaurant pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace. They were each fined $3,000.

WorkSafe inspectors visited the restaurant in September 2006. During the inspection, they noticed an unguarded electric planetary dough mixer.

The inspectors issued an Improvement Notice, which required the business to either install a guard on the equipment to prevent its moving parts to come into contact with workers’ body parts or to dispose it altogether.

Inspectors returned to the defendants’ premises in November 2007, and they saw the dough mixer was still being used without any changes made to the machine. One owner had signed the September 2006 compliance slip and said the mixer would no longer be used.

According to WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne, the incident shows failure to comply with notices issued by the safety body has adverse consequences.

“The restaurant owners – being the employers – declared that they had complied with the Improvement Notice and stopped using the unguarded mixer,” she said.

“When inspectors returned the following year, the mixer was on the bench in the kitchen and it was evident that there was no guard on it, so further enforcement action was taken – namely the prosecution of the owners for failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace.

“This case should serve as a reminder to all employers that WorkSafe notices are not issued lightly and that failure to comply with their requirements can and does lead to more serious consequences.”

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

05:38 pm, Saturday 19 June, 2010

WorkSafe will conduct a free workshop in Preston on July 6, which will focus on safety improvements during maintenance and non-production work.

According to WorkSafe, around one in workers in the manufacturing industry is involved plant maintenance, installation and repair. However, 60% of machinery and equipment-related workplace injury claims come from these workers.

WorkSafe says the number of injuries that happen during machinery installation, maintenance and repair is a concern to the safety body.

As part of preventing these injuries, WorkSafe will be turning its sight on maintenance and non-production tasks in 2010-11.

In connection with this goal, WorkSafe is holding the workshop to discuss worker supervision, preparation for maintenance tasks, contractor safety, and working alone.

The workshop will be held on July 6, from 8.30am to 3pm, at Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre.

The solutions seminar is aimed at all manufacturing players, including employers, production and maintenance managers, supervisors, health and safety representatives, and workers.

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

04:54 pm, Saturday 19 June, 2010

A salmon producer has asked the Hobart Magistrates Court to drop the charges against it in connection with a worker fatality.

The 19-year-old Dover native died in a workplace incident while on board one of the company’s fishing boats near Surveyors Bay in March 2009.

A large crane fell on him, causing serious chest injuries that eventually led to his death.

The young man, who was also a well-known local football player, had just got engaged when the accident took place.

The salmon farmer is being prosecuted for several charges, including failure to provide training and instruction to ensure worker safety.

The company’s lawyer had entered a plea in the Court under a seldom used Criminal Justice Act provision halting further proceedings.

According to Magistrate Olivia McTaggart, the plea is an unusual one that needs a lengthy explanation.

Magistrate McTaggart adjourned the case until later this month.

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

09:11 am, Friday 18 June, 2010

WorkSafe has released a safety alert on brake presses that are not guarded or are improperly guarded.

A brake press is a piece of equipment used for bending sheet and plate material, usually sheet metal.

Having an unguarded brake press can be risky for the worker operating the plant. A worker’s hand may become trapped between the dangerous parts of the machine, which can cause serious injuries, including crushed hands and even amputations.

WorkSafe has enumerated several safety tips on guarding brake presses, and recommends having presence-sensing guards or fixed guards installed.

The safety body has also advised that workers must undergo safety training and be properly supervised while operating the machine.

Regular maintenance and inspection should also be carried out.

Please click here to download a PDF file of the safety alert.

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

08:18 am, Friday 18 June, 2010

The ACT Magistrates Court has fined a restaurant owner for letting food be prepared in a carpark behind his business in Dickson.

In February 2009, a health inspector was in inner-north Canberra when she noticed meat was being defrosted and prepared in a carpark behind the owner’s Chinese restaurant.

The officer then went inside the establishment to find grease, decaying food and rubbish throughout the restaurant. She also noted that the food preparation area was not clean.

The inspector, in a statement of facts tendered to the Court, stated the food outside was attracting wild birds.

Photos were also presented, which showed several barbequed ducks hanging off the back of a door.

A rusty knife and chopping block found in the uncovered carpark were seized.

The owner was convicted for breaching several Food Act provisions, and was fined $1,500 by Special Magistrate Ken Cush.

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