11:45 am, Monday 9 January, 2012

A safety and emergency training company was last week fined $140,000 by the Darwin Magistrates Court for breaching the Workplace Health and Safety Act.

It was the second company to be fined which had been involved in the 2009 five trainee firefighters.

The NT WorkSafe investigation into the gas explosion found the company failed its general statutory duty of care to the five injured trainee firefighters, charges which were contested by the training company.

It was found that a training manager with the company had raised concerns on the safety of a training facility within the training centre and the training proceedures two months prior to the gas explosion.

The training facility in question simulated a ship structure and used gas props piping liquifed petrolum gas to simulate a marine fire emergency. Concerns were raised on the possible build up of gas in the ship structure that could result in an explosion.

The Court heard how modifications to the facilties and training proceedures were proposed but never implemented before the explosion occurred.

Magistrate Hugh Bradley found the company had breached Section 55 of the Workplace Health and Safety Act in December 2011 but had delayed his sentencing until last week.

The company was also ordered to pay $10,000 in court costs and a $200 victim levy.

The other safety and emergency training company had earlier pleaded guilty for its part in the gas explosion and was fined $121,000.

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11:15 pm, Monday 10 October, 2011

Fire crews have contained a nitric acid leak from a factory in Melbourne last Friday.

The leak, which caused the release of a cloud of highly irritant vapour, led to evacuations and warnings to residents to stay indoors.

Fifteen people were evacuated from the factory in Scoresby early on Friday afternoon and workers from surrounding factories were also evacuated.

By Friday evening Country Fire Authority crews had contained the leak.

The acid leak prompted a warning from the CFA for people to close all windows and turn off air conditioning.

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09:33 pm, Tuesday 5 April, 2011

Workers at the Mount Keith nickel plant have claimed they were forced to flee the site after an apparent explosion yesterday morning.

A spokesperson for the nickel operator, Samantha Stevens has denied the claims and said that only a minor fire took place inside a steel tank in the construction area of the nickel site near Wiluna.

Ms Stevens said the cause of the fire is being investigated and that workers were moved away only as a safety precaution.

She said the large amount of smoke was due to the burning of rubber inside the steel tank.

But Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union of WA spokesperson Rob Mitchell has called for an independent investigation into the incident by Work Safe.

Mr Mitchell said workers had sent photographs to the union and expressed their concern about safety at the site.

He said that workers at the site believed the explosion was caused by gas leak.

“There needs to be an investigation into this. If it was a welding spark and a gas leak that caused the explosion, then one has to wonder how the two things came together without anyone knowing or detecting them,” he said.

“We have heard reports that there were workers ducking for cover and running away from the site.”

There was no injuries from the incident.

Ms Stevens said the fire was contained quickly and there was no disruption to the operation of the mill or impact on production.

“I think it’s fair to say that the speed and effectiveness of the response team in dealing with this incident demonstrates both our high capability and commitment to health and safety,” she said.

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07:58 am, Friday 29 October, 2010

A blast zone kilometres-wide would be produced by an explosion in Port Adelaide, in which fertiliser weighing up to 160 tonnes are stored, reports reveal.

SafeWork SA released a report stating that stockpiles of ammonium nitrate in a plant might “mass explode” and devastate nearby areas, including a planned residential zone.

It says even a fire at the plant would “produce a large volume of toxic gas” and force a mass evacuation.

According to the State Government, a plan is being worked out to relocate the plant by 2012.

It was revealed that the Environment Protection Authority and SA Health had also raised concerns over environmental, health and explosion risks.

The report by Safe Work SA said the expansion of Dock One – a residential area – would place residents as close as 380m to the stockpiles of the dangerous goods.

“The material has the potential to mass explode in certain circumstances (accidental contamination with other chemicals, in a fire situation, or through malicious action where other energetic materials are used to initiate such an explosion),” the report states.

“Although the company has developed a safety and security management plan for factory activities, such an explosion still has the possibility of occurring.”

Professor Stephen Lincoln of University of Adelaide’s chemistry department confirmed a gigantic blast would result if the stockpiles are ignited.

“If all of that exploded, the consequences would be devastating. You would have huge damage for a radius of at least a couple of kilometres around,” he said.

However, he explained that detonation of ammonium nitrate does not take place easily, and “there would have to be either gross negligence or an act of terrorism.”

Minister Paul Holloway of Urban Development and Planning said the company running the plant had been operating without incident for many years.

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09:57 am, Friday 22 October, 2010

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) has affirmed its commitment for the harmonisation Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) laws, stating that it will continue working with other jurisdictions over the coming year.

Workplace Relations Ministers from around Australia had come to a consensus in 2008 to nationally harmonise OHS laws. Currently, Safe Work Australia is developing model OHS laws that will be implemented by the end of 2011 by each territory and state.

According to WHSQ, the drafts for the following Model OHS regulations have been considered by the Strategic Issues Group – Occupational Health and Safety:

* hazardous chemicals and inorganic lead;
* construction and induction training;
* asbestos;
* falls;
* confined spaces;
* noise;
* manual tasks;
* diving work.

The model regulations are expected to be made available for public comment in a few weeks. The period for public comments will end on February 2011.

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07:40 am, Wednesday 20 October, 2010

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is reminding businesses of the amendments to the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 and the Dangerous Goods Safety Management Regulation 2001

The hazardous substance and dangerous goods legislation.

This development affects all chemical products imported, prepared for export, or manufactured in Queensland.

Other key amendments are in connection with:

* the application of asbestos regulations to buildings previously not covered by local government approval;
* extending the rural exemption for high risk and crane occupations);
* extending the transition period for adoption of the national units of competency and national assessment instruments for high risk work for another 12 months;
* updating references to Australian Standards;
* development of a new competency option for underwater diving work.

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06:35 am, Friday 15 October, 2010

A migrant worker has allegedly been subjected to racism and intimidation at a poultry plant in Wingfield, the State Parliament has been told.

Taylor MP Leesa Vlahos addressed the Parliament, revealing serious complaints on the treatment of workers at the chicken processing plant.

Dave Garland of the National Union of Workers (NUW) said plant workers have come forward with serious allegations against the company. He said a task force has been formed by NUW to verify the claims.

The claims were initially raised with the union by a 27-year-old Sudanese migrant worker. He alleged he was dismissed from his job on September 16 when he raised concerns with management about racism in the plant.

The worker raised several claims against the poultry plant, including:
* overtime work without full pay;
* Pressure to work faster;
* Unsafe work conditions, including areas contaminated with harmful gas;
* bullying, intimidation and racial abuse.

Mr Garland said NUW would lodge evidence with Safework SA, Workers Compensation Service and the Equal Opportunity Commission. A spokesman for the Fair Work Ombudsman confirmed the investigations on the company.

The poultry company had denied the allegations.

“We conduct our business activities in accordance with all relevant legislation and regulations. As part of this, we continually review our employment practices and those of our suppliers and contractors across all of our sites. We can confirm that we are proactive in ensuring all… obligations with respect to industrial and employment laws are being complied with and we will continue to do so.” A company spokesman said.

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03:21 pm, Monday 4 October, 2010

WorkSafe WA has launched a campaign to improve health and safety in garden centres and nurseries.

WorkSafe inspectors have started visiting gardening outlets in metropolitan and regional areas to ensure health and safety laws are being complied.

According to WorkSafe Director Manufacturing, Transport and Service Industries Joe Attard, it is important for gardening retailers to have good managing risks especially in the spring – a traditionally busy period for gardening outlets.

“Nurseries are likely to take on additional staff at this time of the year and many of these new workers will be students or young people entering the workforce. It is especially important they are given a thorough safety induction,” he said.

“Despite being perceived as harmless work environments, nurseries deal with a range of occupational safety and health issues including hazardous substances.”

According to Mr Attard, their previous inspections showed operators lacked understanding of common hazards.

“Some were content with practices that failed even to identify risks,” he said.

“Due to the physical demands of nursery work, employers should identify all the hazards that arise from manual tasks and assess the risk of injury or harm from each.

“Even simple everyday tasks, such as moving plants and other stock between varying working-level heights, can put workers at risk of serious back and other musculoskeletal injuries.

“Other causes of injury, common in the nursery industry, include lifting, slips, trips, falls and vehicle accidents.”

He said many nurseries stored hazardous substances such as pesticides and herbicides, so it was importance that they are aware of the requirements for the safe storage and handling of these materials.

Legionnaires’ disease – a virulent and sometimes fatal form of pneumonia – can be contracted if soils are improperly handled, and is another issue for nursery employees.

Mr Attard said staff must not be complacent just because they are wearing personal protective equipment. Proper hygiene practices must also be in place for the workers to avoid contracting the disease.

“Staff should also be alert to the flu-like symptoms of Legionnaires’ and we are advising all nursery workers to inform their doctors of the type of work they do,” he said.

Mr Attard said the safety campaign’s main aim is to raise awareness, but inspectors would require improvements to be made if the situation calls for it.

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08:04 am, Saturday 25 September, 2010

A WorkSafe inspector of 11 years shares his experiences on the job, and quips that his role is like “hamburger with the lot”.

Dan Nolan, a Senior Inspector in the manufacturing, logistics and agriculture industry, says inspectors see everything in the workplaces they visit.

“I deal with people from all walks of life and across the entire social strata, including people from non-English speaking backgrounds and with different religious and cultural beliefs,” Mr Nolan says.

He relates that visiting sites where workers have suffered serious and fatal injuries is one negative aspect of his job.

“This always underpins the major aspect of my role – to improve health and safety in the workplace.”

The senior inspector says manufacturing, logistics and agriculture businesses usually generate notices on forklifts.

He advises employers to ensure their workplace is in top shape by reading up on WorkSafe publications; talking to industry groups, workers, union safety officers and safety representatives; and applying for WorkSafe’s free consultancy.

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04:41 pm, Thursday 23 September, 2010

The release of toxic fumes from a water treatment plant at Murwillumbah yesterday has prompted an emergency evacuation of several homes in the area.

Around 10 residents on New South Wales’ north were asked to leave their homes just after midday after something went wrong during the cleaning process of a chlorine tank at the plant.

Anthony Burnham, the Tweed Shire Council’s water manager, said the problems were caused by human error.

Council workers reported experiencing minor eye and throat irritations due to the release of hazardous substances.

“We’ve made a mistake in respect to the concentrations to carry out that process and that’s resulted in the production of toxic chlorine gas and some sulphur gases that then escaped from the tank,” Mr Burnham said.

The evacuated persons were given permission to return to their houses about three hours after the incident.

The chlorine tank was being decommissioned so the area can be used by the Men’s Shed.

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