08:06 am, Monday 13 September, 2010

New NSW rules requiring people who want to renovate their homes to undergo a rigorous training are expected cut the number of owner-builders by half.

The new rules, which will take effect next month, will require home renovators to undergo face-to-face training and learn a 700-page training course.

The NSW Office of Fair Trading currently issues around 1000 permits each month to people who have paid about $100 to take a 4-hour training course online.

Under the new rules, it is estimated the safety training will take at least a week to finish and the cost will balloon to $800.

David Bare, NSW Housing Industry Association’s executive director, said rules needed to be changed to reduce high accident rates on builder-owner construction sites. He said it is time to require owner-builders to meet the same safety standards as his members.

According to a Fair Trading spokesman, the course will be implemented due to deaths on owner-builder sites. He said there is also evidence from WorkCover that owner-builders were failing to comply with safety and fair trading laws.

In contrast, some other states do not require owner-builders to take any course before being given their permit.

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09:27 pm, Thursday 9 September, 2010

Farmers and workers in rural industries in Queensland will have to deal with new safety rules beginning this month after the phase out of legislated occupational health and safety exemptions.

Dr Simon Blackwood, Executive Director for Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ), said the phasing out of exemptions, which began in 1990, mandates rural property workers to comply with Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008.

According to Dr Blackwood, the removal of exemptions will ensure workers will get appropriate safety training, certification and licensing.

“The phasing out of these exemptions is part of a staged removal to bring the rural industry in line with other Queensland industries,” he said.

“Exemptions being removed from this September regard registrable plant design, confined spaces and atmospheric contaminants.

In 2009, exemptions on demolition and construction work and use of hazardous substances were revoked in rural Queensland.

“A new rural chemicals guide is available to rural workplaces containing information on herbicides, pesticides, hazardous substances, dangerous goods, flammable liquids, and agricultural and veterinary medicines.

“Workplace Health and Safety Queensland’s A guide to working safely in confined spaces highlights the new requirements and provides useful tools and information.

He notes the new guide highlights how working in a confined space can potentially increase the risk of injury from noise, fumes, extreme temperatures, oxygen depletion and manual handling, among others.

According to Dr Blackwood, the changes that became effective on 1 September did not apply to rural workers who are exempt from holding licence to perform high risk work such as forklift, tower crane and scaffolding.

“The rural exemption for this part of the regulation has been extended indefinitely until the new national model health and safety laws are enacted in Queensland,” he stated.

“The amendment ensures workers in the rural industry are not legally required to undertake the cost of training to obtain a licence only to find out when the national OHS laws are finalised that they may no longer be required to hold a licence to operate in that class of work.

“However, it should be noted that forklift licensing is an excellent means of meeting the requirements of the current WHS legislation to provide a safe workplace,” Dr Derrick said.

Licensing of classes of high-risk work is expected to be required under the nationally harmonised legislation starting 1 January 2012.

You can call the Workplace Health and Safety Infoline on 1300 369 915 for more information about the changes in safety rules in rural industries.

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06:38 pm, Tuesday 7 September, 2010

WorkSafe Victoria has commenced investigation of a work-related fatality in West Melbourne.

On August 31, A 53-year-old man was crushed when the large plastic water tank he was helping move fell on top of him.

The workplace death is Victoria’s 17th in 2010. It also marks the fifth incident where a heavy item had collapsed on a worker and killed him.

Ross Pilkington of WorkSafe said non-routine jobs require meticulous planning, including using proper equipment and ensuring workers have the right skills and training.

“Victoria’s workplace health and safety laws require employers to maintain a safe workplace,” he said.

“It’s a fundamental obligation applying not just to day-to-day work, but particularly when jobs outside of the routine come up.

“Workers should be encouraged to speak up and be part of the planning process, and they should ensure they make a contribution.”

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04:56 pm, Wednesday 4 August, 2010

A Perth Supreme Court judge has convicted a construction company on Monday for failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment after Cyclone George destroyed its employees’ living quarters.

The cyclone hit the construction site camp 100 kilometres south of Port Hedland in March 2007, killing two and injuring twenty.

The Perth Magistrates Court had earlier heard the charges against the company. Aside from failing to provide a safe working environment, the firm was also prosecuted for failing to train its workers against hazards.

Magistrate Peter Malone was not convinced of the firm’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt and acquitted it in October 2009.

WorkSafe appealed the decision on behalf of two employees who were hurt during the incident.

In ruling against the company, Supreme Court Justice Michael John Murray said an inspection of the workers’ living quarters, also known as dongas, would have revealed the structures unsuitable.

He noted that dongas built to specification would have been withstood the cyclone.

“As I understand the evidence, there was not even an inspection by any person acting for [the construction company], of the dongas on site, to ensure that the tie-downs and the foundations were of an adequate standard and the welds were of an appropriate standard of workmanship,” he said.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne is pleased with the outcome of the case.

“This decision sends a strong message to all employers that workplace safety and health should be given high priority,” she said.

“The events surrounding Cyclone George were tragic, and cases like this should serve as a warning to ensure that this type of tragedy never happens again.”

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01:09 pm, Tuesday 20 July, 2010

Work at 27 wharves has resumed on Wednesday after workers staged 24-hour stop work action the day before.

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has called a 24-hour walk-off at wharves across the country after the death of a wharf worker on July 13.

The 41-year-old Merlbourne man was killed during pick-up and delivery operations at a dock in West Melbourne.

According to authorities, the worker was crushed to death by a 2.7-tonne steel beam as it was being lifted by a crane.

The walk-off was brought about by concern on worker safety as the July 13 incident was the third dock worker fatality in five months.

MUA said the shutdown also aimed to underscore the need for improved government regulation and enforcement and worker training.

MUA’s Paddy Crumlin said conditions need to change.

“We need to start getting some commitments off people that they’re going to fix this,” he said.

“That we’re going to have a single safety standard in this country, we’re going to have a single point of enforcement. That there is going to be training, that there’s not going to be casualisation and short cuts on labour at the expense of people’s lives.”

A spokesman for the West Melbourne dock operator said the company was investigating the cause of the incident and that counseling is being offered to its workers.

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07:45 am, Thursday 15 July, 2010

WorkSafe WA has launched an inspection program aimed at improving OHS standards in restaurants.

As part of the program, restaurants across the state will be randomly chosen and inspected. Inspections will continue throughout the financial year and will cover both regional and metropolitan areas.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said the campaign will focus on raising awareness of the safety risks and information dissemination for employers.

“This inspection program is part of an ongoing program of proactive inspections aimed at providing employers with information on how to make workplaces safer,” Ms Lyhne said.

“The relevant industry bodies are being contacted in advance and advised of what the inspectors will be looking for.”

The campaign will address WorkSafe’s priority areas more closely, including hazardous substances, manual handling, electricity, machinery guarding and slips, trips and falls.

Inspectors will also focus on particular issues such as the handling of hot liquids, the use of protective gloves when cleaning food slicers and guarding.

“New and young workers and their induction, training and supervision is a major concern to WorkSafe, and our inspectors will also be ensuring that all is in order in that regard during this inspection program,” Ms Lyhne said.

“These proactive inspection programs primarily aim to raise awareness of hazards and provide employers with information, but inspectors will also take enforcement action where necessary.

“We firmly believe that raising awareness with proactive campaigns is the best way in which to lessen the risk of work-related injury and illness.”

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02:18 pm, Thursday 3 June, 2010

WorkSafe inspectors have conducted surprise visits in Victoria’s snowfields to check on construction companies who were preparing the vacation spots for this year’s ski season.

In May 20, inspectors carried out visits in four of the State’s major snowfields – Mt Buller, Mt Hotham, Dinner Plains and Falls Creek – to look into the maintenance and construction work being carried out.

“The ski season opens in the first week of June – so right now there’s a frenzy of construction activity underway to make sure everything is ready,” Acting Executive Director for Health and Safety Stan Krpan said.

“We’re talking about the construction and maintenance of public facilities, chalets, and chair and access lifts – and all of this work needs to be finalised in the next week.

“It’s times like these – when there are tight deadlines and lots to do – that companies may be tempted to compromise on workplace health and safety in order to get the job done.

“These visits are WorkSafe’s way of reminding them that cutting corners and putting workers at risk simply isn’t an option,” he said.

The inspections ended in the issuance of 14 improvement notices. These require the companies to make safety improvements within a given time.

WorkSafe inspectors are expected to conduct follow-up visits to make sure improvements have been made.

The improvement notices dealt with several safety issues, including inadequate fall protection for people working at height, people working without personal protective equipment, faulty machinery and lifting equipment, and lack of safety training.

One of the notices were issued due to the use of imported scaffolding that was not in accordance with Australian standards. The firm was ordered to stop using the scaffolding immediately.

“Two years ago we had an incident on Mt Buller where a crane that was incorrectly set up toppled over and fell on to a building,” Mr Krpan said.

“We’re doing all we can to make sure this kind of incident doesn’t happen again.”

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08:28 am, Thursday 3 June, 2010

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is reminding businesses to make sure safework procedures are in place for forklift use.

The reminder was issued following the conclusion of a number of prosecutions involving forklift accidents. One of the companies prosecuted received a $40,000 fine.

Several other forklift-related incidents are under investigation by the safety body.

Queensland Industrial Relations Minister Cameron Dick said proper safety training is a must for forklift operators. He said risk management is another important factor in preventing deaths and injuries.

He said fitting the forklifts with the proper safety devices is not enough. Risk assessment and traffic management plans must also be prepared and implemented.

A recent prosecution involved a plumbing products company in Geebung, where a worker died. Two other incidents ended in serious crush injuries for workers.

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12:04 pm, Wednesday 2 June, 2010

Employees with limited English must be trained by their employers so the workers can do their work safely, WorkSafe said.

WorkSafe’s statement comes at the heels of the conviction of a Victorian potato farm to failing to ensure an employee with limited English received safety training before operating a telehandler.

The Mildura Magistrates’ Court fined the farm company $40,000, after pleading guilty to failing to provide instruction, information, training and supervision to its workers under section 21(1)&(2)(e) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.

WorkSafe Victoria’s Acting Executive Director for Health and Safety, Stan Krpan said it is important for all employees to receive information and training to understand the risks involved in their work and enable them to do their job safely.

“If a worker has limited English, employers may need to make an extra effort to ensure the worker is clear on the risks. This may simply involve taking a little extra time or involving a translator – which may be another worker,” Mr Krpan said.

“Employers and supervisors also need to be aware that the language barrier may lead to a power imbalance in the workplace – workers with limited English may be less likely to question health and safety practices or speak up if they’re unsure.”

In 2008, an Indian national employed at the farm lost control of the telehandler while trying to turn it, hitting a truck driver in the process.

The driver suffered several injuries, including broken bones in his right foot, and lacerations to his elbow and head. He was required to be confined for a week in the hospital.

The Court was told the worker was allowed to move the telehandler to another site after watching a five-minute demonstration on how to use it.

The worker had no previous experience on using the heavy machinery. The court also heard the demonstration was provided by another employee with no formal qualifications or training to operate a telehandler, or train others how to use it.

“No attempt was made to arrange for another employee to interpret the instructions on how to operate the telehandler,” Mr Krpan said.

“His only instruction on how to use this piece of machinery, which weighed over three tonnes, was from someone who wasn’t even licensed to use it.

“This is a reminder for employers about their legal duties to ensure workers are provided with information, instruction, training or supervision which enables them to perform their work in a way that is safe and without risks to health.”

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01:43 pm, Tuesday 25 May, 2010

WorkCover is pushing to minimise fatigue in long-distance trucking.

WorkCover has launched a campaign in recognition that fatigue is a relevant safety and health risk for the 36,000 NSW truckers.

According to WorkCover, everyone involved in long-distance freight transport has a role in reducing the risks of fatigue, whether he is a driver, employer, carrier, consignor or consignee.

As part of the campaign, WorkCover staff will visit businesses connected with transporting freight and give guidance materials. WorkCover will also conduct driver awareness days.

The driver awareness days are aimed at informing businesses of good fatigue management practices and how to recognise the signs of fatigue.

For the workplace visits, inspectors will focus on issues such as risk management practices, the development and management of fatigue management plans, safety training for drivers, and workers compensation and injury management systems.

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