VIC: Worker's safety concerns ignored - company fined $150,000
WorkSafe said that the decision in the County Court resulting in a $150,000 fine was a warning to Victorian employers not to ignore safety concerns raised by their workers. A company was prosecuted after a 63 year old female was struck by a truck owned by the company whilst sitting on a bench. She subsequently died from her injuries. The driver of the truck had two days prior to the incident notified the employer of concerns relating to the safety of the vehicle, specifically faulty brakes and indicators. For more info click here:
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VIC: New publication: Machinery and Equipment Safety - An Introduction
This guide is an introduction to managing the risks associated with the use of machinery and equipment in the workplace. The guide will also be useful to anyone else who is interested in machinery and equipment safety, such as employees and Health and Safety Representatives. For new publication click here:
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VIC: Come along to WorkSafe's Free Breakfast or Lunch - Freight Week 2007
WorkSafe will be hosting a free breakfast and lunch on Thursday, 20 September as part of Freight Week 2007. Each session will include a special guest as well as brief presentations on risk management, return to work and safety initiatives. To find out more and to register your interest online, go to www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/events or for more info on Freight Week see:
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VIC: Altona North death reinforces the dangers of confined space work
WorkSafe is investigating the death of a 42-year-old man while working inside a steel tank. The tank was used for chemicals and was undergoing maintenance. It is believed he was working alone before being found by workmates around 3pm. Read the media release:
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VIC: Ignoring safety improvement leaves firm with a nasty aftertaste
The major provider of flavourings to Australia's food and confectionary industry has been ordered to donate $10,000 to the Dandenong Benevolent Society after being prosecuted by WorkSafe for matters involving risks to pedestrians being hit by forklifts or their loads. Read the media release:
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VIC: WorkSafe presentation on OHS, return to work and premium - now on the web
If you missed getting to one of the free information sessions across Victoria on OHS & return to work, click her to view the presentation:
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VIC: Launch of Horse Stables and Track Riding Safety Guide and Industry Safety Grant - StableSafe
'A safety guide for Horse Stables and Track Riding Safety' is the latest safety initiative for the Thoroughbred Racing Industry to be released. The guide covers stable safety for stable staff and contractors, hazardous manual handling in the stable environment, how to use plant in the stable environment and general stable OHS. For track riding safety the guide covers track security and riding. Click here for more info Stablesafe from Racing Victoria Ltd:
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VIC: From the top down safe forest operations are up to you
WorkSafe Victoria has released a new Industry Standard which provides practical advice to employers and workers involved in forestry operations. Release of the Standard follows five deaths and many serious injuries in Victoria's forestry industry in the past three years. Click here to download Forestry Guide publication:
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VIC: Company committed to stand trial after death of employee
A company has been committed to stand trial on workplace safety charges relating to the death of a man when fell from the top of a grain tanker after having a heart attack. The charges allege that the company failed to provide safe plant or a safe system of work to prevent employees being exposed to the risk of falling from grain tankers and that it did not provide them with adequate safety information, instruction, training or supervision. Click here for more info:
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VIC: Rail maintenance contractor fined $20,000 over train and truck collision
A lack of communication that resulted in a V-Line passenger train colliding with a truck in central Victoria has cost a rail maintenance contractor a conviction and $20,000 in court fines. The June 2004 incident happened after a maintenance crew drove their truck onto the tracks near the Elphinstone tunnel. No-one was seriously injured in the incident. Click here for more info:
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VIC: Tractor safety in the spotlight - statewide campaign begins
Dangerous tractors will be the target of a statewide safety campaign beginning this month. Tractors without rollover protection, unguarded power take-offs or those needing maintenance will be the focus of the project, which runs until April next year. The campaign follows seven deaths on Victorian farms and hobby farms between October 2006 and July this year.
Inspection timetable:
South Gippsland, Otways/Princetown August 2007
Corryong/Tallangatta - October/November 2007
Yarra Valley - November 2007
Cobden/Timboon - January 2008
Mornington Peninsula, Ballarat region, Mildura region - April 2008.
Click here for more info on tractor and farming safety visit:
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VIC: DPI: Amended Regulations Affect Chemical Use in Victoria
The Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Regulations 2007 came into force on 24 July 2007. The new Regulations seek to minimise the risks and maximise the benefits associated with the use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals in Victoria. To locate and download copies of the Regulations:
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TAS: Significant Incident Report - Explosives stolen from magazine
Workplace Standards Australia has issued a significant incident report after explosives were recently stolen from an approved storage magazine. Click here to read incident report:
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TAS: Explosives added to Security-Sensitive Dangerous Substances Act
The Tasmanian Government is proposing to add explosives to the Security-Sensitive Dangerous Substances Act SSDS Act and that all parts of the industry be brought under the one security framework. This will mean that any person who has unrestricted access to explosives will either require a special permit, or be a 'responsible worker' under a permit. Click her for more info:
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TAS: Inspectors get the power to issue on-the-spot fines
Workplace Standards Tasmania inspectors now have the power to issue on-the-spot fines for workplace safety breaches. The aim of the new power is to simplify existing enforcement processes and help send a clear message about unacceptable behaviour and unsafe practices. Fines will be up to $2500. Click here to read media release:
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NSW: Two rail workers killed by coal train
Two rail workers, aged 48 and 24, were struck and killed by a coal train. The Australian Rail Track Corporation, NSW Office of Transport Safety Investigations, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Comcare and police are investigating how the workers came to be on the "live" tracks where the train hit them. Click here for media report:
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NSW: Sydney trucking fatality leads to new safety regime
The NSW Industrial Court has a transport company guilty on two charges relating to risk assessment and safe work systems after a truck driver received fatal injuries when crushed by a reversing truck. The company was fined $150,000. Click here for media release:
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NSW: Come home safely: a new workplace safety message
WorkCover NSW launched a compelling awareness campaign earlier this year focusing on the broader impact that workplace injuries can have on home and family. Titled 'Homecomings', the campaign brings home the message about the importance of staying safe at work in order to return home to your family safely. The campaign was originated by WorkSafe Victoria. The Victorian campaign commenced in 2006. The multimedia campaign includes free posters and fridge photo frame magnets which can be ordered online. Click here to read campaign:
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NSW: Approved list of explosion-protected electrical plant
The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has revised its list of approved explosion-protected electrical plant. The DPI is also undertaking a survey of end-users, plant hire companies and other interested parties on approved explosion-protected electrical apparatus in-use within hazardous zones of NSW underground coal workplaces. The survey aims to identify items which can be culled from the current approvals list. Click here to see list:
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NSW: Forklift crushes man in front of father
A father watched in horror as a forklift fell on his son and fatally injured him - hours before the injured man was to celebrate his own son's 21st birthday. Police said the 48-year-old man had been loading the forklift onto a truck. Workcover NSW is investigating. Click here for media report:
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NSW: Pilot program to manage early notification of catastrophic work injuries
WorkCover NSW has begun a pilot program to facilitate early assistance for severely injured workers and their families. The program is being trialled at two Sydney hospitals. Under the plan, hospital staff in acute care units can contact a WorkCover notification hotline, so the worker's treatment and access to post-hospital services can commence immediately. Click here for media report:
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SA: Federal Ombudsman receives SafeWork SA findings on Trolley Collecting Industry
South Australia's government industrial relations agency SafeWork SA has been actively auditing the trolley-collecting industry in a parallel initiative to that recently announced by the Federal Workplace Ombudsman. The agency's findings on six companies have been passed on to the Federal Workplace Ombudsman for further action. Click here for media release:
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SA: Orchard Firm Fined Over Gunshot Wound To Worker
SafeWork SA is warning of the need to include the proper use of firearms in any farmwork safety system after a company was fined $16,000. An employee somehow shot himself in the hand with a sawn-off .22 rifle, while attempting to frighten birds away from an apple orchard. Click here for media release:
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ACT: Company Convicted Following Death of Employee
A company has been fined $35,000 after an employee was killed unloading a logging forwarder. The tractor section of the forwarder rolled over and off the right side of the float and the cabin on the forwarder collapsed as the tractor section of the forwarder came into contact with the ground. Click here for media release:
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ACT: Quarterly summary of ACT WorkCover activities
ACT WorkCover has issued a statistical summary of its activities during the June quarter. The summary covers inspections, investigations, injury reports, enforcement, communications and education. Click to view summary:
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WA: Significant Incident Report - Front-end loader rolls over
Resources Safety has issued a significant incident report after an operator of a front-end loader sustained minor injuries in a rollover. The operator had only recently completed training in the use of this plant. Click here for report:
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NT: Workers' compensation insurance extended to labour hire firms
Northern Territory's Work Health Regulations have been amended so that all labour hire firms will have to purchase workers' compensation insurance for their workers, including those they let out on hire. The change took effect on 1 August. Previously labour hire firms could apply to NT WorkSafe to become an "approved labour hire firm," but did not need to have workers' compensation insurance. More information:
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NAT: FSC launches guide for managers on adopting safety behaviours
The Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner has launched the publication 'Leaders in Safety' to provide guidance to senior managers on how to adopt, introduce, promote and maintain safety behaviours. The guide includes case studies and 'key learning' data as well as chapters on changing specific mind sets or behaviours.
Download the publication:
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NAT: TCA: Request for comment - Options for trailer monitoring device interoperability
Transport Certification Australia Limited (TCA) has produced a report on the most suitable ways to attain communication interoperability of Trailer Monitoring Devices (TMDs). The Options for Trailer Monitoring Device Interoperability report is part of the study undertaken by TCA, on behalf of Australia's road transport authorities, into developing a national standard to permit interoperability between any Intelligent Access Program (IAP) certified in-vehicle unit (IVU) and TMDs. Click here for more:
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NAT: ASCC: National workers' compensation statistics now online
The Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) has launched the new National Online Statistics Interactive System (NOSI). Statistics are now accessible from the ASCC website on workers' compensation data from 1997-98 to 2004-05.
The easy to use, comprehensive database combines two previous versions of the system. Click here for media release:
http://www.ascc.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/6B5B1CA4-7C16-4FBD
-AD0F-7055552C7F79/0/ASCC_Media_Release_NOSI_System
_August_2007.pdf
Access the system:
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Product Recall: Scania Trucks & replacing the bolted joint on the track rod
Product Model: P&R Series
Defect Details: There have been instances where the thread between the nut and the bolt for the clamp for the track rods ball joint has been cut during tightening in production. The reason for this is that in certain cases the thread in the nut has been defective.
For consumer action: Contact your nearest Scania Truck dealer.
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Product Recall: Kenworth Trucks & Battery Isolation Switch
Product Info: Models built between 3 April 2007 and 24 May 2007
Defect Details: A manufacturing fault has occurred in some battery isolation switches that allows some current flow through the switch when in an isolated state
For consumer action: Contact your nearest Kenworth dealer
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