An inquest has heard that up to half of all heavy-truck drivers suffer from sleep apnoea, a condition blamed for causing a Victorian truckie to fall asleep at the wheel before a fatal head-on collision.
The 52-year-old truck driver was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnoea after the collision. He pleaded guilty to negligent driving causing death and was given a suspended 10-month jail sentence.
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital sleep specialist Anup Desai said that the disorder was prevalent but under-reported, and even though GPs detected symptoms, they didn't necessarily refer truck drivers for further assessment and diagnosis by a sleep specialist.
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Source: The Australian
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Worker killed after being crushed by one-tonne steel beam
A 32-year-old man has died after being crushed by a one-tonne steel beam at a tip.
The man was pile driving at the site of the tip's new waste transfer station. He left an excavator to direct a steel beam into a hole.
"The beam has started to swing uncontrollably in the air, it's hit him on the head as it has swung around. It has then actually come away from the excavator and rolled onto his chest” Inspector Glen Woolley said.
Other workers tried to administer first aid but the man died a short time later in hospital. Unions Tasmania says the death can only be described as an absolute tragedy.
"We've been to meet representatives of the minister and Workplace Standards Tasmania on numerous occasions, voicing concerns about health and safety in the construction industry” Spokesman Kevin Harkins said.
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Source: ABC News
The man was pile driving at the site of the tip's new waste transfer station. He left an excavator to direct a steel beam into a hole.
"The beam has started to swing uncontrollably in the air, it's hit him on the head as it has swung around. It has then actually come away from the excavator and rolled onto his chest” Inspector Glen Woolley said.
Other workers tried to administer first aid but the man died a short time later in hospital. Unions Tasmania says the death can only be described as an absolute tragedy.
"We've been to meet representatives of the minister and Workplace Standards Tasmania on numerous occasions, voicing concerns about health and safety in the construction industry” Spokesman Kevin Harkins said.
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Source: ABC News
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Electrical apprentice suffers electric shock at building site
An electrical apprentice suffered an electric shock at an apartment site in Canberra last week.
Early investigations suggested the fourth-year apprentice was working alone on a platform ladder and was shocked by a live circuit that she believed had been switched off.
"It's supposed to be turned off and when it is, it should be tagged so that no one else turns it back on" said Work Safety Commissioner Mark McCabe.
The government's inquiry into health and safety laws on ACT building sites found the ACT had the worst record for construction site safety in Australia with one in every 40 workers expected to sustain a serious injury on the job each year.
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Source: The Canberra Times
Early investigations suggested the fourth-year apprentice was working alone on a platform ladder and was shocked by a live circuit that she believed had been switched off.
"It's supposed to be turned off and when it is, it should be tagged so that no one else turns it back on" said Work Safety Commissioner Mark McCabe.
The government's inquiry into health and safety laws on ACT building sites found the ACT had the worst record for construction site safety in Australia with one in every 40 workers expected to sustain a serious injury on the job each year.
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Source: The Canberra Times
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
OSHA inspection leads to fine for company that exposed workers to ammonia
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited a company that produces pasta with 12 safety violations following a complaint inspection alleging workers were exposed to ammonia. Proposed fines total $54,000.
Eight serious violations were cited for deficiencies in the company's ammonia refrigeration process. These included a lack of written standard operating procedures for the ammonia refrigeration process, no emergency action plan and failing to perform inspections and tests on process equipment.
Three additional serious violations involve failing to develop, implement and train employees in hazard communication, provide an emergency eyewash station and provide material data safety sheets for hazardous chemicals present in the workplace.
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Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23556
Eight serious violations were cited for deficiencies in the company's ammonia refrigeration process. These included a lack of written standard operating procedures for the ammonia refrigeration process, no emergency action plan and failing to perform inspections and tests on process equipment.
Three additional serious violations involve failing to develop, implement and train employees in hazard communication, provide an emergency eyewash station and provide material data safety sheets for hazardous chemicals present in the workplace.
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Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23556
Firm fined £60,000 after an employee's hair was ripped out by machinery
A company has been fined £60,000 after a young worker was severely injured when her hair was ripped out by poorly guarded machinery.
The 25-year-old was sorting clothes hangers on a conveyor when her scarf and hair became caught in the chain and sprocket drive of the belt as she bent over to remove accumulated hangers.
She sustained serious throat injuries, lost a substantial part of her hair and fractured a finger in the incident.
The firm had fitted a guard to the conveyor but it did not fully enclose the dangerous moving parts. There was no emergency stop button on the conveyor and the company's risk assessment failed to identify the dangers of entanglement in conveyors.
The company was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay costs of £21,668.
HSE Inspector David Wynne said: "Employers must ensure that workers are properly monitored, supervised and trained when working with this sort of equipment."
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-w-mainetti.htm
The 25-year-old was sorting clothes hangers on a conveyor when her scarf and hair became caught in the chain and sprocket drive of the belt as she bent over to remove accumulated hangers.
She sustained serious throat injuries, lost a substantial part of her hair and fractured a finger in the incident.
The firm had fitted a guard to the conveyor but it did not fully enclose the dangerous moving parts. There was no emergency stop button on the conveyor and the company's risk assessment failed to identify the dangers of entanglement in conveyors.
The company was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay costs of £21,668.
HSE Inspector David Wynne said: "Employers must ensure that workers are properly monitored, supervised and trained when working with this sort of equipment."
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-w-mainetti.htm
Employees exposed to potentially deadly bacteria
A trust has been fined for safety failings after employees were exposed to a potentially deadly strain of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) bacteria when a test vial smashed in a specialist laboratory.
The HSE identified the following issues with the management and maintenance of the containment facility:
• Inadequate risk assessments for activities involving TB
• Critical control measures weren't examined, monitored, tested or maintained
• Poor emergency arrangements in the event of an incident
• Those responsible for health and safety were lacking appropriate training
The test vial containing a strain of TB bacteria smashed when it fell to the floor. Three employees were present and a fourth risked exposure when she helped with the clean up operation.
No-one suffered any adverse effects, but The Trust should also have better implemented appropriate and adequate control measures, and ensured that staff were suitably trained. The Trust was fined £12,500 and ordered to pay £25,000 in costs.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-ldn-01013.htm
The HSE identified the following issues with the management and maintenance of the containment facility:
• Inadequate risk assessments for activities involving TB
• Critical control measures weren't examined, monitored, tested or maintained
• Poor emergency arrangements in the event of an incident
• Those responsible for health and safety were lacking appropriate training
The test vial containing a strain of TB bacteria smashed when it fell to the floor. Three employees were present and a fourth risked exposure when she helped with the clean up operation.
No-one suffered any adverse effects, but The Trust should also have better implemented appropriate and adequate control measures, and ensured that staff were suitably trained. The Trust was fined £12,500 and ordered to pay £25,000 in costs.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-ldn-01013.htm
Monday, January 21, 2013
Manufacturer cited for failing to protect workers from exposure to hazardous materials
OSHA has cited a manufacturer with 6 serious safety violations for failing to protect workers from exposure to hazardous materials and provide adequate emergency response plans and training at the company's manufacturing plant. Proposed fines total $41,200.
"Manufacturers need to demonstrate a commitment to properly training and protecting workers from exposure to hazards," said Tom Bielema, OSHA's area director in Peoria.
3 of the violations involve failing to ensure workers used protective equipment when exposed to hazards capable of causing injury and impairment. These included a lack of hand, eye and face protection for workers exposed to liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids.
The remaining violations involve failing to include evacuation routes and procedures in the company's emergency response and contingency plan and to ensure workers engaged in emergency response involving inhalation hazards were provided with breathing apparatus for respiratory protection and trained on adequate emergency response.
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Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23538
"Manufacturers need to demonstrate a commitment to properly training and protecting workers from exposure to hazards," said Tom Bielema, OSHA's area director in Peoria.
3 of the violations involve failing to ensure workers used protective equipment when exposed to hazards capable of causing injury and impairment. These included a lack of hand, eye and face protection for workers exposed to liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids.
The remaining violations involve failing to include evacuation routes and procedures in the company's emergency response and contingency plan and to ensure workers engaged in emergency response involving inhalation hazards were provided with breathing apparatus for respiratory protection and trained on adequate emergency response.
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Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23538
Up to $650,000 fine faced by firm after a worker died in gas explosion
A business has been charged over a gas explosion that killed a 24-year-old tradesman.
The refrigeration mechanic was killed instantly when his work van exploded in the driveway of his home. He had pressurised flammable gas cylinders in his vehicle when the accident happened.
The Northern Territory Work Health Authority alleges the company was in breach of an employer's general statutory duty of care. The charge has been laid under provisions of the Workplace Health and Safety Act that was in force at the time of the accident.
The maximum penalty for the charge is $650,000.
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Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-15/gas-explosion-company-charged-paddy-bird-dies/4466112?section=nt
The refrigeration mechanic was killed instantly when his work van exploded in the driveway of his home. He had pressurised flammable gas cylinders in his vehicle when the accident happened.
The Northern Territory Work Health Authority alleges the company was in breach of an employer's general statutory duty of care. The charge has been laid under provisions of the Workplace Health and Safety Act that was in force at the time of the accident.
The maximum penalty for the charge is $650,000.
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Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-15/gas-explosion-company-charged-paddy-bird-dies/4466112?section=nt
Worker suffers severe burns in workplace accident
A garage has been fined after a mechanic was badly burned while trying to cut the top off an empty oil drum.
The 26-year-old was using a propane torch to remove the lid when the remaining oil inside the drum set alight, causing an explosion. He suffered burns to his hands and arms, and was kept in hospital for five days.
The employees at the garage cut the tops off empty oil drums approximately once every three months so that they could be used to store scrap metal. However, the company failed to consider the risk of the propane torch creating and igniting a vapour from the small amount of oil remaining in the drums.
The company was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £4,746 in prosecution costs.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-nw-kankkultd.htm?eban=rss-
The 26-year-old was using a propane torch to remove the lid when the remaining oil inside the drum set alight, causing an explosion. He suffered burns to his hands and arms, and was kept in hospital for five days.
The employees at the garage cut the tops off empty oil drums approximately once every three months so that they could be used to store scrap metal. However, the company failed to consider the risk of the propane torch creating and igniting a vapour from the small amount of oil remaining in the drums.
The company was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £4,746 in prosecution costs.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-nw-kankkultd.htm?eban=rss-
Employee injured after being flipped around a rotating roller
A fabric firm has been fined after an employee was badly injured when he was flipped around a large rotating roller.
The 39-year-old was trying to straighten a crease on a roll of fabric as it was being wound up when his clothes became caught in the mechanism. He was dragged around the roller three times, suffering cracked ribs and bruising to the side of his body.
There were no guards on the machine to prevent workers from accessing dangerous moving parts, and the emergency stop button nearest to where the employee was working was defective. The company had carried out an assessment which identified the risk of workers' clothes becoming entangled as a hazard, but it failed to act on this.
The company was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £3,600 in prosecution costs.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-nw-flameproofingsltd.htm
The 39-year-old was trying to straighten a crease on a roll of fabric as it was being wound up when his clothes became caught in the mechanism. He was dragged around the roller three times, suffering cracked ribs and bruising to the side of his body.
There were no guards on the machine to prevent workers from accessing dangerous moving parts, and the emergency stop button nearest to where the employee was working was defective. The company had carried out an assessment which identified the risk of workers' clothes becoming entangled as a hazard, but it failed to act on this.
The company was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £3,600 in prosecution costs.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-nw-flameproofingsltd.htm
Crushing fatality leads to $250,000 fine
A construction company working on upgrades to a highway has been fined $250,000 after one of its workers was crushed to death by a roller.
The 31-year-old labourer was on his second day on the job on a road upgrade project. He was helping to lay asphalt when a three-tonne multi-wheeled roller ran over him.
The worker was spraying the stationary roller when the operator accidentally released the brakes, causing the vehicle to lurch forward and roll over him.
A WorkCover investigation subsequently found the company failed to properly train or supervise the man.
NSW Finance Minister Greg Pearce says the fine is a reminder to maintain safety protocols.
"This tragedy could have been avoided had there been the right instruction and the vehicle properly maintained," He said in a statement.
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Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1727634/Company-fined-after-worker-fatally-crushed
The 31-year-old labourer was on his second day on the job on a road upgrade project. He was helping to lay asphalt when a three-tonne multi-wheeled roller ran over him.
The worker was spraying the stationary roller when the operator accidentally released the brakes, causing the vehicle to lurch forward and roll over him.
A WorkCover investigation subsequently found the company failed to properly train or supervise the man.
NSW Finance Minister Greg Pearce says the fine is a reminder to maintain safety protocols.
"This tragedy could have been avoided had there been the right instruction and the vehicle properly maintained," He said in a statement.
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Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1727634/Company-fined-after-worker-fatally-crushed
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Two companies fined for exposing workers to asbestos
Workers were exposed to dangerous asbestos fibres following a catalogue of errors by an engineering company and a building firm during a demolition and refurbishment project.
The project was badly managed, with untrained staff put in charge of the operation, and was underpinned by inadequate surveys for the presence of asbestos and poor planning throughout.
The engineering firm contracted the construction company to renovate a building. The engineering firm had two asbestos management surveys for the site, which, although later deemed to be inadequate, identified the presence of asbestos material. Despite this, work was allowed to begin in the building.
The building company failed to appoint a competent Construction, Design and Management co-ordinator and principal contractor to plan and manage the construction work. They also failed to provide a proper assessment of the presence of asbestos and its condition in the building before work started.
The building company was fined a total of £16,000 and ordered to pay £3,287 in costs, and the engineering firm was fined £8,000 with costs of £2,000.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-w-wallcolmonoyoaktree.htm
The project was badly managed, with untrained staff put in charge of the operation, and was underpinned by inadequate surveys for the presence of asbestos and poor planning throughout.
The engineering firm contracted the construction company to renovate a building. The engineering firm had two asbestos management surveys for the site, which, although later deemed to be inadequate, identified the presence of asbestos material. Despite this, work was allowed to begin in the building.
The building company failed to appoint a competent Construction, Design and Management co-ordinator and principal contractor to plan and manage the construction work. They also failed to provide a proper assessment of the presence of asbestos and its condition in the building before work started.
The building company was fined a total of £16,000 and ordered to pay £3,287 in costs, and the engineering firm was fined £8,000 with costs of £2,000.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-w-wallcolmonoyoaktree.htm
$87,010 in fines proposed for roofing company that failed to provide fall protection
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a roofing company with seven safety violations following two separate inspections for failing to provide and ensure workers use proper fall protection while conducting roof work on a multicomplex apartment building. Proposed fines from both inspections total $87,010.
"When working from heights, such as roofs, ladders and scaffolds, employers must plan projects to ensure that the job is done safely, provide the proper equipment and train workers," said Kathy Webb, OSHA's area director in Aurora.
The repeat and wilful violations were for failing to provide fall protection. Five serious violations were cited for overloading and improperly using an aerial lift and failing to provide proper lanyard tie offs to workers in the aerial lift. The company was also cited for exposing workers to electrical shock by failing to provide proper ground fault protection and using a ladder that did not extend 3 feet above the landing surface.
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Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23496
"When working from heights, such as roofs, ladders and scaffolds, employers must plan projects to ensure that the job is done safely, provide the proper equipment and train workers," said Kathy Webb, OSHA's area director in Aurora.
The repeat and wilful violations were for failing to provide fall protection. Five serious violations were cited for overloading and improperly using an aerial lift and failing to provide proper lanyard tie offs to workers in the aerial lift. The company was also cited for exposing workers to electrical shock by failing to provide proper ground fault protection and using a ladder that did not extend 3 feet above the landing surface.
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Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23496
Worker's serious injuries lead to £7,000 fine for labels company
A labels company has been fined for a safety breach after a worker sustained a serious hand injury when it was caught between two contra rotating rollers on a working machine.
The employee severed the first finger of his right hand to the second knuckle and broke his middle finger in the incident.
He was attempting to clean a coating roller on a finishing machine, and had removed the roller several times to make adjustments and clean away dried on primer. He then tried to brush off the dried primer from the roller while it was in situ on the working machine, but his right hand was caught and pulled between two rollers.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive established that the machine was missing suitable guarding, and had been for some time. Had a guard been fitted the incident would have been avoided.
The company was fined £7,000 and ordered to pay £5,637 in costs after pleading guilty.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-se-00313.htm?eban=rss-
The employee severed the first finger of his right hand to the second knuckle and broke his middle finger in the incident.
He was attempting to clean a coating roller on a finishing machine, and had removed the roller several times to make adjustments and clean away dried on primer. He then tried to brush off the dried primer from the roller while it was in situ on the working machine, but his right hand was caught and pulled between two rollers.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive established that the machine was missing suitable guarding, and had been for some time. Had a guard been fitted the incident would have been avoided.
The company was fined £7,000 and ordered to pay £5,637 in costs after pleading guilty.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-se-00313.htm?eban=rss-
Scaffolding company forced to pay over $300,000 after worker's fall
A man rendered bedridden for months by a workplace accident has been awarded more than $300,000 by an ACT court.
The man broke his leg after falling two metres from shoddy scaffolding. He was disassembling scaffolding at a building site when the structure twisted and collapsed. Medical reports said the accident and treatment resulted in a permanent 1.7 centimetre shortening in his leg, giving him a limp.
The scaffolding company was found negligent because the scaffolding was shoddily constructed, and was ordered to pay the injured worker $311,530.
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Source: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/payout-for-injury-in-scaffold-collapse-20121223-2btu7.html#ixzz2HzhO7FK8
The man broke his leg after falling two metres from shoddy scaffolding. He was disassembling scaffolding at a building site when the structure twisted and collapsed. Medical reports said the accident and treatment resulted in a permanent 1.7 centimetre shortening in his leg, giving him a limp.
The scaffolding company was found negligent because the scaffolding was shoddily constructed, and was ordered to pay the injured worker $311,530.
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Source: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/payout-for-injury-in-scaffold-collapse-20121223-2btu7.html#ixzz2HzhO7FK8
Instrument company fined over worker's exposure to hazardous chemicals
An instrument company and a health and safety consultant have been fined for risking the health of employees from hazardous chemicals.
A 36-year-old paint sprayer suffered irritation to his eyes, breathing difficulties, headaches and lost the ability to concentrate after working with harmful substances.
His job was to prepare and paint small components for scientific instruments, which involved working with chemicals including trichloroethylene, a powerful de-greaser used to clean metal before it is painted, and paints containing isocyanates.
An investigation found that the company did not provide suitable equipment to adequately remove the hazardous fumes from the workplace, especially where items were left to dry. The company also failed to provide employees with the necessary health surveillance for workers using hazardous substances.
The company was fined £9,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £2,852 after pleading guilty.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-e-00313.htm?eban=rss-
A 36-year-old paint sprayer suffered irritation to his eyes, breathing difficulties, headaches and lost the ability to concentrate after working with harmful substances.
His job was to prepare and paint small components for scientific instruments, which involved working with chemicals including trichloroethylene, a powerful de-greaser used to clean metal before it is painted, and paints containing isocyanates.
An investigation found that the company did not provide suitable equipment to adequately remove the hazardous fumes from the workplace, especially where items were left to dry. The company also failed to provide employees with the necessary health surveillance for workers using hazardous substances.
The company was fined £9,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £2,852 after pleading guilty.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-e-00313.htm?eban=rss-
Monday, January 14, 2013
OSHA cites company with 5 violations after worker is struck by forklift
OSHA cited a firm with five safety violations after a worker was injured when struck by a forklift. The complaint inspection has resulted in proposed penalties of $89,000.
"Employers are responsible for ensuring workers are properly trained in the operation of equipment and that equipment, such as forklifts, are maintained in good working order," said Kim Nelson, area director for OSHA in Toledo.
A willful violation was cited for failing to remove unsafe forklifts from service. Three serious violations were cited for failing to complete forklift inspections, retrain workers in forklift operations following an incident where an injury occurred and operate a forklift in a safe manner.
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Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23520
"Employers are responsible for ensuring workers are properly trained in the operation of equipment and that equipment, such as forklifts, are maintained in good working order," said Kim Nelson, area director for OSHA in Toledo.
A willful violation was cited for failing to remove unsafe forklifts from service. Three serious violations were cited for failing to complete forklift inspections, retrain workers in forklift operations following an incident where an injury occurred and operate a forklift in a safe manner.
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Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23520
Food manufacturer fined after worker loses tip of finger in poorly guarded machine
A food manufacturer has appeared in court for safety offences after one of its workers lost the tip of her finger while trying to clear a blockage in a badly-guarded machine.
The worker was in the production area while a mobile screw conveyor was being used to fill a packing machine, known to block regularly.
HSE found that the fixed guard over the top of the hopper, which prevented workers getting access to the dangerous screw part, had been modified. Instead of being fixed at all four corners, it was fixed at only two, allowing it to be lifted while the machine was running.
The worker attempted to clear a blockage while the machine was operating and her hand slipped, hitting the screw mechanism.
The company was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,506.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-yh-713.htm
The worker was in the production area while a mobile screw conveyor was being used to fill a packing machine, known to block regularly.
HSE found that the fixed guard over the top of the hopper, which prevented workers getting access to the dangerous screw part, had been modified. Instead of being fixed at all four corners, it was fixed at only two, allowing it to be lifted while the machine was running.
The worker attempted to clear a blockage while the machine was operating and her hand slipped, hitting the screw mechanism.
The company was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,506.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-yh-713.htm
Forklift failures lead to fine for company that supplies stones
A company has been fined for failing to keep a forklift truck in good working order, which posed a danger to workers.
The company supplies stone in flexible large bags that hold around a tonne. HSE found that a forklift truck had not been maintained and that two sets of bearings holding the forks in line had collapsed.
As the forks were lowered, they could jam on the mast and then fall when dislodged, putting employees working nearby at risk of serious injury.
HSE found the forklift had been repaired on many occasions in the previous year but all the work had been reactive. The company's maintenance regime was to repair in response to breakdowns.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-yh-00513.htm
The company supplies stone in flexible large bags that hold around a tonne. HSE found that a forklift truck had not been maintained and that two sets of bearings holding the forks in line had collapsed.
As the forks were lowered, they could jam on the mast and then fall when dislodged, putting employees working nearby at risk of serious injury.
HSE found the forklift had been repaired on many occasions in the previous year but all the work had been reactive. The company's maintenance regime was to repair in response to breakdowns.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-yh-00513.htm
Steel firm in court after worker struck by large steel girder
A firm has admitted safety failings that led to one of its workers being struck on his back by a large steel girder.
The 46-year-old man narrowly escaped being crushed by the girder and was instead knocked to the floor when it hit him from behind. He suffered severe bruising and soft tissue damage to his foot and lower leg.
Before leaving for the weekend, the worker had brought two girders into the workshop and placed them on powered rollers. On Monday, he set the rollers running and climbed through a curtain screen to put clean cling films on the rollers, forgetting the girders were on the same rollers. He was struck in the lower back as the girder moved toward him and knocked over the rollers onto the floor.
The company had never assessed the risks involved in using the machine and had not provided guards for the rollers to prevent access during operation. They were fined a total of £20,000 and ordered to pay £7,356 in costs.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-yh-00613.htm
The 46-year-old man narrowly escaped being crushed by the girder and was instead knocked to the floor when it hit him from behind. He suffered severe bruising and soft tissue damage to his foot and lower leg.
Before leaving for the weekend, the worker had brought two girders into the workshop and placed them on powered rollers. On Monday, he set the rollers running and climbed through a curtain screen to put clean cling films on the rollers, forgetting the girders were on the same rollers. He was struck in the lower back as the girder moved toward him and knocked over the rollers onto the floor.
The company had never assessed the risks involved in using the machine and had not provided guards for the rollers to prevent access during operation. They were fined a total of £20,000 and ordered to pay £7,356 in costs.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-yh-00613.htm
WorkHealth program reveals excessive drinking and smoking is common in the hospitality industry
According to findings from WorkSafe Victoria’s WorkHealth program, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are widespread in the hospitality industry.
7,300 industry employees in Victoria submitted to a 15-minute WorkHealth check between April 2009 and April 2012. The findings revealed 25% smoke and 42% drink excessively.
Wayne Kayler-Thomson, a WorkHealth ambassador, encourages industry employees to adopt healthier life choices, explaining that these current trends pose a real threat to health, safety and productivity in the industry.
Joanne Forde, human resources manager, Mercure Geelong said that employers have a responsibility to help employees achieve good health. “Supporting the health of staff can benefit not only productivity but also safety – we know that healthy workers are less prone to injury,” she explains.
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Source: http://www.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/01/tests-reveal-poor-health-of-hospitality-workers/
7,300 industry employees in Victoria submitted to a 15-minute WorkHealth check between April 2009 and April 2012. The findings revealed 25% smoke and 42% drink excessively.
Wayne Kayler-Thomson, a WorkHealth ambassador, encourages industry employees to adopt healthier life choices, explaining that these current trends pose a real threat to health, safety and productivity in the industry.
Joanne Forde, human resources manager, Mercure Geelong said that employers have a responsibility to help employees achieve good health. “Supporting the health of staff can benefit not only productivity but also safety – we know that healthy workers are less prone to injury,” she explains.
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Source: http://www.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/01/tests-reveal-poor-health-of-hospitality-workers/
Study reveals 20% of Australians have fatigue and exhaustion from lack of sleep
Around 20% of Australians have fatigue and exhaustion due to lack of sleep, according to a national survey.
The Sleep Health Foundation's study of adult sleeping habits showed that one in five of respondents said poor sleep affected their mood and ability to perform daily activities.
The Foundation's chairman Professor David Hillman says sleepiness can significantly increase the risk of an accident on the road or in the workplace.
"A lot of the population work under the misapprehension that they can get by with less sleep than they actually need," he said.
"The average adult needs seven-and-a-half to eight hours sleep a night and if they don't get it, they feel it."
"Sleep's in this rather grim competition with the other things we want to do - social life, family life and work life - and for a lot of people it comes off a rather poor fourth in that competition."
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Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-31/tired-australians-risk-accidents-mood-disorders/4447922
The Sleep Health Foundation's study of adult sleeping habits showed that one in five of respondents said poor sleep affected their mood and ability to perform daily activities.
The Foundation's chairman Professor David Hillman says sleepiness can significantly increase the risk of an accident on the road or in the workplace.
"A lot of the population work under the misapprehension that they can get by with less sleep than they actually need," he said.
"The average adult needs seven-and-a-half to eight hours sleep a night and if they don't get it, they feel it."
"Sleep's in this rather grim competition with the other things we want to do - social life, family life and work life - and for a lot of people it comes off a rather poor fourth in that competition."
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Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-31/tired-australians-risk-accidents-mood-disorders/4447922
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Electrical and machine guarding hazards lead to OSHA inspection and citation
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited a building materials company with 7 serious violations for exposing workers to electrical and machine guarding hazards, with proposed penalties of $41,000.
OSHA conducted a safety inspection in response to a complaint about unsafe working conditions and machine hazards. They discovered workers building prefabricated wood trusses without the required machine guarding.
"The lack of machine guarding can lead to serious injuries, including amputations," said Casey Perkins, OSHA's area director in Austin. "OSHA's standards must be followed to prevent accidents, injuries and illnesses."
The serious violations include failing to provide machine guarding while operating saws, ensure that rotating shafts on machines are covered, ensure that electrical wiring is protected and ensure electrical cords are maintained in safe condition.
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Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23481
OSHA conducted a safety inspection in response to a complaint about unsafe working conditions and machine hazards. They discovered workers building prefabricated wood trusses without the required machine guarding.
"The lack of machine guarding can lead to serious injuries, including amputations," said Casey Perkins, OSHA's area director in Austin. "OSHA's standards must be followed to prevent accidents, injuries and illnesses."
The serious violations include failing to provide machine guarding while operating saws, ensure that rotating shafts on machines are covered, ensure that electrical wiring is protected and ensure electrical cords are maintained in safe condition.
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Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23481
Logistics company receives £300,000 fine over workplace death
A West Midlands logistics company has been fined £300,000 after one of its drivers was killed by a runaway lorry.
The 44-year-old was crushed against a stationary vehicle when his own vehicle moved off while he was coupling the tractor unit to the trailer. After striking him the lorry continued to roll down a slope, travelling another 27 metres before crashing into a wall.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive identified issues with the company’s drivers coupling up vehicles without following the company's rules. They were not applying the handbrake to the tractor unit or turning off the engine.
This dangerous practice was known to the company who failed to effectively monitor its employees and ensure they followed the correct, safe working procedure.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-em-0313.htm
The 44-year-old was crushed against a stationary vehicle when his own vehicle moved off while he was coupling the tractor unit to the trailer. After striking him the lorry continued to roll down a slope, travelling another 27 metres before crashing into a wall.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive identified issues with the company’s drivers coupling up vehicles without following the company's rules. They were not applying the handbrake to the tractor unit or turning off the engine.
This dangerous practice was known to the company who failed to effectively monitor its employees and ensure they followed the correct, safe working procedure.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-em-0313.htm
Worker's severed fingers lead to $45,000 fine
A building products manufacturer has been fined $45,000 following an incident in which a supervisor severed two of his fingers through a flywheel press.
The supervisor was demonstrating to a process worker on his first day of work how to use the press to make gutter clips. The supervisor raised the machine’s finger guards and reached in with bare hands to dislodge a piece of metal that had become wedged in the die.
The worker depressed the foot pedal while the supervisor’s hand was in the press, trapping the supervisor’s right hand and severing his index and middle fingers.
WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch said the case was an example of failing to provide workers with adequate protection from the moving parts of the machinery.
“It is also worth reminding workers that they too have responsibility for their own safety and the safety of those around them, and they should not be looking to take shortcuts by bypassing safety measures.”
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Source: Safety Culture
The supervisor was demonstrating to a process worker on his first day of work how to use the press to make gutter clips. The supervisor raised the machine’s finger guards and reached in with bare hands to dislodge a piece of metal that had become wedged in the die.
The worker depressed the foot pedal while the supervisor’s hand was in the press, trapping the supervisor’s right hand and severing his index and middle fingers.
WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch said the case was an example of failing to provide workers with adequate protection from the moving parts of the machinery.
“It is also worth reminding workers that they too have responsibility for their own safety and the safety of those around them, and they should not be looking to take shortcuts by bypassing safety measures.”
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Source: Safety Culture
Monday, January 7, 2013
2 construction companies cited after 1 worker died, another injured
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited 2 construction companies with a total of 10 safety citations after a truck driver was killed and another worker was seriously injured.
The incident occurred when a crane collapsed at a bridge construction site. A truck driver died when he was struck by the boom of a crane that overturned while bridge girders were being erected with a multiple crane lift.
An employee who was operating the crane was seriously injured when he was thrown from the cab as the crane fell. Proposed penalties for the employing company total $105,000.
The other company was contracted to provide manpower for erecting the girders and faces penalties of $13,220.
"Employers have a responsibility to take all necessary steps to eliminate hazards from the workplace and to ensure that workers are given the proper training to conduct required tasks, such as operating cranes and performing multiple crane lifts," said Nick Walters, OSHA's regional administrator in Chicago.
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Source: OSHA
The incident occurred when a crane collapsed at a bridge construction site. A truck driver died when he was struck by the boom of a crane that overturned while bridge girders were being erected with a multiple crane lift.
An employee who was operating the crane was seriously injured when he was thrown from the cab as the crane fell. Proposed penalties for the employing company total $105,000.
The other company was contracted to provide manpower for erecting the girders and faces penalties of $13,220.
"Employers have a responsibility to take all necessary steps to eliminate hazards from the workplace and to ensure that workers are given the proper training to conduct required tasks, such as operating cranes and performing multiple crane lifts," said Nick Walters, OSHA's regional administrator in Chicago.
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Source: OSHA
Power supply company ordered to pay £420,000 following worker's death
A large power supply company has been ordered to pay £420,000 in fines and costs after an employee died while working at one of its Essex sites.
The 59-year-old electrical engineer was killed at an electrical substation when a device he was working on for manually adjusting voltage ratios exploded. The explosion caused a fire at the substation. The man died at the scene despite the arrival of Essex Fire and Rescue within minutes of the alarm being raised.
The Health and Safety Executive found that the company had failed to properly assess work with tap changers and to devise procedures for the work. It had also failed to adequately train employees for carrying out this task.
The company was fined £275,000 with £145,000 in prosecution costs after pleading guilty.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-e-00213.htm
The 59-year-old electrical engineer was killed at an electrical substation when a device he was working on for manually adjusting voltage ratios exploded. The explosion caused a fire at the substation. The man died at the scene despite the arrival of Essex Fire and Rescue within minutes of the alarm being raised.
The Health and Safety Executive found that the company had failed to properly assess work with tap changers and to devise procedures for the work. It had also failed to adequately train employees for carrying out this task.
The company was fined £275,000 with £145,000 in prosecution costs after pleading guilty.
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-e-00213.htm
Worker suffers minor burns in factory fire
A worker was injured in a flash fire that caused a chemical hazard at an ink factory in Melbourne’s north.
Central District Commander Martin Braid from Melbourne Fire Brigade said crews were called to the commercial property at 4pm when the fire broke out.
Mr Baird said that the fire was extinguished quickly and posed no threat to the community or the local environment. However some of the chemical products mixed together, creating a hazardous environment. A worker received minor burns in the incident.
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Source: Safety Culture.
Central District Commander Martin Braid from Melbourne Fire Brigade said crews were called to the commercial property at 4pm when the fire broke out.
Mr Baird said that the fire was extinguished quickly and posed no threat to the community or the local environment. However some of the chemical products mixed together, creating a hazardous environment. A worker received minor burns in the incident.
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Source: Safety Culture.
192 Australian workplace deaths in 2012
As at December 31, 192 Australian workers were killed at work in 2012 according to the latest data gathered by Safe Work Australia. During the same period in 2011, 166 deaths had occurred.
Safe Work Australia records cases of work fatality and injury, updates statistics and prepares several reports. The data is an initial estimate for the number of people killed and is based on initial media reports.
Worker deaths by industry of workplace as of December 2012:
Transport, postal & warehousing 66
Agriculture, forestry & fishing 45
Construction 21
Manufacturing 14
Administrative & support services 7
Public administration & safety 6
Arts & recreation services 5
Mining 5
Electricity, gas, water & waste services 4
Wholesale trade 2
Retail trade 2
Education & training 3
Other services 2
Financial & insurance services 1
Health care & social assistance 2
Professional, scientific & technical services 1
Accommodation & food services 1
Government administration & defence 1
Industry unknown 4
Total worker deaths 192
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Source: Safety Culture.
Safe Work Australia records cases of work fatality and injury, updates statistics and prepares several reports. The data is an initial estimate for the number of people killed and is based on initial media reports.
Worker deaths by industry of workplace as of December 2012:
Transport, postal & warehousing 66
Agriculture, forestry & fishing 45
Construction 21
Manufacturing 14
Administrative & support services 7
Public administration & safety 6
Arts & recreation services 5
Mining 5
Electricity, gas, water & waste services 4
Wholesale trade 2
Retail trade 2
Education & training 3
Other services 2
Financial & insurance services 1
Health care & social assistance 2
Professional, scientific & technical services 1
Accommodation & food services 1
Government administration & defence 1
Industry unknown 4
Total worker deaths 192
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Source: Safety Culture.
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