Young workers have a much higher workplace injury rate than over 25s

A recent report has revealed that around 20% of workplace accidents are incurred by workers aged 25 and under. The report was compiled by Safe Work Australia and is titled Work-related injuries experienced by young workers 2009-2010.

Key findings on work health and safety

• The injury rate of young workers was 18% higher than for workers aged 26 and over. The rate of work-related injuries per 1000 workers is around 66.1 for young people, compared to 56.2 for workers aged 26 and over.
• The difference in work-related injury rates is highest in the manufacturing, accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance and construction industries
• Nearly 2/3 injured young workers did not apply for workers’ compensation after their work-related injury
• 2/3 traumatic injury fatalities to young workers involved a vehicle

Work health and safety regulators are finding practical ways to raise young people’s awareness of workplace hazards, and are working to improve work health and safety for young people and support employers to reduce these statistics.

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Source: Safe Work Australia media releases
The report can be accesed at www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au

Worker electrocuted in fatal accident received little training

An ongoing inquest has heard that a 16-year-old insulation worker, who was electrocuted in late 2009, had received little training and was not wearing safety gear at the time of the accident.

The workplace accident

The teenager was working to install insulation as part of the Government’s ‘pink batts’ plan, when the metal pole he was using came into contact with a screw that had pierced an electric cable. The court heard that:
• He had only been working for the company for three weeks before the accident.
• He had received minimal training and was not aware of the dangers involved in the insulation work.
• He was not wearing any safety gear when he died. He was wearing a t-shirt, shorts and sandals.

The consequences for the company

The company faced court in 2010, and was fined $110,000 for an electrical safety breach, $25,000 for workplace health and safety breaches and paid legal fees of $14,500. In addition, the ongoing inquest is investigating the deaths of this young worker and two others who were involved in the home insulation scheme.

Electrical Safety

Each year, around 1000 electrical accidents at work are reported and about 25 people die of their injuries. Research shows that most electrical accidents can be predicted and prevented if comprehensive safety procedures are followed. This includes training, safe work protocols and supervision.

Personal Protective Equipment

Research suggests that failure to wear PPE, use PPE properly and use compatible PPE results in workplace accidents and deaths that cost businesses and the community millions each year. PPE users require training on the correct use and maintenance of PPE including:
• How to fit, wear and remove PPE correctly
• How to inspect and, if necessary, test equipment before using it
• How to recognise the appropriate PPE

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Electrical Safety Essentials - E-Learning
Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety - E-Learning
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Electrical Safety Essentials
Leadership : Being Proactive in Safety
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Source: http://www.safetowork.com.au/news/inquest-told-electrocuted-insulation-work-received

Engineering company fined after an employee's foot was crushed by a machine

An engineering company was ordered to pay over £11,000 after an employee’s foot was crushed by a poorly-guarded machine.

The incident

The employee was operating a machine when his foot was crushed and trapped by the machine’s ram. He had to be freed by colleagues who were able to support him and release his foot. He had to have his right foot amputated, following the incident, and he also sustained fractures to his remaining toes and cut his head.

The Health and Safety Executive investigation

A Health and Safety Executive investigation revealed that if the machine had been better guarded, the incident would not have happened.

HSE inspector Alec Ryan said:
"This incident was wholly preventable and could have been avoided had the company carried out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and taken the necessary measures to make the machine safe.

"The machine in question was very powerful and it is wrong that a worker was put at unnecessary risk because safety devices weren't working.

"Incidents of this kind are all too common and it is vital employers prevent access or exposure to dangerous moving parts at all times."

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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-se-05713.htm

Manufacturing company facing $369,000 in fines for 26 health and safety violations

A manufacturing company is facing up to $369,000 in fines after being cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration with 26 health and safety violations. Workers at the company’s facility were exposed to machine guarding, lead and electrical hazards.

The health and safety violations

The violations include failing to:
- Train workers to recognize electrical hazards
- Identify fire extinguishers
- Provide machine guarding
- Store respirators correctly
- Provide appropriate PPE and require its use.

Nick Walters, OSHA's regional director in Chicago, said: "When an employer is cited for repeat violations, it shows a lack of commitment to protecting the safety and health of workers. OSHA will not tolerate such negligence."

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Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23724

Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention - New release training programme

The most up-to-date training resource on Hazardous Noise in the Workplace has just been released… “Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention”.

Noise in the workplace accounts for the vast majority of noise induced hearing loss in the community.

Hearing loss usually occurs gradually, over years, and it’s mostly painless, so by the time the damage is done, it is too late. While there is no cure for hearing loss, it can be prevented by proactively managing exposure to hazardous noise levels.


Topics covered:
- Understanding How Sound Works
- Hearing Loss and Health Effects
- Hazardous Noise
- Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
- Reducing Noise
- Personal Hearing Protection
- Proper Use of PPE
- Audiometric Testing

The Australian Version

Based on the harmonised Work Health and Safety Regulations and Codes of Practice, this training resource is suitable for personnel at all levels and reinforces the fundamental concepts that underpin all successful noise management programmes.

The UK Version

Based on The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2006, this training resource is suitable for personnel at all levels and reinforces the fundamental concepts that underpin all successful noise management programmes.

Click here for more information or to preview 'Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention'.
Available as part of TrainNOW.
For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Worker suffers serious injuries after being dragged into an unguarded machine

A manufacturer was ordered to pay over £40,000 for safety failings, after a worker was dragged into an unguarded machine.

The workplace accident

The worker had been working a nightshift at the company’s factory, when a conveyor belt became jammed. Maintenance workers removed the machine’s guards, as they were unable to fix the fault and this allowed the machine to continue operating. While trying to stop the belt rubbing, the injured worker was pulled into the machine and had to be cut free, suffering a broken arm.

As Health and Safety Executive Inspector Emily Osborne pointed out, the employee’s injuries could have been far worse and the company should not have allowed workers to be put at risk like this.

Manufacturing safety

While only 10% of British employees work in the manufacturing sector, the industry accounts for 25% of all workplace deaths. On average, 31 manufacturing workers die in workplace accidents each year, 4500 workers report major injuries and around 19,500 report less serious injuries.

Vocam Health and Safety Training Videos
Lockout / Tagout – Making it Safe
Safety Awareness

Workplace Safety E-learning Courses
Lockout Tagout - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning

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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-nw-polyflor.htm