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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Source: http://www.safetowork.com.au/news/inquest-told-electrocuted-insulation-work-received

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

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

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

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

Construction worker survives lightning strike

One man was struck directly by lighting while another was knocked to the ground by the impact of the lightening strike at a construction worksite.

“Both the injured men were attended by paramedics at the scene and taken to South Hedland Medical Campus for further treatment” The company said in a statement.

“One has left hospital after being treated for a minor neck injury. The other man, aged 24, suffered burns to five percent of his body. He is well and stable and will remain in hospital for monitoring for the next two days.”

The two injured men were part of a five-man crew and were about to leave the work site after witnessing lightning in the area. An investigation into the incident is underway.

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Source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/pilbara-worker-survives-lightning-strike-second-man-injured/story-fndo486p-1226506800721

Company fined for exposing workers to amputation hazards

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited an auto parts supplier with 13 safety violations at the company's auto parts manufacturing facility. The violations include a lack of machine guarding and allowing workers to perform maintenance on machinery without first isolating the equipment's energy source. Proposed fines total $51,000.

"OSHA is committed to protecting workers, especially when employers fail to do so" said Bill Wilkerson, OSHA's area director.

Twelve serious violations involve a lack of guarding for the points of operation on automated mechanical forging presses, not having machine-specific lockout/tagout procedures, a damaged metal guard on a conveyor, inadequate strain relief and insulation for electrical cords, a lack of periodic inspections, unguarded floor openings, failing to train workers, and failing to lock out the energy sources of machinery during servicing and maintenance.

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Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23142

Electric shock sparks $10,000 fine

An electrical contractor has copped a $10,000 fine after a worker suffered an electric shock and was thrown backwards while working on a drilling rig in Eneabba.

The drilling contractor received the electric shock when a drilling rig mast came into contact with high voltage power lines on a site in the State's north in May 2006.

Earlier this week, Jeremy Paul Blakiston Fowler (who was then trading as Electro Power Services) was fined in the Perth Magistrate's Court after he pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that the workplace was safe.

In May 2006, Western Power had contacted Outback Power Services to perform works and build a voltage regulator at Eneabba.

Electro Power Services had then been contracted by Outback Power to supervise drilling works to be performed by a drilling contractor.

On May 17, Mr Fowler and the drilling contractor were engaged in drilling holes with a drilling rig underneath power lines.

The position in which the drilling contractor chose to place the rig required him to raise the mast very close to the power lines.

In repositioning the rig, the left-hand outrigger was raised and the mast tilted towards the power lines.

The then mast touched the power lines and the drilling contractor received an electric shock and was thrown backwards from the drilling rig.

The court was told that no formal pre-start meeting had been held before the work started, and that the drilling contractor was not given any directions for the work - with the exception of where the holes were required to be placed.

Mr Fowler also had not checked whether the power lines were live.

The court ruled he was the person in control of the workplace, and was responsible for the drilling contractor's safety.

"Over the past five years, 17 Western Australians have died as a result of electrocution," WorkSafe WA commissioner Nina Lyhne said.

"Electricity is one of WorkSafe's operational priority areas, and a lot of time and resources are directed towards lessening the toll and educating people on how to work safely with electricity."

March 6, 2009

Source: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/electric-shock-sparks-10000-fine-20090305-8per.html

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