Worker receives compensation for mental health problems following workplace death of colleague

A cold storage company was ordered to pay over $325,000 in compensation to a worker who suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and depression after the death of a colleague.

The fatal accident occurred when the worker was driving a loaded forklift at a factory and a co-worker walked in front of it, and pallets loaded on the forklift fell on him.

WorkSafe argued in the County Court that the company’s negligence was to blame for the incident. An investigation found that the company did not have an adequate traffic management system at the time.

The company was ordered to pay $326,047 for medical expenses, past losses and another year of future loss, including superannuation.

Source: Hobsons Bay Weekly

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Electrical safety hazards lead to $65,000 fine for construction contracting company

A construction and services contracting company was fined $65,000 and ordered to pay nearly $8000 in costs following an incident in which a street light came too close to high-voltage power lines.

The company was contracted to install two assembled streetlights. A crane was hoisting one of the streetlights into place, and the operator believed the power line was not in service. However the power line was live and the streetlight swung too close, causing a flashover.

The electricity travelled through the streetlight and the crane before entering the earth, causing one of the crane’s tyres to blow out. The incident caused damage to pipework. Fortunately there were no injuries, however there was a high potential for serious injury or death from electrocution or explosion.

The company had failed to perform an adequate pre-job onsite inspection, and they did not test the line before starting work or adhere to safe working distances. The company pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe workplace.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch said: “Working in the vicinity of power lines is extremely hazardous, and it is vital that every possible measure is taken to ensure the safety of the job, especially in ensuring that everyone on the site is fully briefed on the issues.”

For more information on this workplace safety news, visit: Department of Commerce - WA

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Mining giant convicted over worker's death

A mining giant has been found guilty of failing to protect the safety of a worker who was crushed to death by a scissor lift in a workshop.

The court found that the mining company had failed to provide instruction and supervision, and had failed to implement and enforce a suitable job hazard assessment, which led to the worker’s death in 2008. The company faces penalties of up to $400,000, with sentencing scheduled for March 19.

In early 2009, the company had its fifth fatality in nine months at its iron ore operations in a WA region and was forced to acknowledge change was needed.

“Of course, no fatality is ever acceptable, and senior management took that commitment extremely seriously and made a number of improvements across the business in this regard” The company commented in a statement.

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Source: The West Australian

Studies show up to half of all heavy-truck drivers suffer from sleep apnoea

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

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

Defence company ordered to pay £376,000 for safety failings that caused a fatal explosion

A defence company has been ordered to pay £376,000 for safety failings that caused a fatal explosion at its factory.

A 37-year-old worker was killed from injuries sustained in the blast. He was emptying industrial ovens that contained high levels of nitroglycerin (NG) that exploded, destroying the factory building.

The company had realized in 2004 that their process for curing pellets as part of the production of military flares produced the explosive chemical as a by-product. None of the company's management team were competent to deal with the issue, and they did not seek external assistance.

Their failure to properly assess and manage the risks put workers and the public in danger. A second explosion occurred in 2008 when the company attempted to dismantle the remaining NG contaminated oven.

HSE inspector Qamar Khan said: "Both explosions were foreseeable and preventable had the company sought and taken appropriate advice and implemented the correct measures."

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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/rnn-se-20412.htm?eban=rss-

Waste management firm fined after 2 workers injured within a week

A waste management firm has admitted neglecting the safety of its workforce after 2 men were injured within just a week.

The first incident happened when site workers were setting up a waste sorting machine for use. One worker climbed on to its front conveyor belt and kneeled down to clear a blockage, while his co-worker thought he had gone to fetch something and started up the machine. He was propelled along the belt and dropped ten feet. He suffered fractures to his foot and skin and nerve damage.

The second incident occurred when a worker was helping to restart a Jaw Crusher machine. He saw some wire tangled in a magnetic belt roller and went to pull it free. The machine suddenly restarted and the wire was pulled back into the rollers along with the worker’s left forearm. He sustained crush injuries to his forearm.

The company had failed to implement simple measures that would have prevented both incidents and had ignored earlier warnings by the Health and Safety Executive about the lack of a safe system of work.

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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/rnn-yh-19212.htm?eban=rss-

Truck company fined over worker's life-changing injuries

A firm has been prosecuted after one of its employees suffered life-changing injuries when he fell from a stepladder while spray-painting a lorry.

The Health and Safety Executive investigation found that the same employee had fallen off a stepladder just one month before the incident, but no action had been taken to improve safety at the site.

The worker had been painting the lorry when one of the feet on the stepladder slipped down a grill in the concrete floor. He fell approximately two metres and shattered his left shoulder and collar bone, broke several ribs and received a deep cut to his head.

HSE Inspector Kim Tichias said: "The dangers of carrying out work at height are well known and the company should have provided secure working platforms rather than giving employees lightweight stepladders. If the firm had planned the work properly and made changes following the previous incident, then the worker's injuries could have been avoided."

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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/rnn-e-98.htm

Workplace accidents can happen to anybody - WHSQ film warns of safety risks

‘Workplace accidents can happen to anybody, not just middle-aged men’ is the message of the new film by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.

'In it for the long haul: The Tiffany Ward story' is about making sure that young workers are able to return home safely to family and friends at the end of their working day. All workers and employers need to be aware of the unique risk profile young people have which makes them vulnerable in the workplace.

At 18, Tiffany Ward was severely injured at work when both of her arms were caught in a potato processing auger. It took emergency crews more than 40 minutes to free her and led to more than 30 hours of surgery to save her life and arms.

Now 22 and married with two children, Tiffany has shared her story to make workers more aware that a workplace incident can have life-long consequences. The film describes Tiffany's battle to live with the financial, physical and emotional consequences of her injury.

To view WHSQ’s video or for more information, visit In it for the long haul: The Tiffany Ward story

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Source: http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/tiffany/index.htm

Workplace bullying laws need reform, experts and unions claim

Unions and experts have urged the government to make sweeping reforms to workplace bullying laws, arguing the current system prolongs victims’ pain.
- After finishing public hearings in August, a parliamentary committee will deliver its report to the Workplace Relations Minister by November 30.
- The ACTU has called for tougher penalties and a more accessible forum to quickly and cheaply resolve bullying complaints.
- The Law Institute of Victoria argues there should be a “quick, cost effective civil remedy through a tribunal for bullying in the workplace”.
- Employers need more certainty surrounding changes to unfair dismissal laws so that they are not in a catch-22 situation when it comes to sacking staff for bullying, says Daniel Mammone, the workplace policy director at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
- Employers have told the bullying inquiry existing laws provide sufficient protection for victims.

For more information on this workplace safety and HR news, visit: http://www.afr.com/p/national/work_space/bullying_laws_need_reforms_experts_UZD6NPVBVvmYkeAD56dHUK

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Manufacturer fined after worker suffers severe hand injuries

A manufacturer has been fined for safety failings after an employee seriously injured his hand when it became trapped in machinery. The employee was left with a severe burn to his left hand and a crush injury to his thumb as a result of the incident.

The company was prosecuted by the HSE after an investigation found there was no guarding on the machine to prevent employees' hands being trapped. The company pleaded guilty to a breach of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 by failing to carry out an assessment of the risks employees faced while using the machine. The company was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £3,518 in prosecution costs.

For more information on this workplace safety news, visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/rnn-nw-leyrubber.htm

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Energy company scraps urine testing for drugs and alcohol

Unions have welcomed a decision by Endeavour Energy to stop urine testing its employees for drugs and alcohol, and instead introduce saliva-based testing.
- The NSW electricity retailer has written to staff advising them that they've accepted a Fair Work Australia ruling against the regime and will not lodge any further appeals.
- “The decision has transformational potential when it comes to [the] development of a universal Australian standard for testing” - The Fire Brigade Employees Union state secretary.
- “Other industries and unions are likely to review this decision and look at ways they can implement a more transparent, fair and reasonable testing regime in the form of oral swab testing” - United Services Union energy manager.

For more information on this workplace safety news, visit: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8528236

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National Safe Work Australia Week 2012

Safety begins with ‘S’ but starts with ‘YOU’ is the theme of this year’s National Safe Work Australia Week. It reminds Australian workers that anyone can be a health and safety leader in the workplace.
• The week will be celebrated from the 21st - 27th of October 2012.
• The Safe Work Australia Chair recommends “Every workplace in Australia should be planning to use the week to make improvements to health and safety. It reminds us all that safety should be a priority all year round.”
• Safe Work Australia is seeking Safety Ambassadors; workers at any level with a passion for WHS who are dedicated to making their workplace safer.

For more information on this workplace safety news, visit: http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/aboutsafeworkaustralia/nationalactivities/safeworkaustraliaweek/swaw-12/pages/national-safe-work-australia-week.aspx

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