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

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'.
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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.

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

Employee pinned to the ground in workplace safety accident

A female worker was injured in a workplace accident when a lifting device fell from the back of a truck and onto her.

The incident 


The incident occurred when a driver was transporting goods to a customer’s premises. An employee of the customer was using a lifting device under the driver’s instructions, when an object began to roll backwards off the truck and pinned the employee to the ground. The employee suffered serious injuries including broken ribs, a fractured skull and spinal injuries.

The court heard that the driver had not received training in the use of the lifting device. The company was fined $60,000 and ordered to pay costs of $7673. Worksafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch said that this case should remind companies how important it is to train employees on safe machine operation.

Vocam Health and Safety Training 


Effective training will contribute towards making your employees competent in health and safety, can help your business avoid the distress that accidents and ill health cause and can help you avoid the financial costs of accidents and occupational ill health.
Leadership : Being Proactive in Safety
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Source: Safe to Work

Unsafe excavation work at construction site leads to fine

A construction company has been ordered to pay over £16,000 for unsafe excavation work at a construction site.

The facts

The excavation, made to connect a home to a sewer, went down three metres deep into totally unsupported soft clay. The company had failed to adequately plan the excavation and workers were put in danger by unsupported sidewalls that could have collapsed. A witness notified HSE and explained that they had seen someone climbing from the excavation, as well as tools and equipment at the bottom. Although the excavation did not collapse and there were no injuries, workers could have been killed if the clay sidewalls gave way.

Excavation safety

Every year, workers are seriously injured or killed while working in excavations. The risks in excavation work include:
- Being buried in a collapsed excavation
- Material falling into the excavation
- People or plant falling into the excavation

An employer's legal responsibilities

An employer must prevent danger to workers in or near excavations. A competent person should inspect all excavation supports at the commencement of the work shift and at other times. Work should not start until the excavation is safe.

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Source: The Health and Safety Executive

Workplace bullying policy could become part of the federal workplace system

Workplace bullying policy could become part of the federal workplace system for the first time, if Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten's plan is successful.

Under the plan, bullied workers are allowed to take cases directly to the Fair Work Commission and have them listed within 2 weeks. Fines for bullies could be up to $33,000. Bill Shorten said the move could provide workers and their employers with a more timely and affordable method of resolving workplace bullying matters.

Key changes under the proposal include:

- A national definition of bullying and a national training system would be established.
- An investigation by police or state health and safety regulators would no longer be required before a worker could tackle a conflict.
- Safeguards would be implemented to prevent vexatious claims.

The legal position of an employer

Employers are responsible for helping to prevent bullying and harassing behaviour in the workplace. It is in their interests to make it clear to everyone that such behaviour will not be tolerated. The costs to the business may include poor employee relations, low morale, inefficiency and potentially the loss of staff. Training all staff about the standards of behaviour expected can make it easier for all individuals to be fully aware of their responsibilities to others.

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Source: The Herald Sun

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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$460,000 in proposed penalties for company that exposed workers to lead

A company is facing nearly $460,000 in penalties from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, after being cited with 38 alleged violations. The violations, including 14 willful and 11 repeat, were found at bridge work sites, where workers were exposed to lead and other safety and health hazards while performing abrasive blasting and repainting projects.

MaryAnn Garrahan, OSHA regional administrator said:
"Employers have a legal responsibility to provide workers with safe and healthful workplaces. Anything less is unacceptable."

The willful violations include failing to properly protect workers from exposure to lead and failing to provide fall protection.

The repeat violations include:
• A lack of warning signs posted in lead work areas
• Failing to provide medical evaluations and fit tests for respirator users
• Failing to notify employees of the results of lead monitoring

Eleven serious violations were cited for:
• Allowing workers to have and/or consume food in the area where lead exposure was above the permissible level
• Not ensuring workers wore respirators while blasting with glass media or when exposed to lead in excess of permissible limits.
• Failing to provide personal protective equipment for workers when blasting

Source: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration

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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

Workers injured in wall collapse at building site

Two men in their twenties were hospitalised last week, after a wall collapsed onto them at a building site.

The men were working to smooth off concrete on the wall when a rock supported by the wall collapsed. The Metropolitan Fire Brigade attended the accident and had to winch one of the men out of the rubble using a crane. One of the workers suffered an injured hip, while the other worker suffered an injured wrist.

WorkSafe Victoria issued a prohibition notice on the site, preventing any further work until an engineer assessed the site.

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Source: The Age

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

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

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

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

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

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

$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

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-