A food processing company has been fined $10,000 over an incident which led to the amputation of a worker’s finger.
The worker was operating a mincing machine that had a hopper at the top where meat was fed to be minced. He started the machine and climbed onto a stepladder to check the amount of meat going down the hopper. Upon noticing that the meat was only going half way down he pushed the meat down using his hand. His finger got stuck in the mincing area and was injured, requiring amputation.
WorkSafe Acting Director Ian Munns said the case was a disappointing example of an employer’s failure to provide workers with sufficient protection from moving parts of machinery.
“Subsequent to this incident, the employer installed a safe system of work for this mincer that cost less than $3000 – far less than the total $11,548 the company ended up paying in a fine and costs.
“Many workers have been seriously injured when machinery they were working on has been activated. Guarding of the dangerous moving parts of machinery is such a basic and easy precaution to take, and it’s disappointing that we continue to see cases where these simple measures are not taken.”
Vocam Training Video
Lockout / Tagout - Making it Safe
Safety Awareness
Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety
E-learning Course
Lockout Tagout – E-learning
Electrical Safety Essentials - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning
Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety - E-learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Source: Safety Culture - OHS news
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
Food poisoning case leads to $12,000 fine
The former director of a bakery has been fined more than $12,000 over an outbreak of salmonella poisoning.
The NSW Food Authority successfully prosecuted the former director of a Bakehouse over a foodborne illness outbreak, which saw 83 people fall ill with salmonella food poisoning, of which 20 were hospitalised.
The former director was found guilty of 4 charges including; selling unsafe food, unsafe handling of raw egg products, unclean equipment and the failure to ensure food handlers had adequate skills and knowledge about food safety.
NSW Food Authority CEO Polly Bennett said the prosecution "sends a clear message to all retail food outlets that you will face enforcement action, and in some cases, prosecution, if you breach the Food Standards Code."
"It is the responsibility of every food business to ensure that the food they serve is safe to eat. The charge of failing to ensure adequate knowledge and skills of food handlers is an important reminder that competent food handlers play an important role in preventing outbreaks of foodborne illness."
Vocam Training Video
Health and Hygiene Essentials for the Office
Health and Hygiene Essentials for Industry
Food Safety Essentials
Hospitality Essentials
E-learning Course
Health and Hygiene Essentials for the Office – E-learning
Food Safety Essentials – E-learning
Health and Hygiene Essentials for Industry - E-learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Source: http://www.hospitalitymagazine.com.au/food/news/$12-000-fine-over-sydney-food-poisoning-case
The NSW Food Authority successfully prosecuted the former director of a Bakehouse over a foodborne illness outbreak, which saw 83 people fall ill with salmonella food poisoning, of which 20 were hospitalised.
The former director was found guilty of 4 charges including; selling unsafe food, unsafe handling of raw egg products, unclean equipment and the failure to ensure food handlers had adequate skills and knowledge about food safety.
NSW Food Authority CEO Polly Bennett said the prosecution "sends a clear message to all retail food outlets that you will face enforcement action, and in some cases, prosecution, if you breach the Food Standards Code."
"It is the responsibility of every food business to ensure that the food they serve is safe to eat. The charge of failing to ensure adequate knowledge and skills of food handlers is an important reminder that competent food handlers play an important role in preventing outbreaks of foodborne illness."
Vocam Training Video
Health and Hygiene Essentials for the Office
Health and Hygiene Essentials for Industry
Food Safety Essentials
Hospitality Essentials
E-learning Course
Health and Hygiene Essentials for the Office – E-learning
Food Safety Essentials – E-learning
Health and Hygiene Essentials for Industry - E-learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Source: http://www.hospitalitymagazine.com.au/food/news/$12-000-fine-over-sydney-food-poisoning-case
Salad company prosecuted after worker fell over 4m
A salad company has been sentenced for safety breaches after a worker fell more than 4m through a greenhouse roof.
The 44-year-old was cleaning and repainting greenhouse gutters when he lost his footing and fell through the glass roof. He broke his wrist and needed 20 staples across a head wound before being released from hospital after an overnight stay.
The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted the firm for failing to protect its workforce against the risk of falls. The company was fined £12,500 with £3,921 in costs.
The worker was one of a team of employees tasked with working on the gutters of 20 greenhouses at the firm's 30-acre site. The team were told to walk heel to toe along the gutters and to use a long-handled brush to steady themselves against the glazing bars. No equipment was provided and no instruction given to protect them against a fall.
The worker had cleaned some guttering and returned to the ground to collect his brush and paint. He climbed back up and had completed a short length of paintwork when his right foot went through the glass and he fell through the fragile roof.
HSE Inspector Andrew Gale said: "This case highlights how important it is for employers to identify the risks involved in working at height, particularly near fragile materials, and taking the necessary steps to reduce those risks and prevent falls.
Vocam Training Video
Slips Trips and Falls
Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety
Height Safety Essentials
E-learning Courses
Slips Trips and Falls - E-Learning
Height Safety Essentials - E-Learning
Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/rnn-yh-20112.htm
The 44-year-old was cleaning and repainting greenhouse gutters when he lost his footing and fell through the glass roof. He broke his wrist and needed 20 staples across a head wound before being released from hospital after an overnight stay.
The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted the firm for failing to protect its workforce against the risk of falls. The company was fined £12,500 with £3,921 in costs.
The worker was one of a team of employees tasked with working on the gutters of 20 greenhouses at the firm's 30-acre site. The team were told to walk heel to toe along the gutters and to use a long-handled brush to steady themselves against the glazing bars. No equipment was provided and no instruction given to protect them against a fall.
The worker had cleaned some guttering and returned to the ground to collect his brush and paint. He climbed back up and had completed a short length of paintwork when his right foot went through the glass and he fell through the fragile roof.
HSE Inspector Andrew Gale said: "This case highlights how important it is for employers to identify the risks involved in working at height, particularly near fragile materials, and taking the necessary steps to reduce those risks and prevent falls.
Vocam Training Video
Slips Trips and Falls
Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety
Height Safety Essentials
E-learning Courses
Slips Trips and Falls - E-Learning
Height Safety Essentials - E-Learning
Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/rnn-yh-20112.htm
Friday, November 2, 2012
Worker loses 2 fingers in vegetable slicer
A company has been ordered to pay more than $50,000 after an employee had two fingers chopped off in a vegetable slicer.
The company was found guilty of failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace and, by that failure, causing the employee serious harm. The company was fined $40,000 and ordered to pay $12,000 in costs.
The business produced ready-made salads for supply to supermarkets and contained several machines to cut and slice the produce, one of which was a belt slicer. An employee was operating the machine and wanted to clear some vegetable matter from the chamber.
He hit the emergency stop button and put his hand into the chamber, not knowing that the emergency stop button and interlock were not functioning because of a fault in the electrical relay.
The blades were still spinning when he put his hand in and two of his fingers were amputated to the middle knuckle.
WorkSafe acting executive director Ian Munns said the case illustrated how important it was to have lock-out and tagging procedures at workplaces with machinery. "It's never safe to leave any piece of machinery operational while doing repairs or performing maintenance" he said.
Vocam Training Video
Electrical Safety Essentials
Safety Awareness
Lockout / Tagout – Making it Safe
E-learning Course
Safety Awareness – E-learning
Lockout Tagout – E-learning
Electrical Safety Essentials - E-learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Source: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2012/11/01/20/20/40-000-fine-for-finger-slice-accident
The company was found guilty of failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace and, by that failure, causing the employee serious harm. The company was fined $40,000 and ordered to pay $12,000 in costs.
The business produced ready-made salads for supply to supermarkets and contained several machines to cut and slice the produce, one of which was a belt slicer. An employee was operating the machine and wanted to clear some vegetable matter from the chamber.
He hit the emergency stop button and put his hand into the chamber, not knowing that the emergency stop button and interlock were not functioning because of a fault in the electrical relay.
The blades were still spinning when he put his hand in and two of his fingers were amputated to the middle knuckle.
WorkSafe acting executive director Ian Munns said the case illustrated how important it was to have lock-out and tagging procedures at workplaces with machinery. "It's never safe to leave any piece of machinery operational while doing repairs or performing maintenance" he said.
Vocam Training Video
Electrical Safety Essentials
Safety Awareness
Lockout / Tagout – Making it Safe
E-learning Course
Safety Awareness – E-learning
Lockout Tagout – E-learning
Electrical Safety Essentials - E-learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Source: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2012/11/01/20/20/40-000-fine-for-finger-slice-accident
2 companies sentenced over worker's permanent injuries
A building company and a decorating firm have been fined after a worker suffered multiple injuries when he plummeted more than 7m through a skylight.
The incident happened when the worker was painting the roof on an industrial unit. He stepped on to a fragile skylight which shattered and he fell through to the concrete floor below.
The 36-year-old broke his leg, hip, pelvis, wrist and elbow. He also sustained head injuries and lacerations to his face. The father-of-five was in hospital for 3 weeks where he underwent extensive surgery.
The sub-contractor failed to properly assess the risks involved in doing the job. As a result it didn't get a safe system of work in place. The principal contractor made very little effort to ensure the sub-contractors were competent and monitor the work being undertaken.
The injured worker said: "This has turned my life upside down. All of a sudden everyday things that you take for granted can't be done any more.”
Health and Safety Executive inspector Sam Russell said: "Work at height is a high risk activity and steps should have been taken to identify those risks and mitigate against them.”
Vocam Training Videos
Slips Trips and Falls
Height Safety Essentials
Safety Awareness
E-learning Courses
Slips Trips and Falls – E-Learning
Height Safety Essentials - E-Learning
Safety Awareness – E-Learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/rnn-em-16212.htm
The incident happened when the worker was painting the roof on an industrial unit. He stepped on to a fragile skylight which shattered and he fell through to the concrete floor below.
The 36-year-old broke his leg, hip, pelvis, wrist and elbow. He also sustained head injuries and lacerations to his face. The father-of-five was in hospital for 3 weeks where he underwent extensive surgery.
The sub-contractor failed to properly assess the risks involved in doing the job. As a result it didn't get a safe system of work in place. The principal contractor made very little effort to ensure the sub-contractors were competent and monitor the work being undertaken.
The injured worker said: "This has turned my life upside down. All of a sudden everyday things that you take for granted can't be done any more.”
Health and Safety Executive inspector Sam Russell said: "Work at height is a high risk activity and steps should have been taken to identify those risks and mitigate against them.”
Vocam Training Videos
Slips Trips and Falls
Height Safety Essentials
Safety Awareness
E-learning Courses
Slips Trips and Falls – E-Learning
Height Safety Essentials - E-Learning
Safety Awareness – E-Learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/rnn-em-16212.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.
Vocam Training Videos
Electrical Safety Essentials
Construction: Fundamentals for Safety
E-learning Courses
Electrical Safety Essentials – E-Learning
Construction: Fundamentals for Safety – E-Learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/pilbara-worker-survives-lightning-strike-second-man-injured/story-fndo486p-1226506800721
“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.
Vocam Training Videos
Electrical Safety Essentials
Construction: Fundamentals for Safety
E-learning Courses
Electrical Safety Essentials – E-Learning
Construction: Fundamentals for Safety – E-Learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/pilbara-worker-survives-lightning-strike-second-man-injured/story-fndo486p-1226506800721
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Proposed workplace bullying laws allow workers to claim compensation for being left idle
Workers in cushy jobs will be able to claim compo for being left idle, under national laws drawn up to combat bullying.
Employer groups have hit out at Safe Work Australia's "nanny state" rules, outlined in a draft code of practice that would be admissible in court cases. The code lists "not providing enough work" as a form of "indirect bullying", along with constantly changing deadlines or setting timelines that are difficult to achieve. It advises employers to ban pranks and discourage "exclusive clubs or cliques", so workers are not "ostracised" by colleagues.
The Australian Industry Group's representative on the board of Safe Work Australia, Mark Goodsell, said "It's easy for people to make an allegation and it is expensive and difficult for companies and management to rebut it."
The latest draft by Safe Work Australia states that "in some situations, behaviours may unintentionally cause distress and be perceived as bullying. For example, a manager or supervisor in a position of power may have a management style that seems to be strict or disciplinary when it is in fact bullying.”
The code has been put on ice pending the outcome of a parliamentary inquiry into bullying, ordered by Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry director David Goodwin said "employers are now responsible for virtually every aspect of wellbeing of their staff, whether they know about it or not”.
ACCI work health and safety manager Carolyn Davis said "the guidance must clearly distinguish bullying from legitimate management practices and reasonable management”.
Vocam Training Videos
Workplace Bullying and Harassment
Maintaining a Harassment Free Office: Managers
Maintaining a Harassment Free Office: Employees
Social Media, Email and Online Etiquette
E-learning Courses
Workplace Bullying and Harassment – E-Learning
Maintaining a Harassment Free Office: Managers – E-Learning
Maintaining a Harassment Free Office: Employees – E-Learning
Social Media, Email and Online Etiquette – E-Learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Source: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/national-bullying-laws-allow-workers-left-idle-to-claim-workers-compensation/story-e6frg6n6-1226504514022
Employer groups have hit out at Safe Work Australia's "nanny state" rules, outlined in a draft code of practice that would be admissible in court cases. The code lists "not providing enough work" as a form of "indirect bullying", along with constantly changing deadlines or setting timelines that are difficult to achieve. It advises employers to ban pranks and discourage "exclusive clubs or cliques", so workers are not "ostracised" by colleagues.
The Australian Industry Group's representative on the board of Safe Work Australia, Mark Goodsell, said "It's easy for people to make an allegation and it is expensive and difficult for companies and management to rebut it."
The latest draft by Safe Work Australia states that "in some situations, behaviours may unintentionally cause distress and be perceived as bullying. For example, a manager or supervisor in a position of power may have a management style that seems to be strict or disciplinary when it is in fact bullying.”
The code has been put on ice pending the outcome of a parliamentary inquiry into bullying, ordered by Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry director David Goodwin said "employers are now responsible for virtually every aspect of wellbeing of their staff, whether they know about it or not”.
ACCI work health and safety manager Carolyn Davis said "the guidance must clearly distinguish bullying from legitimate management practices and reasonable management”.
Vocam Training Videos
Workplace Bullying and Harassment
Maintaining a Harassment Free Office: Managers
Maintaining a Harassment Free Office: Employees
Social Media, Email and Online Etiquette
E-learning Courses
Workplace Bullying and Harassment – E-Learning
Maintaining a Harassment Free Office: Managers – E-Learning
Maintaining a Harassment Free Office: Employees – E-Learning
Social Media, Email and Online Etiquette – E-Learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Source: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/national-bullying-laws-allow-workers-left-idle-to-claim-workers-compensation/story-e6frg6n6-1226504514022
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
