Occupational Health & Safety 10 August 2010

What's News

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Latest News

KCGM fined over safety breaches
3 August 2010
Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines has been fined $6000 for failing to ensure a truck at its giant Super Pit operation met safety standards and for not having a qualified deputy quarry manager on duty. In May the company pleaded guilty to the charges of failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment and to appointing the suitably qualified deputy quarry manager.
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New federal safety commissioner appointed
3 August 2010
Jeff Willing has been appointed the new Federal Safety Commissioner following the retirement of Helen Marshall. The federal office approves the occupational health and safety plans of building and construction companies.
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Comcare prosecutes Linfox
Linfox, the giant logistics company now a self-insurer under Comcare, has been fined $150,000 following an incident in WA where are worker was seriously injured in a forklift crash. At the time of the incident, however, a planned expansion of the site had not been completed, and a formal hazard identification of the worker’s tasks had not been undertaken.
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NSW firm ordered to take out ads on OHS breaches
Justice Frank Marks, in the NSW Industrial Court, has ordered a project manager, a contractor and a subcontractor to take out advertisements outlining the details of their OHS breaches. The men had all failed to ensure the safety of a non-English-speaking worker, who sustained serious back and leg injuries when he fell from unsafe scaffolding. All parties were also fined, with East Sun receiving the largest fine of $80,000.
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Queensland zeroes in on safety in transport
1 August 2010
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) has stepped up the focus on safety in the transport and storage industry in a bid to cut its high rate of workplace incidents. WHSQ says a number of prosecutions have highlighted the importance of training and risk management in preventing injuries and fatalities—one involved a fine of $40,000.
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Safe Work Australia publishes new nanotechnology risk assessment tool
2 August 2010
Safe Work Australia Chair, Mr Tom Phillips AM, today announced the release of a nanotechnology risk assessment tool.
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Safe Work Australia publishes two reports on nanomaterials safety
2 August 2010
Safe Work Australia has published two research reports on engineered nanomaterials. The report found substitution or modification is currently mainly used to change the properties of products for end-use, but there is potential for these methods to be applied to address work health and safety issues.
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$120,000 fine for death of worker
30 July 2010
Employer OneSteel Recycling was fined $120,000 in the Industrial Magistrate’s Court in Brisbane for breaching its workplace, health and safety obligations over the death of an employee.
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Transport union flags fatigue law concerns
28 July 2010
Truck drivers could automatically lose demerit points for breaching new national fatigue laws in a major shake-up of the transport industry. New national regulators who will take control in 2013.
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Explosives machine at Gladstone munitions factory ‘ticking time bomb’
27 July 2010
A machine responsible for a massive explosion that killed three workers at a munitions factory had been a ticking time bomb, a court has heard.
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Publications/ Conferences

Safe Work Australian Newsletter
Source:
Issue 4 August 2010
Covers Model legislation update, Snap shot on recent events, 5th Annual Safe Work Australia Awards. How much can work health and safety cost your business?, Safety: A Wicked Problem Work health and safety performance in your annual report, seeing a new way to eye health and recent publications.
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SA: Safety alert regarding synthetic fibre slings
3 August 2010
Safework SA has released the safety alert on synthetic fibre slings, following up on the fatal injury of a worker when a steel beam dropped on him from a soft sling.
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VIC: WorkSafe Victoria targets automotive workshops
3 August 2010
WorkSafe Victoria says it is focusing on painful shoulders, lower back and knee injuries suffered by tyre fitters. WorkSafe says it has issued new information sheets which show workplaces how aids can be used to lower the risk of injury. These were developed in conjunction with the VACC, AMWU (Vehicle Division), Bob Jane T-Marts, Bridgestone and Goodyear Dunlop Tyres.
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NSW: Remotely operated tower cranes: Safety alert
This safety alert outlines the hazards and risk controls when working with remotely operated tower cranes.
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NSW: Industry plant consultative committee 10 year crane inspection: Safety alert
This safety alert outlines the requirements for a major inspection of cranes after 10 years.
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Cases

Darlaston v Parker [2010] FCA 771
Industrial Law – power of entry upon premises – need to comply with an occupational health and safety requirement – entry upon premises for an unauthorised purpose – occupational health and safety requirement. More...

Contact Details

Melbourne

Charles Power
Partner
T: +61 (0)3 9321 9942
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Sydney

Stephen Trew
Partner
T: +61 (0)2 8083 0439
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Brisbane

Paul Hardman
Partner
T: +61 (0)7 3135 0675
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Disclaimer

The information in this publication is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity.
Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, we do not guarantee that the information in this publication is accurate at the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. We are not responsible for the information of any source to which a link is provided or reference is made and exclude all liability in connection with use of these sources.