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OHSA: Non-fatal accidents down 2.6% & no
fatalities in 1st quarter
20 August 2010
Claims in respect of non-fatal accidents at work
decreased by 2.6 per cent in the second quarter
when compared to the corresponding period last
year. No fatal accidents at work were reported
in the quarter under review. More...
Father haunted by deckhand death
19 August 2010
An Industrial Magistrates Court trial found
fishing company Jean Bryant Fisheries Ltd and
the ship’s skipper Arthur Markellos guilty of
breaching workplace safety laws, but the family
claims no closure. More...
Man dies at poultry processing plant
17 August 2010
WorkSafe has called
for a focus on machine guarding after a man died
from head injuries after cleaning a machine with
the fatality being the 15th traumatic
work-related death in Victoria this year. More...
Mine company faces hefty fine over maintenance
death
17 August 2010
Silcar was convicted
and fined $475,000 in Melbourne County Court on
one count under section 21 of the Occupational
Health and Safety Act 2004. This combined two
offences of failing to provide and maintain safe
plant and systems of work and failing to provide
information, instruction and training to
employees. More...
Worker sustains
serious head injury after forklift incident
18 August 2010
A 30-year-old worker has sustained critical head
injuries after an alleged skylarking incident
with a forklift at a plastic pipe manufacturing
plant in Bomen. General Manager of WorkCover’s
Occupational Health and Safety Division, John
Watson, said forklifts are not designed for
towing individuals. More information on forklift
safety can be found on the WorkCover website,
including the publication Making your forklift work
for you – a ten minute checklist.
More...
WorkCover issues warning on working from heights
12 August 2010
General Manager of WorkCover’s Occupational
Health and Safety Division, John Watson, said
working at heights is a dangerous activity that
needs due diligence. Under workplace safety laws
employers must have risk assessment and control
measures in place and all workplaces should have
a system in place to reduce the hazard of falls.More...
Bridge collapse sparks safety blitz
16 August 2010
The building union is planning a blitz of safety
audits on big construction jobs around Canberra,
beginning this morning, in the wake of
Saturday’s bridge collapse in the city’s north.
CFMEU ACT branch secretary Dean Hall said said
that his union had reported the contractor,
Rayners Construction, to work safety
authorities, alleging that ‘’sham contractors’’
- workers who are not being paid their proper
entitlements - were being used on the site.More...
Focus on ladders in mine site fatality
|11 August 2010
An inquiry into the death of an underground
worker in a Goldfields mine will focus on the
safety of emergency shaft ladders where the man
was killed. More...
Safety reminder after forklift accident
12 August 2010
General manager of WorkCover’s Occupational
Health and Safety Division John Watson says the
incident serves as a tragic reminder to ensure
that adequate safety precautions are taken when
working with and around forklifts and powered
trucks. More...
Publications/ Conferences
CTH: Safe Work Australia: Issue 4 of Safe Work
Australia
Includes articles on the progress on the model
work health and safety (WHS) Regulations and
model priority Codes of Practice and workplace
eye injuries. More...
CTH: Mine Safety Branch light vehicle service
hoists safety alert
17 August 2010
The Mine Safety Operation Branch has recommended
that prior to the purchase of vehicle hoist, the
AS 1418.9:1996 Cranes Vehicle Hoists, including
hoists and winches, and the design compliance
requirements of clause 136(3) of the
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2001
should be considered after two recent incidents.More...
VIC: WorkSafe Victoria releases
A new Health and Safety Solution which provides
advice about guarding woodworking
bandsaws. Anasbestos alert,
after it was reported that a number of licensed
asbestos removalists were using unsuitable,
single-layer disposable coveralls during
asbestos-removal work. A guidance note
on interstate construction induction cards for
construction workers who want to work in
Victoria. More...
VIC: New marine safety laws
13 August 2010
The Bill and accompanying regulations, including
a new system of seaworthiness checks, addressed
key recommendations and findings from recent
Coroner’s inquiries and added to the case for
legislative reform will create tougher penalties
to crack down on those flouting rules and
putting safety at risk. More...