PDF DOWNLOADFine for
construction company over Cyclone George
23 October 2010
A construction company has been fined 90 thousand dollars for
safety breaches during a cyclone in WA’s Pilbara region. Laing
O’Rourke was one of six companies charged after two people died
and dozens more were injured when Cyclone George hit a Pilbara
rail camp in 2007. More...
Mining safety
to be regulated under online scheme
22 October 2010
The Australian Government is establishing an incident reporting
database to improve the occupational health and safety of
miners. The Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum
Resources (MCMPR) aims to achieve a consistent occupational
health and safety regime in the Australian mining industry
through seven key strategies, including reliable data
collection, consultation mechanisms and a collaborative approach
to research. More...
Convictions
after young worker electrocuted
22 October 2010
Two companies and a director were convicted last week over a
2008 incident when a 21 year-old worker on a building site was
electrocuted by overhead powerlines. The incident occurred
despite warnings from the network electricity supplier to the
company responsible for the site, Hometec Industries Pty Ltd,
and director Carmine Salvatore. Hometec and Mr Salvatore were
convicted in the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court and fined $30,000
and $20,000 respectively. More...
Another Victorian worker dies
21 October 2010
A council worker was killed last week in a tractor rollover in
the Yarra Ranges. WorkSafe spokesman Michael Birt said WorkSafe
would not investigate as the incident was being treated as a
traffic accident. This worker’s death brings the number of
fatalities in Victoria to 19 - although the official number
remains 18. More...
Work related fatalities
20 October 2010
According to Safe Work Australia’s latest report [pdf] the
‘official’ number of work-related fatalities in Australia is
falling: 177 in 2008/09 to 124 in the last financial year.
However, Labor Senator Doug Cameron last week criticised Safe
Work Australia reports (see Senate Estimates) for understating
the number of deaths in Australian workplaces. That work-related
road fatalities are not officially counted adds to the
unerestimation. More...
Fine slashed
for chairlift operator
19 October 2010
The Victorian Court of Appeal found the $110,000 fine given to
Arthurs Seat Scenic Chairlift, on the Mornington Peninsula, was
excessive and reduced it to $60,000. The company had pleaded
guilty in 2007 to a breach of the Occupational Health and Safety
Act following an accident. More...
Business ‘will quit state’ over
safety laws
19 October 2010
NSW faces the prospect of a business exodus because of the state
government’s refusal to reform workplace safety laws, according
to the NSW Law Society, after the Gillard government threatened
to withhold $144 million from NSW unless it abides by its
promise to enact nationally consistent workplace safety laws.More...