Two workplace deaths in just over 24 hours

Earlier this week two workplace deaths resulting from falls were reported. The first incident took place on Tuesday 25 October, 2016 where a man plunged to his death at a construction site in Sydney's northwest. Police officers who first arrived at the scene administered CPR until paramedics arrived, but the man died at the scene. A crime scene has been established and police have begun working with SafeWork NSW to investigate. 

The next day another workplace related death was reported where a man fell to his death at a construction site. The sub-contractor was working at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre Expansion project in South Wharf when he fell from a piece of equipment about 3.30pm. Union officials said the man was a boilermaker aged in his 50s, who was operating a boom lift on the work site. A witness said he heard screaming and yelling at the building site. "I looked up and there was a man slumped on the lift. Everyone was yelling and screaming and stuff and trying to wake him up," the man told Channel 10. The man was a member of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and came from a family heavily involved in the state's construction industry, officials said. The South Wharf site is operated by national construction firm Probuild. Probuild Group managing director Simon Gray said his thoughts were with the man's family. "It is with great sadness that we confirm a fatality involving an employee of one of our sub-contractors occurred this afternoon at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre Expansion project. "Our sincerest thoughts and condolences are with all those impacted - family, friends and workmates. "We are awaiting further details on the incident and are cooperating fully with Victoria Police and WorkSafe Victoria. Support and counselling is being offered to all affected construction workers and staff." The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union and the AMWU sent safety officials to the work site on Wednesday afternoon. WorkSafe is investigating and police will prepare a report for the coroner.

No doubt, the impact of these incidents will extend beyond the family and friends of these workers… Business owners should protect their workers, including subbies. Don’t risk non-compliance, contact ISOsafe today on 1300 789 132 to learn more about our services for Australian businesses

Truckie invents tyre jack to improve truck safety

After a quarter of a century of intermittent work on an invention to make changing truck tyres safer and easier, a Western Australian truck driver has had his lightbulb moment.

But for someone with no experience in the inventing game, the administration involved in moving it from an idea, to a physical invention, to a saleable item, was no easy feat.

Brendon Noakes began designing the "jaq strap", a tool that can be used to jack up a truck for tyre changing, after years of noticing the dangers and exhaustion that come from changing truck tyres the traditional way.

"Working in Hedland the last seven or so years, I see a lot of 50, 60, 70-year-old year old guys struggling in the 50 degree heat, changing tires," he said.

"This will just make it so much easier.”

"And the Superquad's up there are 60 metres long — to carry all that equipment 60 metres there and back is a lot of hard work."

Three weeks ago, the elements needed to finish the design "just clicked" for Mr Noakes and he began creating the jaq strap — just in time for the Newdegate Machinery Field Day invention awards, where he won the new release award.

We at ISOsafe, hope the Jaq Strap is used in conjunction with Safe Operating Procedures. If your business has plant and equipment, you must carry Risk Assessments and Safe Operating Procedures. Dont risk a safety breach. Contact us today, we will prepare all necessary documents for your plant and equipment. Call: 1300 789 132 now

New Zealand construction firm fined after worker injured in 2.9m fall

The construction company was fined $34,000 and ordered to pay reparations of $16,000 after pleading guilty to one charge under sections 6 and 50 (1) (a) of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
On 22 October 2015, the worker was installing a flooring system on the second storey of a house in Timaru in the southern Canterbury region of New Zealand. The system is a composite steel flooring system made of lightweight, pre-formed steel sheets.
While drilling timber fascia boards to a steel beam, the steel sheets, which the worker was using as a work platform, moved and the worker fell 2.9m onto the concrete floor. He was knocked unconscious, sustained fractures, and suffers fatigue and headaches as a result of his head injury.
A WorkSafe investigation revealed the company had failed to complete adequate planning and hazard assessment in relation to the work, which would have included assessing whether the sheets made a safe work platform and making sure that the sheets were installed in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.
The worker was unfamiliar with the installation process and had received no training on how to do so. No one had checked that the worker installed the sheets correctly.
WorkSafe’s Construction Programme Manager Marcus Nalter said “working from height is a well-known risk in the construction industry and it must be managed appropriately at all times.”
Nalter added, “The company should have ensured that the fitting of the flooring system was being done correctly and appropriate controls were in place to prevent a fall from height, such as providing a safe working platform.”
“People working in high risk industries such as construction should be able to trust that the employer has their workers’ safety at the front of their mind. In this instance, The company’s inattention to safety has resulted in injury and ongoing health impacts for the worker,” said Mr Nalter.
The importance of training and hazard management while working at height has been reinforced here. Don’t risk non-compliance contact ISOsafe today on 1300 789 132 

Council in Waikato region of New Zealand sentenced after zookeeper killed by tiger

A council located within the Waikato region has been ordered, by Hamilton District Court, to pay reparations of $5,180 to each of the zookeepers children. The zookeeper was killed by a tiger while working at the zoo last year.
The council was further ordered to pay fines of $38,250 after pleading guilty to one charge under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the workers safety.
A WorkSafe investigation into the workers death on September 20 2015 revealed that the council, as the owner and operator of the zoo, failed to take a number of practicable steps to ensure the safety of the worker. This included a lack of mechanical and safety features to prevent two gates between the cat chute and the main enclosure being open at the same time, not having a two keeper system in place, or warning signs to indicate that a tiger had not been secured.
“As an employer, the council had a duty to implement safety systems, administrative and mechanical, to ensure that staff never came into direct contact with the tigers, including in the event that a gate was accidentally left open,” said SafeWork NZ Chief Inspector, Keith Stewart.
Mr Stewart added, “Working with large carnivores like Sumatran tigers will always come with the highest possible risk – there are no second chances if you come into direct contact with a dangerous animal”.
Failure to ensure the safety of workers can seriously damage a business’ bottom line. This conviction reinforces the importance of managing the risks through the development of clear procedures and the provision of training and supervision. Don’t risk non-compliance, contact ISOsafe today to find out how we can assist you in providing a safe and legally compliant workplace.

South Australian Construction Company prosecuted after worker fatality

The family of a worker electrocuted in 2014 has received compensation as part of a decision made by the South Australian Industrial Court.
The court convicted and imposed a penalty of $45 000, plus court costs on a construction company in recognition of an early guilty plea and the business agreeing to publicise the incident in local newspapers.
In addition, the business in concern consented to an order to pay $20 000 to the family of the worker.
On 23 April 2014, a worker was electrocuted when metal flashing he was holding came into contact with overhead power lines, resulting in his death.
Following investigation by South Australian regulator, SafeWork, the construction company was charged with failing to provide and maintain a work environment, failing to ensure the provision and maintenance of a safe system of work, and failing to ensure the provision of information, training, instruction or supervision of workers.
Presiding Magistrate Ardlie acknowledged that this was the company’s first offence as well as the significant capital invested by the company in training workers, since the incident.
Ardlie added, “Importantly and fundamentally the business now conducts an inspection of each site before any plans are submitted to council prior to the commencement of any work,” said Magistrate Ardlie.
The conviction highlights the serious impacts of unsafe work practices and especially the need for extra care when working near overhead power lines. Don’t risk getting caught out, be proactive, contact ISOsafe today to book a free advisory meeting 1300 789 132.