Worker’s Fall Injury Results in Fines for 2 Companies

The consequences of failing to comply with health and safety regulations has come to the forefront following a case involving 2 businesses in Sydney.

The companies were fined more than $200,000 combined after a worker fell 2 stories on a construction site in Sydney.

The lack of proper safety guards led to the worker falling 2 stories and suffering horrific injuries, including multiple broken ribs and a fractured leg and ankle.

He underwent surgery and had to spend 2 weeks in hospital recovering.

Authorities said this type of incident is totally avoidable and therefore unacceptable.

Read more at: http://content.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/10/two-companies-fined-worker-fall/#.W9RiPfYlE1l

Brick Wall Collapses on Construction Worker

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Another construction accident has taken place, this time on a construction site south of Brisbane.

The construction worker involved is recovering in hospital after he was crushed when a brick wall fell.

The construction worker, aged in his fifties fell about 2 metres from scaffolding when the brick wall collapsed.

He suffered serious head injuries and was rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Workplace Health and Safety are investigating the incident that happened at the Capalaba construction site.

Source: http://content.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/09/sand-gravel-company-fined-125k-following-apprentices-serious-injury/#.W7IBKvYlE1k

Workplace Health and Safety In The Forefront after Box Hill Accident

Workplace health and safety has come to the forefront following an incident in Box Hill, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

A worker in his 40s died and another was seriously injured after a container of concrete fell from the crane recently.

The 2 men were submerged and trapped in the wet concrete after the tub of concrete fell on top of them.

A third worker was also injured and all 3 men had to be rescued by a team of 40 firefighters.

The CFMEU expressed their outrage shortly after the incident, saying 7 Victorians were killed on the job in the construction industry in 2018. The union said the Box Hill incident should serve as a wake-up call.

The union also highlighted how traumatizing such an incident is for those who witness it.

The incident is a harrowing reminder of the importance of daily checks and maintenance of cranes.

Read the full story at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-07/crane-accident-box-hill-safety-concerns-after-site-fatality/10210292

Victoria – 60 Cranes Ordered to Stop Work After Fatal Incident

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Following the fatal Box Hill incident in which a man in his 40s was killed when a container of wet concrete fell from a crane, 60 cranes were ordered to stop work while an audit is conducted.

Another man suffered life-threatening injuries during the incident and third suffered minor injuries.

A preliminary investigation by WorkSafe found that a malfunction of a key component had contributed to the incident.

The crane company that distributed the cranes have issued a cease work order for all cranes of the same make currently in use in Victoria until a safety audit has concluded.

WorkSafe had also brought in an independent expert to monitor the company’s crane audit to ensure it was done correctly.

The CFMEU has called for a safety review of crane operations in the state.

Find out more http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-11/box-hill-crane-accident-worksafe-investigation/10231542

Killer Construction Site Fall Prompts Safety Warning

WorkSafe Victoria has issued a warning following a serious fall at a housing construction site at Rosebud recently, reminding the industry of the risks associated with working at heights.

The man was conducting internal plastering work at a townhouse at the time of the incident and was the second worker to be killed in a serious fall on a Victorian construction site in just 3 days.

WorkSafe Acting Executive Director of Health and Safety Paul Fowler said employers cannot ignore the risks of falls from height at construction sites even if the risk of falls is only from a relatively low height, they can still result is serious, possibly fatal injuries.

He said employers must apply reasonably practicable control measures and work with employees to put them in place and ensure they are adhered to.

Source: http://content.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/08/mans-death-following-fall-height-prompts-warning/#.W51qtPYlE1l

Workplace Ladder Death Leads to Fine for Businessman

A businessman from Western Sydney was fined $60,000 after an employee died after falling from a ladder during the installation of security cameras in 2016.

A 58 year old casual worker broke his jaw and suffered injury to his shoulder, hip and head after falling from the ladder. The man died in hospital shortly after the fall.

The employer was fined in the Sydney District Court for failing to ensure the health and safety of the worker. A adequate fall protection system was not in place.

Falls from ladders are some of the most common causes of injuries on workplaces and they are preventable. Fall protection systems should always be in place even when there is only a risk of falling from a relatively low height. Despite the preventable nature of falls on worksites, a safety blitz conducted by SafeWork NSW revealed that falls from heights have more than tripled over the past 5 years.

Read more at http://content.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/07/western-sydney-businessman-fined-workplace-ladder-death/#.W3qPjrglE1l

Why Tradies Need to Put their Health First

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A recent post on CanberraTimes.com.au highlighted the importance of taking care of your health as a tradie because this is something we often neglect.

Canberra carpenter Adam Potts has been a tradie for 15 years and explains how neglect of his body has taken its toll. This neglect led to neck, shoulder and elbow pain which has led him to taking time off work.

In fact research from the Australian Physiotherapy Association reveals that Australian tradies are almost twice as likely to take good care of their tools than their bodies despite having one of the highest injury rates of any occupation.

According to researchers 79 per cent of tradies reported taking good care of their tools and only 47 per cent took good care of their bodies.

Mr Potts advises tradies to avoid working 80 hour weeks, for their physical and mental health.

See more at https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/you-think-you-re-invincible-how-the-job-is-taking-a-toll-on-tradies-20180802-p4zv5f.html

How Employers Can Prevent Workplace Bullying

Together with the release of WorkSafe Victoria’s video on bullying for employees, they have also released this video detailing the responsibilities of employers when it comes to workplace bullying.

As an employer, this video will help you identify your obligations.

As an employee this video can help you identify what your employer’s responsibilities towards you and others on the worksite are.

Latest Workplace Fatalities Reported

Safe Work Australia has released the latest workplace fatality figures and as at the end of June, 70 Australians had lost their lives on the job since the start of the year.

According to figures, 11 construction workers have been killed in 2018, exceeded only by the transport, postal & warehousing industry with 23 fatalities and the agriculture, forestry & fishing industry which recorded 20 fatalities.

In 2017, 187 Australian workers were killed at work, as compared to 182 workers in 2016.

Source: http://content.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/07/work-related-fatality-figures-updated/#.W0MawiAlE1k

Injury Hotspots Broken Down by Industry and Job

Have you ever wondered what the most common injuries sustained in your industry and specific job are?

WorkSafe Victoria has a useful and informative tool which allows you to find out information about the most common injuries for your job, giving you a sector specific view of harm.

For example construction carpenters face 6 common hazards – manual handling of construction materials, noise, slips,trips and falls, using hand tools, working at ground/floor level, working overhead or above shoulders.

These hazards commonly result in hand/finger injuries, back injuries, shoulder, knee, leg, ear and wrist/forearm injuries, these are called ‘injury hotspots’. The WorkSafe resource provides more advice on avoiding these injury hotspots.

For the construction industry there is also injury hotspot information for concreters, electricians, heating/airconditioning installation, labourers, painters, plasterers, plumbers and roofers.

Find out more at http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/hotspots#/