Workers Warned of Extreme Heat Dangers

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A warning has been issued to workers about the dangers of working in high heat environments.

Although the reminder was issued by The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, it is a warning that people in construction trades should also heed.

Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s Director Mines Safety Andrew Chaplyn  supervisors and workers need to understand the risks and symptoms of heat stress and report any signs to a supervisor.

Workers and employers must remember the seriousness of the issue, heat stroke can cause permanent brain damage as well as damage to other vital organs and possibly death.

People suffering from heat-related illnesses must get urgent medical treatment.

See more at http://content.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/11/warning-issued-dangers-working-extreme-heat/#.W_uYKeIlE1k

Festive Season Workplace Safety Warning Issued by WorkSafe Victoria

WorkSafe Victoria is reminding all workers and employers, across all industries to put safety first as 2018 comes to a close.

The safety watchdog said this time of year is usually marked by a spike in workplace injuries and fatalities. Typically the 2 month period between November and December account for 22.3 per cent of all workplace fatalities.

Between 2008 and 2017, there were 53 workplace fatalities.

Workers and employers were reminded not to let busy work schedules and tight deadlines cause them to compromise on safety. Also don’t allow the festive feeling to allow you to relax when it comes to safety.

Source: http://content.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/11/victorian-workplaces-reminded-stay-safe-lead-festive-season/#.W_uY9uIlE1k

Keeping Workers Safe This Summer – WorkSafe Safety Warning

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The NT is one of the areas in Australia experiencing extremely hot temperatures prompting WorkSafe to issue a safety warning to businesses and workers to take precautions to avoid heat illnesses which can be deadly.

Heat related illness can present itself as heat rash, heat cramps, dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

NT WorkSafe warned employers and workers to follow safety tips to help avoid heat related illness including,

  • drinking plenty of water,
  • using shade protection including a hat and suncreen,
  • ensure personal protective equipment (PPE) is efficient for the work being done and the amount of sun exposure,
  • Try to schedule work for cooler times of the day and avoid the hotter hours
  • Equally distribute the work load amongst workers

For more information visit NT WorkSafe website

 

Townsville Accident Claims Workers Life

Another fatal workplace accident has taken place, this time in Townsville, highlighting once again the risks associated with construction work.

A man has been killed in Bohle. It is believed he was hit by a falling pipe being unloaded from a truck.

Emergency services were called to the scene but pronounced the man, in his sixties, dead at the scene.

The incident will be investigated by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.

As we all return to work and commence with building projects, let’s make sure we’ve got our safety plans in place and all workers are properly trained in safety to avoid tragedies like this one.

Source: http://content.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/12/worker-killed-falling-pipe-townsville/#.XDurIc0lE1l

Operator Fined After Driver Killed in Quarry Accident

Following the tragic death of a dump truck driver in 2016, a quarry operator has been fined $230,000.

The driver was killed when the vehicle he was operating rolled on a stockpile.The man was in his sixties at the time.

The court heard that the vehicle flipped over the edge of a stockpile at the Plumpton quarry and slid down the other side.

The company was found guilty after it was revealed that the company contravened section 26 of the OHS Act by failing to ensure a safe workplace without risk to health and safety.

The quarry operator failed to complete a risk assessment and a Safe Work Method Statement for the work being carried out. The investigation also found the company failed to take the reasonable steps to eliminate or remove the risks including ensuring the perimeter of the stockpile was adequately walled. The operator failed to engage a qualified engineer to assess the stability of the stockpile.

Read more at http://content.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/12/quarry-operator-fined-following-death-worker/#.XD5Sec0lE1l

See How Many Workers Killed in Latest Work Related Fatality Report

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Safe Work Australia has released the latest figures on workplace health and safety and in 2018, 118 Australian workers were killed on the job.

While the transport,postal and warehousing and agriculture, forestry and fishing industries emerged as the most high risk with 38 and 33 fatalities consecutively, the construction industry has the third highest number of fatalities with 21 recorded deaths.

There were also 5 workers killed in the mining industry.

One of the reasons the federal government has mandated construction safety training is due to the high risk nature. Before beginning work on a construction site, workers must complete White Card training. Find out more at www.whitecardonline.com.au

Source: http://content.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/01/work-related-fatality-figures-updated-3/#.XEBYK80lE1l

Saying Goodbye to Boring Buildings with 3D Concrete Printing

Construction is one the largest industries in the world and one of the top 4 in Australia however it is hindered by the high cost.

Due to the manual nature of construction, poor productivity can also be a factor limiting growth however 3D printed concrete structures may be the solution to all that.

Two of the major factors of construction that are causing problems is lack of efficiency and high accident rates. The 3D printed method can address these issues.

In the video below, a 3D printed concrete house was built in just 24 hours in the freezing cold of a Russian winter with everything built in a single location.

See more at http://www.swinburne.edu.au/news/latest-news/2018/11/3d-concrete-printing-could-free-the-world-from-boring-buildings.php

Construction Safety Update for 2019

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So far in January (January 24, 2019) according to Safe Work Australia, there have been 5 workplace fatalities in Australia.

In 2018, there were 152 workers killed at work, an improvement from the previous year when 190 workers were killed on the job.

Of the 5 workers killed in 2019, 2 were from the construction industry, as compared to last year this time when only 1 construction worker had died on the job. The agriculture, fishing and forestry industry was responsible for 2 deaths this year as well, with the transport industry claiming one life.

For the construction industry, we haven’t had a very good start to the year however it’s not too late to make a change. There’s still time to turn things around and make safety the first priority, beginning with construction safety training.

Read more at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/statistics-and-research/statistics/fatalities/fatality-statistics

The Workers Risking their Lives to Build India’s Homes

The risks being taken by workers in India to build the country’s homes, infrastructure and commercial buildings recently came under the spotlight in an article on BBC.com.

The post mentioned a number of workers including Mr Hasan, a construction worker who fell to his death at a site near Delhi. He should have been wearing a harness, a protective helmet, boots with a firm grip and should have an insurance policy against accidents.

Despite it being legally required for construction firms to provide these things to workers, most construction companies simply don’t.

In India many firms don’t follow the rules in order to save money and instead risk lives.

The post mentions 5 other workers who died in a similar manner to Mr Hasan and dozens more were seriously injured.

Unfortunately workers have no choice but to work under these conditions despite their fears because they need the work.

Read the full article at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-46698626

Prioritise Worker Safety in 2019, Especially Young Workers

Let’s work to ensure that 2019 is better for workplace health and safety than 2018 was.  Although we did see a slight improvement last year in comparison to the previous year, more needs to be done to keep workers safe, particularly young and inexperienced workers.

A recent court case in Brisbane is a reminder of the importance of training and supervision of young workers in keeping them safe. A company was in court over an incident that involved a young worker who had injured his hand.

The company was fined $80,000 over the incident which involved a wheel trencher. The incident prompted Workplace Health and Safety Queensland to remind employers to protect young workers particularly because of their inexperience and eagerness which often causes them to take risks.

In Queensland around 50 young workers are injured every day and one a day is permanently impaired.

Authorities reminded employers to consider their unique risk profile when managing them. They were also reminded that proper induction is vital, in construction that includes White Card training as well as site specific and job specific training. Young workers also require additional support and supervision.

Source: http://content.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/01/employers-reminded-ensure-safety-young-workers/#.XEBXqs0lE1l