In the media
Saxon Energy Services fined $210k after worker
injuries
Oil and gas company Saxon Energy Services Australia has been
convicted and fined $210,000 for an incident that left two workers
injured on a drilling rig platform (20 April 2017).
More...
Comcare: Cleanaway fined over Adelaide chemical fire Waste management company Cleanaway has been convicted and fined $650,000 over a chemical fire in Adelaide that injured an employee (20 April 2017). More...
WorkSafe investigates ride incident at
Rye
WorkSafe is investigating the circumstances surrounding an
incident in which a five-year-old boy suffered serious injuries
after falling from a carnival ride in Rye yesterday (17 April
2017).
More...
Companies urged to put staff safety first when using
them in marketing campaigns
Companies have been urged to consult with staff before attempting
marketing like the ill-fated Coles "I'm Free"
campaign to avoid further risks of sexual harassment (14 April
2017).
More...
Construction company fined after worker injured in
fall
A Sydney construction company has been fined $135,000 after a
49-year-old worker was injured in February 2015. SafeWork NSW
charged Karimbla with a breach of section 32 of the Work Health
and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) in that it failed to comply with
section 19(1) of the Act by failing to ensure the stairway was
adequately guarded (13 April 2017).
More...
Qantas under ATSB investigation after plane hit
'turbulence' that left 15 injured
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating an
incident on a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Hong Kong last week
in which 15 people were injured (13 April 2017).
More...
NTC seeks feedback on proposal for drivers to allow
hands off the wheel in some automated vehicles
Interested parties have been asked to make submissions about how
the concepts of control and proper control in the Australian Road
Rules should apply to automated vehicles (12 April 2017).
More...
Country Victorians asked to prioritise
safety
WorkSafe is calling on all regional businesses and workers to
prioritise safety to help drive down the number of workplace deaths
and injuries across Victoria. According to new WorkSafe data,
almost 7,000 workers in regional Victoria were injured seriously
enough last year to make a claim, which equates to more than 18
injuries every day (12 April 2017).
More...
Unions penalised $101,500 after strike action at
Australian Paper site in Victoria
The Federal Court has imposed penalties against the AMWU, CFMEU
and AWU and three of their officials for their involvement in
unlawful industrial action at a construction project in
Victoria's Latrobe Valley. Whilst the officials contended the
stoppages related to safety and therefore did not constitute
unlawful industrial action, the Court found that "[t]hat view
was a mistaken one" (12 April 2017).
More...
Project launched to assess health of Aussie fisheries
workers
Deakin University is conducting the first nationwide examination
of the health of Australia's fisheries workers to identify
stress and mental health challenges affecting the sector (12 April
2017).
More...
New camera to boost Victorian heavy vehicle
safety
Victoria's roads will be safer for all drivers, with the roll
out of new automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras (11
April 2017). More...
$590,800 penalties against CFMEU after industrial
campaign shut down 9 Vic projects
The Federal Court decision today highlighted that of the various
stoppages "in no instance was there any suggestion of an issue
or grievance, specific to the site or workers on it, that
justified, or even explained, the organisation of the industrial
action". This follows the Court's comments in the
liability judgment about the "transparently groundless
invocation" of workplace safety as a pretext for one of the
unlawful stoppages (11 April 2017).
More...
Published – articles, papers, reports
NHVR Newsletter: On the Road, Issue 7, 10 April 2017 Our industry updates provide important information for subscribers on the heavy vehicle industry, including the latest NHVR news and events, relevant law and policy changes, and resources to help industry members comply with the law.
Worksafe Victoria Safety Soapbox, 21 April
2017
There have been 69 incidents reported for the construction
industry from 31 March to 13
April 2017.
In practice and courts
NHVR: Chain of Responsibility information sessions, from
May 2017
The NHVR, in conjunction with a number of industry associations,
is delivering information sessions across the country to discuss
the changes to CoR and ensure you have the information you need to
be prepared. For further details and to register for an information
session, please use the table listed under the link
here.
Safework NSW: New guide: Workplace management of
respiratory conditions including asthma
This
guide outlines types of respiratory disease and causative
agents, managing workplace respiratory hazards, health assessments
and what at-risk workers can do (13 April 2017).
DNRM alert 339: Ground collapse while surface
drilling
The ground at the rear of a surface drill rig subsided, two
drillers working at the rear of the rig fell into the void
suffering various injuries. Consider the competency of the ground
when drilling holes and have geological and geotechnical input when
determining the location of drill holes (11 April 2017).
More...
DNRM alert 340: Drill hole compressed air
injection
While drilling a surface to underground paste fill hole two
drillers were injured when a sudden release of air, water, mud and
fines was ejected under pressure toward them. When the pressure
built up and released suddenly the set up failed to contain or
effectively direct the release of pressure. There were no sensors
or feedback on the drill rig to indicate the developing pressure
build up (11 April 2017).
More...
DNRM alert: Mobile equipment operator injured when seat
belt failed
An operator of a loaded agitator truck was driving down a ramp
when he felt a bump and was thrown from the driver's seat,
sustaining neck injuries. All seats should have instructions from
the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) on how to correctly set
it up to suit each individual operator (11 April 2017).
More...
Worksafe Victoria: Construction Safety Focus - Powered
mobile plant
WorkSafe is focusing on safety around, and the safe operation of,
powered mobile plant during May. Find out more about what
inspectors will be focusing on by viewing the latest Construction
Safety Focus - Powered Mobile Plant information sheet.
New safety standards
DR AS/NZS 4361.1:2017 CP
Guide to hazardous paint management - Lead and other hazardous
metallic pigments in industrial applications, Standards
Australia.
AS 5062:2016/Amdt 1:2017
Fire protection for mobile and transportable equipment, Standards
Australia.
Cases
Worksafe Victoria Prosecution Result Summaries & Enforceable Undertakings
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council ABN 53 159 890 143
13/04/2017
Failure to notify VWA of a notifiable incident; Failure to provide
a safe working environment Occupational Health and Safety Act
2004 23(1); 38(1); Dromana Magistrates' Court.
Future Bake Australia Pty Ltd 121 397 126
13/04/2017
Guarding; Unguarded plant; Failure to provide and maintain plant.
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 21(1)&(2)(a);
Dandenong Magistrates' Court.
AGFAB Engineering Pty Ltd 078 529 469
12/04/2017
Failure to provide a safe system of work; Forklifts.
Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 21(1)&(2)(a) ;
Melbourne Magistrates' Court.
This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.
