Call us today on: (08) 9371 0711
Providing Occupational Health &
Safety Solutions since 1995
OH&S Consulting News - April 2015
28th April 2015 is
World Health & Safety Day
Please take the opportunity to reflect and remember those who have been affected by workplace death, injury and disease. #worldWHSday2015
Click here to download poster from WorkSafe WA.
ENERGY SAFETY ORDER FOLLOWING MORLEY GALLERIA EXPLOSION
EnergySafety have released new safety precautions regarding the Long & Crawford Manchester HV oil-insulated combined fuse switches involved in the Morley Galleria shopping centre explosion.
These fuse switches must be completely disconnected from the electricity supply prior to anyone opening the lid of the switch.
Click here for full details.
NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CODE NOW FREE TO DOWNLOAD
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) have released the National Construction Code and Guideline series 2015 online. This is a free download and is available for buildings classed between 2 and 9.
Valuable information contained in the code and guideline includes:
-
Access & Egress
-
Health & Amenity
-
Services & Equipment
-
Ancillaries - chimneys, atriums and bushfire prone areas.
Click here for full details.
CHAIN OF RESPONSIBILITY LEGISLATION
The Chain of Responsibility will be introduced into WA Law on 27 April 2015. This will affect anyone involved in the chain of "road transport activities":
-
Consignors - the person/company arranging the carrying of goods.
-
Packers - people putting goods on pallets or in packages.
-
Loaders - people putting the load on vehicle and people restraining the load on a vehicle.
-
Drivers - person driving the vehicle
-
Operator/Manager - person operating a business which controls vehicles
-
Stores/Receivers - person paying for or taking possession of the goods
So what is the Chain of Responsibility?
It's about managing the mass, dimension and restraint of loads to improve road safety, reduce infrastructure damage and help with deterrence and enforcement.
Click here for full details.
WOODIE WOODIE FATALITY
Source: DMP Alert 21/01/2015, 22/12/2015
A fitter has died (20/01/2015) when working on a dozer at the Woodie Woodie Manganese site. The fitter was employed by Rod Mitchell Transport and Exploration, who perform rehabilitation and environmental consulting work.
The director of Mine Safety, Andrew Chaplyn, advised “the accident involved a fitter who was working on dozer being used to clear land for exploration drilling”. Two DMP inspectors, were on site at the time of the incident.
The DMP confirmed on 22/01/15 that the fitter was performing maintenance on the dozer and was removing the belly plate which fell on him.
ROY HILL CRANE FALLS OVER DURING INSPECTION
Source: ABC News 21/01/2015
A crane has fallen over at Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill Mine Site during an inspector evaluation (20/01/2015). The inspector was evaluating a test lift when the incident occurred. Nobody was injured during the incident.
The inspector was on site regarding a prohibition notice issued by DMP relating to incidents involving cranes and EWPs. Roy Hill have suspended crane operation by their contractors and sub-contractors (Samsung C&T, Leighton Construction, NRW and Kerman) pending an investigation.
Barry Fitzgerald, the Roy Hill Chief Executive has issued a statement saying, “The incidents that have occurred are not acceptable; and we continue to cooperate fully with the DMP to ensure lifting operations can be undertaken safely and without incident.” He advised that Roy Hill took the incident seriously and that it did not reflect the values held on site.
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING BUSINESS FINED $44,800
Source: WorkSafe Newsletter 25/02/015
A Bunbury electrical contracting business and one of their employees have been fined a total of $44,800 over the 2013 electrocution death of Mr Jade Zappelli, an 18-year-old trade’s assistant in the roof space of a home in East Bunbury.
Jayden Zappelli had been on track to start an electrical apprenticeship when he was fatally electrocuted while working in a Bunbury roof. Mr Zapelli died after climbed into roof space to pull electrical cable through a hole in the ceiling. Electrical tape holding the wires together came lose and proved fatal when he came into contact with a copper pipe in the roof space. He was due to attend an electrical safety course onthe day he died.
JCW Electrical pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a working environment in which employees were not exposed to hazards and were fined $50,000. This fine was reduced to $38,000 with an early plea of guilt and a previous good record.
"The value of the deceased's life is not measured by this fine and there is no doubt it has had a profound effect on family and friends," Magistrate Scaddan said. “This fine should ensure that employers are encouraged to ensure a safer workplace for employees. Employees in the electricity field must understand the dire consequences of not acting safely."
Jayden Zappelli was acting as a trade’s assistant to licensed electrician, Mr Dale Frances Mortley. Mr Mortley relied on removing fuse wedges in the meter box to isolate and turn off parts of the power supply rather than turning the electricity supply off at the mains. Mr Mortley relied on using a volt stick rather than a multimeter to test the circuit involved in the incident. (Volt sticks are known in the industry to be prone to giving false negative results.) Mr Mortley pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable care and in that failure, contributed to causing the death of Mr Zappelli and was fined $6,800.
The maximum penalty that could have been handed to the JCW Electrical was $200,000 and $20,000 for Mr Mortley.
SMART MOVE SAFETY PASSPORT FOR YOUNG WORKERS
WorkSafe WA have released eight online lessons to provide safety and health exposure for young workers entering the workplace.
These lessons include access to online activities, worksheets, videos and documentaries and the program has been designed to address the national competency unit BSBWHS201 Contribute to health and safety of self and others.
Click here for full details.
OH&S Consulting is not endorsing or recommending this product but is exposing you to some of the latest technology and innovations which may assist you in providng safety and health awareness training for young and inexperienced workers.
