January Updates
Axento Safety provides you with health and safety expert witness and risk management solutions to enhance your business success.
In addition to incident investigations and expert witness services, Axento Safety’s focus is to help create safe, healthy, innovative AND PRODUCTIVE workplaces. Axento Safety partner with you to take the pain out of health and safety, provide safety management systems, reduce the paperwork, achieve certifications, enable increased compliance, enable productivity improvement and achieve this cost effectively. Contact Jon Temby to grow your business and make your life easier.
Caution urged for working safe this summer
WorkSafe Victoria recently reminded employers to be aware of the risks faced by their workers in times of extreme heat. Read more…
Jons comment: Given our recent heatwaves, this is very important information for those who work outside and/or in hot conditions. I suggest that employers focus on the following:
- Providing workers with suitable PPE, including hats, long sleeved clothing and sunscreen;
- Ensuring there is adequate (preferably cold) water available to keep workers hydrated;
- Planning the day to prioritise strenuous work during the cooler periods of the day and less strenuous tasks in the warmer periods;
- Ensuring the provision of additional rest breaks during the day, preferably in a cool or shaded area;
- Providing mechanical aids to reduce physical exertion;
- Ensuring supervisors actively check for and can detect the signs of fatigue and heat stroke and take action to minimise the consequences;
- Ensuring your workers are fully informed about the risks of working in the heat, including identifying the signs of fatigue and heatstroke and know what to do should the signs occur.
When employers are legally responsible for mental health
While employers understand their responsibilities for ensuring the physical safety of their workers, it is more challenging for some to get their heads around being responsible also for mental health, according to Professor Sharon Parker. Read more…
Jons comment: –This article outlines some of the situations where employers are responsible for worker mental health issues. It is useful reading.
VIC: More inspectors and investigators for WorkSafe
WorkSafe Victoria recently added 25 new inspectors and investigators to its ranks following their graduation from an intensive OHS induction training program. Read more…
Jons comment: The positive outcome is sometimes achieved for the wrong reasons but increasing the numbers of WorkSafe Inspectors and workplace visits (or the fear of them) has a direct link to better work practices being implemented.
Auger amputations prompt safety warning
SafeWork NSW has issued a safety warning to farms and rural workplaces in southwest NSW while working with and around grain augers after two workers suffered amputations. Read more…
Jons Comment: This is a warning for all businesses that have augurs or other machines with rotating parts. Without adequate guarding they can kill – easily and quickly.
Vegetable growing inspection program underway
An inspection program in the vegetable growing industry has reinforced previous concerns over mobile plant and hazardous substances in the industry, according to WorkSafe WA. Read more…
Jons Comment: These are scary statistics and I strongly suspect that they are reflected in all other Australian states. I am aware of numerous serious injuries occurring in the horticultural industry including a drowning and an amputation involving a potato digging machine. If you have powered equipment of any sort, it is important that it and where it works are regularly inspected by someone who is competent to do so to ensure that worker safety is not compromised and your business is not put at risk as a result.
Tradie’s death in explosion results in $285,000 fine
A Melbourne company was recently fined $285,000 by the County Court over an incident in which a young refrigeration mechanic died when his work van exploded outside his home in Mulgrave in 2011. Read more…
Jons Comment: Whether you are using gas cylinders form vehicles or in a building the risks are obvious and the article highlights the importance of proper transport and storage to prevent leakage and explosions
Distribution company wears $75,000 fine after forklift incident
A cosmetics distribution company was recently convicted and fined $75,000 at the Magistrates Court in Moorabbin following an incident in which a worker inside a cage was dropped by a forklift. Read more… There are a number of important considerations when introducing risk minimisation processes in warehouses, according to the Independent Racking Inspections and Audits (IRIA). Read more…
Jons Comments; If you operate a warehouse or storeroom do you have robust systems for accessing goods, safely racking the goods and safe pick and pack arrangements? Make sure that you and your your workers follow the quidelines provided by the regulators and IRIA.
Safety alert issued over electric storage batteries
The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPESMA) recently issued a safety alert about risks associated with electric battery storage. Read more…
Jons Comments: There is excellent guidance for those using battery storage, UPS systems etc. It is worth reading and keeping a copy.
Road safety is a corporate and community priority
Find out more about an effective road safety program that reduced crash rates by 36 per cent in just one year. Brought to you by the National Road Safety Partnership Program Listen to the podcast. Jons Comment: Some great ideas are presented – worth listening to.
Effective load restraint
BlueScope Steel gives insights into the organisation’s safety practices that make it a world leader in heavy vehicle load restraint – protecting the safety of workers and road users. Brought to you by the National Road Safety Partnership Program. Listen to the podcast.
Jons Comment: If you need to restrain loads, listen to these ideas, it might help to reduce your risk profile.
Dangers of diesel exhaust fumes
Does diesel exhaust pose a health risk at your workplace? Research estimates that 1.2 million Australian workers were exposed to diesel exhaust in the workplace in 2011. Brought to you by the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists. Listen to the podcast.
Jons Comment: If you are using diesel fuel or diesel powered plant or equipment, make time to listen to this podcast then review your options.
Lead exposure: options for regulatory change
Current lead exposure standards are specified in the Model Work Health and Safety Regulations. These apply in nearly all states and territories across Australia (currently not Vic or WA). Based on emerging evidence, Safe Work Australia (SWA) has put forward options for regulatory change in a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement.
“We’re particularly interested in hearing from workers and businesses that deal with lead in the course of their work,” SWA CEO Ms Baxter said. The public consultation period is open until 26 February 2016. Submissions can be made via the Safe Work Australia public submissions website.
Jons Comment: If you have potential lead exposures in your workplace you should at least review the proposed changes, even if you are based in Vic or WA.