Soapbox/OHSE Australia wide updates

Soapbox

OFSC Subby Pack

The Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner (OFSC) has announced the release of its OHSE Subby Pack.

More details in the National news




BODGEY SCAFFOLD
Weekly example of bodgey scaffolding from around the world

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Weekly example of shocking work practices from around the world

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Prosecutions around the world Incidents around the world



OFSC Subby Pack

The Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner (OFSC) has released its OHSE Subby Pack. Many of you would be familiar with the earlier version of the Subby Pack published by WorkCover NSW and the NSW Construction Safety Alliance. The OFSC is an updated version of the orgial Subby Pack

The OFSC Subby Pack aims to provide a practical example of a safety management system for employers in the construction industry and is consistent with the National Standard for Construction.

The development of the pack was facilitated by the OFSC and involved representatives of the NSW and Victorian Construction Safety Alliances, the Australian Constructors Association, OHS professionals and WorkCover NSW.

View the media release

Download the Subby Pack

Product Recalls

PDL branded 691RCD and 955RW residual current devices

The RCD sensor coils were contaminated with an incorrect solder flux. This risks corrosion of the sensor coil after the manufacture of the supplier coils. The product will fail to trip if the sensor coil is not soldered into the circuit and/or the contaminated solder flux prevents continuity of the circuit.

View the recall

Clipsal WHB 355 Weathershield - IP66, Switch 440V 55A triple pole units

The base pockets are not to specification due to a change to a new moulding tool. This allows for excessive movement of the terminal in the pocket and for the potential for the circuit to close when the switch is in the 'OFF' position.

View the recall

Iveco Trucks - ITEC 7600 range - Spring Brake Modulating Valve

The Bendix SR-7 Spring Brake Modulating Valve has an internal check valve that may not properly seat, causing internal air leakage. This internal leakage can cause a delay in the application of the spring brakes to park the vehicle after the operator pulls the dash valve button.

View the recall

View Safety Soapbox online

Safety Soapbox is now available to be viewed online.

If you know someone who is having trouble receiving the newsletter, let them know that they can now view Safety Soapbox online.

To view the newsletter online CLICK HERE







Miner injured in shaft incident at Stawell gold mine

A seriously injured miner has been brought to the surface after he was temporarily trapped 1285m underground at a gold mine in Stawell.

The 32-year-old is believed to have been standing on an elevating work platform when he was hit by falling machinery.

Read the article

Want to work for WorkSafe?

WorkSafe Investigators

Investigating serious workplace incidents and prosecuting alleged breaches of OHS law plays a vital part in maintaining safety in Victorian workplaces.

That’s the challenging job of WorkSafe’s Health and Safety Investigators, and we are now accepting applications for a number of new Investigator positions.

View job ad

WorkSafe Health & Safety Inspectors

As a WorkSafe Health and Safety Inspector you’ll have the vital job of helping make Victorian workplaces safer by gauging compliance with OHS law, giving constructive advice about managing workplace risks and, if required, taking enforcement action.

View job ad

WorkSafe Return to Work Inspectors

The Return to Work (RTW) Inspectorate forms an integral part of WorkSafe’s new RTW Division. Over the next 4 years the RTW Division will become a recognised centre of excellence in RTW management across Australia and has responsibility for oversight and management of all weekly benefits liabilities as well as driving improvement in RTW outcomes for injured workers.

View job ad

WorkSafe’s looking for Boronia to become a safer suburb

WorkSafe inspectors will be visiting small and medium-sized businesses in Boronia as part of a major safety improvement campaign - Safer Suburbs.

Up to 10 WorkSafe inspectors will take part in the visits between 28 April and 2 May.

View the media release

Alliance to minimise damage to Victoria's underground assets

The free referral service, Dial Before You Dig, and electrical and gas safety regulator, Energy Safe Victoria have formed an alliance to reduce the damage caused to Victoria's networks of underground assets.

Dial Before You Dig is a service used by professional contractors, underground asset owners and individuals undertaking excavation, who within two working days of lodging an enquiry receive location and other relevant information assisting them to excavate securely and safely.

View media release

VicRoads - Safety Update Volume 71

The latest VicRoads Safety Update is now available

Read the update

ETU OHS Reps newsletter - April edition

The April edition of the ETU OHS Reps newsletter is now available.

View the newsletter







Safety Alert - Worker falls through guardrail

NSW Department of Primary Industries has issues a safety alert after a mechanical tradesperson working alone in an underground mine fell through the guardrail of an elevated platform. The tradesperson fell about 2.5 metres to the concrete floor below, sustaining serious injuries and was not discovered by his workmates for approximately three hours after the fall.

Read the alert

More free construction safety workshops

WorkCover NSW invites small business operators in the construction industry to an interactive workshop aimed to help them to develop and/or improve systems that manage workplace safety, workers compensation and injury management.

View the invitation







Safety Alert - Vehicle/Mobile plant support stands

The Queensland Department of Mines and Energy has published a safety alert following a coal mine purchase of vehicle/mobile plant support stands.

The maximum operating height was not indicated on the stand and there was no indication of compliance with Australian or any other standard on the equipment.

View the safety alert

Safety Bulletin - Switchboard incoming supply hazards

The Queensland Department of Mines and Energy has issued a safety alert following an incident where an electrical tradesperson came into contact with an exposed 240 volt to earth cable termination on the back of a voltmeter. The area of a motor control centre in the vicinity of the incoming cables and circuit breaker presents an area of high risk to electrical persons working in the enclosure.

View the safety alert

Safety Bulletin - Shock from an electrostatic discharge

The Queensland Department of Mines and Energy has issued a safety alert following an incident where a drill rig operator received a severe electrostatic shock when he stepped on or touched a PVC pipe.

View the safety alert







Safetyline - April edition

The April edition of the WorkSafe WA Safetyline newsletter is now available.

View the newsletter







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US: The safety push at Fontainebleau

The 70-odd ironworkers working at the Fontainebleau construction site were fed up with dangerous conditions.

In July, they stopped working in the unsafe areas and persuaded their union, Irownworkers Local 433, to negotiate with the contractor to correct several specific safety problems. Among the changes they wanted was a caged elevator, not an open lift, to ride to higher floors.

Read their story

US: Nail gun safety under fire as injuries soar

Yet another horror story about nail guns....

With a 2 1/2-inch nail deep in his chest, construction worker Manuel Murillo slid into a pickup truck, bracing himself for a desperate seven-mile drive down a snowy Sierra road. He had shot himself with a nail gun while working on a mountain cabin. And he was going to die.

View the article

US: NYC construction worker killed; official cites safety violations

A window installer died in a nine-story fall at a building that had a history of safety violations.

Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster said it appeared a nylon safety strap at the Upper East Side site failed.

Read the article

US: Teen workers: Construction website

OSHA's Youth 2 Work program is focusing on teen workers in construction. Its website is a 'one-stop-shop' for teens to find information about working in the construction industry.

View the site

UK: Roofing firm chief's manslaughter charge

The owner of a roofing company has admitted manslaughter following the death of a 17-year-old employee who fell through a store skylight.

Read the media report

UK: HSE crane safety warning after death of welder

The Health and Safety Executive has warned of the dangers of allowing cranes to operate over the heads of employees. This follows the prosecution of a Liverpool-based company after a man was killed and another seriously injured after they were struck by a load that fell from a crane.

Read the news release

UK: HSE urges construction industry to do more to prevent deaths

Early figures from the Health and Safety Executive suggest that around 69 construction workers were killed in 2007/08. This points to a 10% improvement on the previous year’s figures but HSE warned the construction industry not to be complacent.

Read the media release

UK: UK falls statistics 2006/07

45 people died from a fall from height at work in 2006/07. This is again a record low. However falls from height remain the most common kind of accident causing fatal injuries.

Falls from ladders resulted in 12 deaths and 1050 major injuries, over a quarter of all injuries.

View the statistics

Prosecutions from around the world

US: OSHA fines Valero Energy Corp. more than $100,000 for alleged safety violations

UK: HSE issues cable warning after expolsion prosecution

Incidents around the world

Construction crane strikes power line
URS employee injured at Eramet
Worker dies in fall at Solid Waste Authority work site
Truck driver dies after trailer fall
Worker falls from farm roof
A worker was injured at a construction site in East Charlotte
Near-miss as crane topples
Mangrove worker falls 35 feet after bucket truck tips
Road worker struck, killed on I-95 in Md.
Construction worker killed in accident
Construction worker injured in fall from roof; OSHA investigates
Crane crashes under heavy load at downtown Fort Lauderdale site
Worker dies in Key West airport construction accident
Drunk driver injuries two workers on Sunshine Skyway Bridge
DOT worker injured in Syracuse
Woman awarded $14.6 million in amputation case
Worker's legs crushed on I-580 flyover
Torch sparks small fire at Aurora construction site
Man in hospital after scaffolding breaks

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