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In this edition Allan Beacom, WorkSafe's Construction Manager, says welcome back and reminds readers to be aware of the influx of young and inexperienced workers onsite in early 2014.
WorkSafe welcomes the construction industry back for the year and hopes employers and workers return recharged after relaxing with family and friends over the shutdown period.
The new year sees the annual influx of new workers into our industry with school leavers starting what we all hope will be long and productive construction careers. Unfortunately all too many of these new workers will be injured in their first months on the job.
The characteristics that make our industry so appealing to young workers can also compromise their safety. Sites are changing environments with specialist contractors coming and going and the physical workplace altering even by the hour as vertical or horizontal builds forge ahead within tight schedules. Such dynamic activity also means that new and inexperienced workers are frequently being exposed to safety risks which were not present before.
WorkSafe's reminds employers to always think ahead and plan how they are going to ensure the physical and mental safety of workers, especially those that are new.
While a young worker should have a construction induction card, it is important to remember that this training does not fully equip a new worker to recognise all risks that may be present. All workers, particularly new starters must also be inducted into your business and onto each new site. Employers should encourage young workers to speak up about any safety concerns.
Employers should also consider their supervisory arrangements and ensure they are effective in closely monitoring a new worker. Now is an opportune time to remind the rest of your workforce of their responsibilities and expected behaviours with young and new workers.
Older workers also have a role to play in ensuring the safety of young workers as they have the experience to recognise risks and possibly the confidence to raise safety matters with their employer.
WorkSafe offers a range of safety-related advice about young workers on its website and lists relevant employer and union websites you can go to.
If you are a small business, I also urge you to take advantage of an independent and confidential free three-hour safety consultation available through WorkSafe by registering at worksafe.vic.gov.au or phoning our Advisory Service on 1800 136 089.
All the best for the coming year,
Allan Beacom
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| Victoria
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New Industry Standard: Piling and foundation
WorkSafe release a new standard for the piling and foundation (PF) engineering industry that covers the safe operation and maintenance of PF equipment and employee training.
The heat is on
A reminder that health and safety laws require workplaces to be safe and without risks to health - this includes the risk of heat-related illness and injury.
Inspectors visit Hamilton
WorkSafe inspectors will visit Hamilton from 17-21 February 2014 as part of Safe Towns - a workplace safety program aimed at making regional Victoria a safer place to work.
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| Australia and New Zealand
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Scaffolder killed in 30m fall
A man died after falling about 30 metres from scaffolding on a central Sydney construction site.
Building collapse injures worker
A northern NSW man was hospitalised after a building partially collapsed while workers were inside removing asbestos.
Electric shock warning
WorkCover NSW asks workers and businesses to be vigilant when working with electricity after a high number of recent electric shock and electrocution incidents.
Alert: Removing underground tanks
WorkCover NSW release a Safety Alert after an explosion injured three workers and damaged surrounding property during the removal of a storage tank.
QLD worker crushed by truck
A Cairns man was crushed to death when a dump-truck collapsed onto him while he was doing repair work.
Perth man falls through scaffold
A Perth man was hospitalised with head and arm injuries after he fell through some scaffolding while removing asbestos from a house ceiling.
Safety concerns for labour hire
WorkSafe WA will conduct an inspection program to look at the health and safety of the state’s labour hire workers after a number of serious injuries in recent years.
Alert: Non-compliant plywood
WorkSafe NT issue a Safety Alert after plywood sold as F17 stress grade (suitable for structural work) was tested and found to be non-complaint with Australian Standards.
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| Mining
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WA miner death
A contractor died and a second man sustained serious leg injuries while undertaking maintenance work on a surface miner at a Pilbara mine.
Tasmanian miner death
A worker was killed when a sudden inflow of mud entered the lower levels of a Tasmanian copper mine.
Alert: Mobile crane failure
WorkSafe Tasmania issue a Safety Alert after a 20-tonne mobile crane hook assembly failed because thread and nut of the assembly had deteriorated in a harsh mining environment.
Alert: Secure explosives
QLD’s Department of Natural Resources and Mines release an alert after electronic detonators fell from a vehicle’s unlocked carry box.
Alert: Rig drilled into explosives
Safety Alert issued after a drill rig hit explosives loaded into a blast hole during operations at an open pit mine.
Information bulletin: Mixed loads of explosives
QLD bulletin addresses the limits of mixed detonator and explosive loads in vehicles with carry boxes travelling on public roads.
Virtual reality mine
A 3D replica of a working underground mine now allows trainee workers in QLD to experience what it's like to work in a mine before they start on the job.
Safety bulletin: Dust and gases
Recent exposure incidents to dust and potentially hazardous gases from open cut mine blasting have resulted in hospital treatment for several NSW mine employees.
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| Prosecutions
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Fine for preventable fall
A company was fined $59 500 plus legal fees after an employee received serious injuries in a fall that SafeWork SA says was ‘entirely preventable’.
Company director fined
A crane and rigging company director, who was also a site supervisor and manager, was fined $1,750 plus legal fees after SafeWork SA proscecuted him for failing to take reasonable care to ensure the safety of workers who were moving precast concrete panels.
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