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News and Reviews:
Featured Article:
Events and Training:
Next Months Focus:
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News and Reviews:
Court Case Leads to Reminder on Preventing Falls
Excerpt from DOCEP Corporate -Issue Date Wednesday 29 June 2005
A Perth plastering company has been fined $5000 for failing to provide edge protection on scaffolding after an employee was injured when he fell 3.3 metres to the ground. Santex Plastering Contractors Pty Ltd was convicted in the Magistrate's Court of WA Perth Registry last week of breaching Occupational Safety and Health Regulations by not providing edge protection in an area where there was a risk that a person could fall two or more metres from a scaffold.
In September 2002, an 18-year-old employee who was engaged in rendering work on a two storey office complex in Myaree fell 3.3m to the ground through a void in a section of the work site which had not been adequately protected. The young employee sustained a back injury that now prevents him from undertaking plastering and similar physically demanding work.
WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said today that the case illustrated the great care that must be taken to guard against falls from height. It is a sad fact that an average of two Western Australians die each year as a result of workplace falls,"Ms Lyhne said.
"There are also around 1260 incidents involving falls each year that result in injuries to WA workers, many of them serious and permanent as is the case with the young man involved in this incident.
"The Commission for Occupational Safety and Health launched a revised code of practice for the prevention of falls in workplaces last year, and I encourage everyone to ensure this code is freely available in all workplaces where falls are possible."
A code of practice on falls has existed in WA for the past 16 years, with the original code being initiated in response to the number of fatalities being recorded in the construction industry at that time. The current code provides information on the identification of common fall hazards at all workplaces and the use of fall-arrest equipment and systems, along with chapters on general work practices such as the use of ladders.
"We need to keep in mind the potential cost of a death or serious injury - this cost is likely to be much higher, both in social and economic terms, than investing in safer work practices.
"I urge employers to ensure safe work practices are in place for anyone working at heights, and also to make sure the code of practice is freely available at the workplace.
The Code of Practice on the Prevention of Falls in Workplaces is available on the website at www.safetyline.wa.gov.au.
Featured Article:
Fall Protection
Fall hazards are the construction industry's main cause of death from traumatic injuries with 18 deaths having occurred in 2003 in Australia and New Zealand. They are also its second largest cause of non-fatal injuries to construction workers. In Australia alone between 1997 and 2001, the construction industry generated around 1,600 fall-related workers compensation claims each year. This represents approximately 12% of all construction workers compensation claims.*
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1989, employers, persons in control of a workplace and self-employed persons must take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that persons at or near the workplace are not exposed to health and safety risks. Preventing injury from falls is also a requirement under the Scaffolding and Lifts act 1912.
What can you do to prevent falls? There is a three step risk management approach that can be implemented into any workplace. The first step is to identify the hazards, the second is to assess the risk and the third step is controlling the risk. Controlling the risk can involve such measures as eliminating the hazard, by working on the ground as much as is practicable; substituting with a safer surface such as constructing temporary work platforms; isolating the hazard by using physical barriers such as guardrails; and the use of personal protective equipment such as a hard hat which can minimise the risk of head injuries and safety harnesses which are secured into an anchor point or a safety line at the work site.
If your workplace engages contractors to undertake work, it is important to remember that there is a shared responsibility for health and safety and this requires cooperation and communication regarding risks associated with the work. You can not "contract out" your safety responsibilities for work or a workplace that you control.
For further information on the rights and responsibilities of both employers and employees, visit the Workcover website in your state or territory. They have loads of information and provide all the up-to-date legislative requirements.
* Information sourced from the HWSA Joint Compliance Project Report: Falls Prevention in Construction 2004 -Part One found at www.workcover.tas.gov.au/workcoverpublish/attach/inspfalls1.pdf and from Workcover ACT's IB0314 - Prevention of Falls on Construction Sites found at www.workcover.act.gov.au/pdfs/IB0314-Falls_Prevention.pdf
Events and Training:
National Safety Solutions Australia provides several training programs which are aimed at "Eliminating the potential risk" with specialties including height safety, confined spaces and rope rescue. For details on the training and services available, check out their website at www.nationalsafety.com.au
Mine Safety and Health Management Summit
29-30 June 2005
Duxton Hotel
Perth, WA
Integrating the latest perspectives on behavioural safety, risk assessment and legislation for Mine Safety and Health management to drive a zero harm safety culture. Nine industry and cross sector case studies, two government addresses and four expert commentaries are brought together in a benchmarking forum to present you with the latest perspectives on safety, health and legislation in mining.
Contact details available at www.minesafe.org
National Safety Council
93rd Annual Congress & Expo
Orlando, Florida
United States of America
Congress
17-23 September 2005
The Congress is a well established annual event which includes the annual meeting of the Council and educational sessions. Educational sessions range from broad-based to industry-specific topics and are offered to both the seasoned-professional and newcomers to the safety and health arena. Both technical sessions and professional development seminars are offered as part of the educational program.
Expo
21-23 September 2005
The Expo is the world's largest annual safety and health exhibits, drawing over 750 exhibiting companies. It's a forum where over 750 manufacturers of safety, health and environmental products and services meet with safety and health professionals to demonstrate and showcase the latest in safety.
For further information and registration details click on
www.appcluster05.com/nsc2005splash.cfm
World Congress
18-22 September 2005
The World Congress on Safety and Health at Work will be held in the USA for the first time. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet and network with experts from around the world.
For further information and registration details, click on www.safety2005.org
The Safety Show -Sydney
The Safety Conference -Sydney
26-28 October 2005
Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park
Sponsored by Workcover (NSW), this is NSW's only dedicated Workplace Health and Safety Trade Show. The 2005 event boasts an exciting range of new features including a dedicated Building and Electrical Safety Feature, Free Safety Tours led by industry experts and a Live Demonstration Area where OHS products can be put to the test.
For further information and registration details check out www.thesafetyshow.com.
Safety Trivia for the Month
In the Great Fire of London in 1666, half of London was burnt down, but only 6 people were injured.
# The information provided is provided as a general outline and is not intended to be a definitive statement on the subject matter.
# Professional advice should always be sought before any action is taken in relation to the any of the matters described herein.
Next Months Focus
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