Week three of National Health and Safety month is dedicated to using data to make our workplaces safer. Learning the statistics on common causes of injury helps to reduce work related injuries and fatalities. 

According to Safe Work Australia, in 2018 144 workers suffered fatal injuries at work. 69% of these fatalities occurred across the following industries:

• Transport, postal and warehousing (38)
• Agriculture (37)
• Construction (24)

The primary causes of worker fatalities in 2018 were:

• Vehicle collision (44)
• Being hit by moving objects (24)
• Falling from height (18)

Out of the 144 worker fatalities, 62% were vehicle-related. In-depth work work related fatality statistics, as well as work related injury statistics can be found on the Safe Work Australia website. Safe Work Australia is also supplying a range of resources for this week’s theme. 

What’s On

On Wednesday 14th of October Comcare is hosting COVID-19, our work, mental health and wellbeing, a webinar focused on the impacts of pandemic in these areas. It runs between  2 and 3:30 pm. 

It’s National Safe Work Month. Australian Workplaces have made significant changes to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, so it’s not surprising that this year’s theme is ‘Work Health and Safety through COVID-19’. 

Work related injuries and illnesses can affect any of us, and our families and communities. COVID-19 must be treated as a workplace hazard, and companies and organisations must work to manage the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19 in the workplace.

What is National Safe Work Month?

Since 2009, Safe Work Australia has been running a national campaign aimed at raising work health and safety awareness. National Safe Work month is an opportunity for you and your organisation to make a commitment to improving health and safety in your workplace.

Each week has a different focus, including:

• Joining National Safe Work Month (week 1)
• Navigating mental health through COVID-19 (week 2)
• Using data to make workplaces safer (week 3)
• A safe and healthy workplace is for everyone (week 4)
• Keeping WHS a priority (week 5)

Starting a conversation around health and safety is important. Safe Work Australia provides a wide range of resources on their website to help your organisation get involved, including ideas for a range of ideas for virtual activities.

WorkSafe Victoria is running free webinars throughout the month. You can find out more about these on the WorkSafe website.

WorkSafe reports Tatura Fresh Pty Ltd was convicted and sentenced to pay a $30,000 fine on Monday after a worker’s arm was caught in an unguarded winding mechanism while operating a powered leaf mat washer.

The company pleaded guilty to failing to provide or maintain a working environment that was safe and without risks to health in the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court. The hydroponic tomato farm was also ordered to pay $3623 in costs.

The court heard the washer was an overseas import, and Tatura Fresh had failed to ensure it met Australian standards. The company also failed to ensure that guarding was present around dangerous and powered areas.

The machine’s emergency stop control was not operational, and there was no safety switch on the device. The worker suffered nerve damage and serious crush injuries.

Tatura Fresh had failed to ensure there was a documented system of work for operation of the machine.

This incident emphasises the importance of ensuring that machinery is serviced and inspected regularly and meets Australian standards. It also highlights the need for documented systems of work.

Employers must make sure all safety guards and gates are compliant. They are also required to ensure staff have adequate training in safe operation of all machinery and equipment. Staff must also be provided with written work procedures in their first language. For more information, visit the WorkSafe website.

Making sure Health & Safety Representatives have access to refresher training is critical – even during COVID-19. In fact, it’s a legal entitlement. 

The safety of your workplace is important, and an HSR who is well equipped to represent their Designated Work Group can help to ensure that any safety concerns are quickly identified and communicated.

Attending a refresher course helps HSRs and managers keep up with legislation changes. It also gives them the opportunity to remind themselves of key points in the OHS act.

In a refresher, an HSR has the chance to go over crucial elements of their role. This includes risk management and a review of the issue resolution process. The course provides information on how to work with WorkSafe inspectors and helps to clarify important terms and concepts. Refresher training supports HSRs, providing them with the tools to communicate the safety concerns and interests of their work group.

The classroom environment gives HSRs space to ask questions, filling in gaps in their knowledge, while reminding them of the importance and powers of an HSR. This supports a strong workplace safety culture.

Under the OHS act, HSRs are entitled to refresher training once a year. There is no reason to put HSR training on the backburner while your workplace adapts to the COVID-19 pandemic. HSRs can now take part in WorkSafe approved online refresher training and develop their skills while staying COVID-safe.

Virtual classroom learning

SysTec delivers WorkSafe approved HSR training online, lead by experienced instructors in a real-time virtual classroom. Both our HSR initial 5 day course and our HSR refresher course provide industry leading remote delivery training.  

HSRs can see and work with other students through our video conferencing platform. They can talk to the trainer and ask questions freely.

SysTec currently offers two approved versions of the refresher course. One focusing on plant and machinery and the other focusing on work-related violence.

To find out more about our HSR virtual classroom training, call our office on 03 9484 0086.

Two company directors have received suspended sentences and a $3 million company fine following a guilty verdict handed down recently in a Brisbane District Court. 

The company, Brisbane Auto Recycling Pty Ltd, pleaded guilty to one offence under section 34 C of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. 

The directors also pleaded guilty to Category 1 charges of reckless conduct under section 31 of the Act, following an incident where a worker was fatally crushed between a forklift and a stationary truck in 2019.

An investigation by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and Queensland Police found that the business was using an unlicensed forklift truck driver, and that the company had no documented safety systems. 

In addition to the 3 million dollar fine issued to the company, its two directors received 10 month prison sentences with a suspension period of 20 months. 

The underlying causes of the incident were identified, with the company failing to ensure compliance with its safety obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act by:

• Failing to eliminate or remove hazards and risks posed by the use of mobile powered plant and resulting in the death of a worker
• Failing to provide safe systems of work.

As the first Industrial Manslaughter Conviction to be passed down, this prosecution serves as a warning that serious penalties –  including fines and jail time – are on the cards for managers and companies when a life is taken at work. 

For the original article visit the Australian Institute of Health and Safety. 

If you are concerned about how your company could be impacted by workplace manslaughter laws, get in touch with one of our consultants. 

Phone us on (03) 9484 0086 or

Email us at admin@systec-pl.com.au