The Sunday Age of 30 January 2011 ran an article about the status of workplace safety in some of Victoria’s abattoirs. The article has some similarities to the landmark investigations by Eric Schlosser into work practices and compensation issues related to meatworks in the United States. The Sunday Age says that “(Last financial year [2009/2010], there were 355 workers’ [...]
All posts for the month January, 2011
Only animals should die in abattoirs
Posted by Kevin Jones on January 30, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/01/30/only-animals-should-die-in-abattoirs/
Quad bike fatality costs over $80k in penalties
A Western Australian company has been fined $A50,000 over the death of one of its workers in November 2008 The worker rode a quad bike into a wire gate and died. The recent WorkSafe WA media release focuses, understandably on the fine imposed in the Perth Magistrates’ Court on Jenara P/L but a clearer picture [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on January 28, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/01/28/quad-bike-fatality-costs-over-80k-in-penalties/
Harsco’s safety award rescinded due to anomalies in injury claims data
The awarding of safety awards by government OHS authorities in Australia have needed reviewing for some time. There remains inconsistencies on the openness of the judging processes and differences in award categories. In 2009, John Holland’s award nomination was withdrawn and now, according to the a video report on TV program Today Tonight in Adelaide, another safety award has been withdrawn. [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on January 27, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/01/27/harscos-safety-award-rescinded-due-to-anomalies-in-injury-claims-data/
Laboratory safety begins with design
Laboratory safety is often treated as a specialist area of occupational safety due to the potential harm from the material being handled but also because the laboratories often exist in universities, isolated work environments in many ways. Kansas State University (KSU) is obviously very proud of its Biosecurity Research Institute that, it claims, has considered all elements [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on January 26, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/01/26/laboratory-safety-begins-with-design/
Safety rationalisation doesn’t end with an improving economy!
Guest contributor, Gerard May, writes The economic circumstances an organisation finds itself in can greatly affect their approach to workplace health and safety. Tough economic times are still ahead for some industries and organisations, while others who rationalised for survival through the global financial crisis will begin to prosper. This article will delve into what may [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on January 25, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/01/25/safety-rationalisation-doesn%e2%80%99t-end-with-an-improving-economy/
Is politics anti-family?
Another Australian politician has resigned to spend more time with his family but this time the family mantra is not tacked on to a struggling career in order to add moral weight to the political decision sadly many examples of dubious resignations are available. Most commentators believe that the Tasmanian Premier, David Bartlett’s decision is [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on January 24, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/01/24/is-politics-anti-family/
Insurance company “fire-bomber” dies in custody
Almost 12 months ago, Paul Wayne Clarke “loaded a shopping trolley with jerry cans of fuel and set it alight inside a Darwin insurance office, injuring 15 people”. Clarke died on 21 January 2011 after a failed suicide attempt whilst in custody. On February 2010 media report provided a few details of Clarke’s circumstances: “The [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on January 24, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/01/24/insurance-company-fire-bomber-dies-in-custody/
WorkSafe prosecutes Dept of Corrective Services and G4S
In June 2010 WorkSafe WA began investigating the 2008 death from heat stroke of 46-year-old aboriginal elder Mr Ward. According to one media report : “A broken air conditioner forced Mr Ward to endure temperatures above 50 degrees during the non-stop, four-hour journey to face a drink-driving charge in court.” The same article noted that [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on January 19, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/01/19/worksafe-prosecutes-dept-of-corrective-services-and-g4s/
Independent research into quad bike ROPS safety
In early 2009, Australian engineer, Shane Richardson, completed his thesis into the “Performance Criteria For Effective Structural Rollover Protective Systems For Light Passenger Vehicles”. Part of his thesis included an evaluation of the New Zealand Department of Labour’s ROPS guidelines for ATVs or quad bikes. Richardson points out that the guidelines have strong similarities to [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on January 18, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/01/18/independent-research-into-quad-bike-rops-safety/
Dust suppression innovation research
Many areas of Australia are flooded, sodden or just very wet in the middle of this Southern Hemisphere Summer. Many workplaces had been expecting to be wetting down worksites and roadways to suppress the dust. Instead the water carts are garaged due to mud. But the environmental and occupational hazard of dust remains a hazard. [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on January 14, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/01/14/dust-suppression-innovation-research/
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