risk – Page 179 – SafetyAtWorkBlog

Risk assessment report – insulation

Risk assessments are crucial for operating a safety management system built on consultation with employees and relevant experts. This should be borne in mind over the next few days while the Australian Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, continues to be grilled over what he knew about the risks associated with the government’s insulation scheme and when he knew.

In terms of workplace safety, the Minter Ellison report says little of direct relevance. Continue reading “Risk assessment report – insulation”

Workers’ compensation for travel time injuries will need resolving

Following on from BHP Billiton‘s shift to employees over contractors, a media report on 21 February 2010 illustrates changes in shift lengths that one union says may increase fatigue in the workplace.

BHP Billiton says the company has a fatigue management policy and procedure that can allow for the flexibility of the new shift options but the CFMEU is very concerned about the safety impacts of the shift options. The Mining Industry Road Safety Alliance illustrates a major flaw in the process that is often reflected in issues of shiftwork and fatigue management in other industries – increased risk in travelling to and from work. Continue reading “Workers’ compensation for travel time injuries will need resolving”

Unsuitable PPE

Information is trickling out about Paul Quinlivan’s decision to repeatedly not wear PPE. A common reason for workers to not wear personal protective equipment is that it does not suit the individual. Quinlivan says he kept removing his goggles because they kept fogging up.

Goggles must retain their visibility for them to function. Fogging up may indicate that the goggles are the wrong type for the work being undertaken or for that work environment. Frequently business want one type of PPE to be applicable to a range of circumstances and this may not be a reasonable expectation. Continue reading “Unsuitable PPE”

Unsafe worker gets his job back

The front page story in the The Australian newspaper has generated many emails and phone calls to SafetyAtWorkBlog from irate safety professionals.

The nub of the story is that Fair Work Australia has reinstated a worker who was sacked because of consistently unsafe work practices.

It is important to remember that the decision by Fair Work Australia is undertaken under the Fair Work Act 2009 and not occupational health and safety regulations. In the case of Norske Skog Paper Mills (Australia) Ltd the relevant OHS legislation would have been New South Wales.

The story revolves around the dismissal of an employee not the unsafe actions of that worker. Continue reading “Unsafe worker gets his job back”

Small business OHS shortcomings

The home insulation debate in Australia is fragmenting. Workplace safety is one of the chunks of debate heading in an unknown direction (political safety goggles anyone?) The Australian newspaper included an article on 19 February 2010 that, although coming from the insulation sector, illustrates a dominant misunderstanding by small businesses.

The proprietor has run many businesses in a range of industries but he clearly has little understanding of his OHS obligations as he denies any responsibility for the death Matthew Fuller, an employee of the firm he contracted to undertake insulation installations, QHI Installations. The proprietor states the reason is that “we did not employ him.” Continue reading “Small business OHS shortcomings”

Reviewing Today Tonight’s insulation exclusive

As an example of “tabloid TV” the Today Tonight (TT) report broadcast on 17 February 2010 concerning children assisting workers to install insulation, was very good. It probably benefited from my own appearances remaining brief.

The topicality of a story on the home insulation industry could not have been higher yesterday as a Senate inquiry into the Australian Government’s environment and job creation scheme held hearings in Melbourne. TT led its show with the scandalous report.

The video of a young boy handling large bags of insulation on a roof is disturbing; the unprotected handling of the insulation material by the young boy is similar. That the children were allowed to be on the roof by the homeowner and parents is a parental supervision issue and outside the scope of this blog. That the workers allowed them to be present and did not tell the children to get down is more disturbing and a clear breach of the workers’ OHS obligations. Continue reading “Reviewing Today Tonight’s insulation exclusive”

Television exposé of children at risk on roof insulation worksite

On 16 February 2010, I was interviewed by Channel 7 television in Melbourne over 20 minutes of footage they had received that showed unacceptable work practices at a domestic site in Cranbourne.

Emails from friends told me that my words and face were used in promotional ads by the TV program. At the time of writing this, I have not seen the ads and I have no idea what words of mine they will use in the program to be broadcast this evening, 17 February 2010. [Video now available online]

Today Tonight has video of two men who are installing fibreglass insulation into a domestic roof space after having made an entry by removing some roof tiles. The men were employed to undertake the work by a company that has registered with the Australian Government for the task. The workers are equipped with face masks, gloves and coveralls. No fall protection was provided. Continue reading “Television exposé of children at risk on roof insulation worksite”

Category: risk

Risk assessment report – insulation

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Workers’ compensation for travel time injuries will need resolving

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Unsuitable PPE

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Unsafe worker gets his job back

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Small business OHS shortcomings

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Reviewing Today Tonight’s insulation exclusive

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Television exposé of children at risk on roof insulation worksite

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