Nearly a million dollars in safety fines after bricklayer almost killed

A Granville bricklaying company and its director have been fined nearly three quarters of a million dollars after a worker almost died from electric shock on a Hammondville construction site in 2012.
The worker had been installing vertical metal bars into brickwork at a residential and commercial construction when he made contact with overhead power lines, suffering electrical burns to his hands, arms and torso. After being pronounced dead at the scene, he was revived by the Director.
SafeWork NSW charged the bricklaying company and its director for failing to comply with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW). The judge found that the Director of the company failed to exercise due diligence by not checking that the scaffold was a safe distance from power lines and verifying that a risk assessment had been conducted.
Two other companies, at the same site, were fined $500,000 in 2014 and $75,000 in 2015 respectively, over the incident.
Executive Director of SafeWork NSW, Peter Dunphy said the incident could have been prevented if the business had a few simple safe work systems in place.
“There was a clear risk that the bricklayer could receive a potentially deadly electric shock if they came into contract with the power lines while working from the scaffolding,” Mr Dunphy said.
“The Director should have verified that a safety assessment had been conducted, ensured the scaffolding was a safe distance from power lines and advised the bricklayer of the risk.
“Unfortunately, this did not occur and the bricklayer almost died in an incident that was completely preventable.
“Fines from this incident now total almost three quarters of a million dollars, serving as a strong deterrent to those in the construction industry thinking about ignoring safety laws.”
Failure to manage health and safety can result in serious incidents. So, as well as putting staff wellbeing at risk, businesses can be left exposed to substantial financial penalties, criminal and civil prosecution and loss of reputation.
Don’t risk noncompliance. ISOsafe’s services will protect your business. We will prepare safe systems of work, safety instructions and all other documentation you require. Call us now 1300 789 132 or email us at enquiries@isosafe.com.au, to learn more about our services for businesses and their owners.

Sydney construction company fined $240,000 by SafeWork following explosion

The blast took place on a residential construction site in Eastwood, NSW, when a worker attempted to remove three underground petrol storage tanks using an excavator. The explosion heavily damaged nearby structures and even broke the windows of several buildings across the road.
SafeWork NSW charged the construction company, with a breach of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 for failing to ensure the health and safety of workers and others.
SafeWork’s investigation found that the company hired an unqualified contractor to remove the tanks.
Executive Director of SafeWork NSW, Peter Dunphy said although no one was injured in the explosion, the incident could have been catastrophic.
“Storage tanks that previously contained flammable liquids or gases must be handled with extreme care as there can be vapors which, even after many years, may ignite when exposed to heat,” Mr Dunphy said.
“Businesses and workers should take extreme care working near or on items that contain chemical residue, especially solvents.
“It is extremely fortunate that the contractor and people in nearby buildings were not killed or injured in the explosion.”
Mr Dunphy added that the company also failed to provide notice of their planned demolition work.
“The company failed to notify SafeWork NSW about demolition work as well as the schedule 11 hazardous chemicals in the abandoned petrol storage tanks at the site,” he said.
“The company took no steps to address the risks and chose to rely on the contractor’s claimed experience, with near-disastrous consequences.”
Failure to manage contractors can result in costly incidents. So, as well as putting worker and public safety at risk, businesses can be left exposed to substantial financial penalties, criminal and civil prosecution and loss of reputation.
Don’t risk noncompliance. ISOsafe’s services will protect your business. We will prepare safe systems of work, safety instructions and all other documentation you require. Call us now 1300 789 132 to learn more about our services for businesses.

Setting up a health & safety procedure in a new business

Health and safety is a necessity for all new businesses, but it doesn't have to be a complicated process. Working out a simple and efficient approach that complies with legislation and consistently ensures the safety of employees can make managing your business easier. Good practice in health and safety can positively influence your business by:
•   reducing staff absences and sick leave
•   maintaining a positive reputation
•   reducing the costs associated with accidents
•   improving staff motivation levels
•   boosting productivity and profits

Get equipped
Looking after your employees is a high priority when it comes to setting up a new business, and there are a number of facilities you can provide and procedures you must consider to ensure their safety. This includes:
•   toilet facilities
•   good ventilation
•   suitable lighting
•   somewhere to rest and eat meals
•   a suitably stocked first-aid box
•   a reasonable work temperature
•   appropriate waste containers

Manage the risks
The first stage in managing your business's potential risks is to identify what can harm people by taking a walk around the workplace and looking for any hazards. Common activities that could cause harm in the workplace include working at a height, and working with chemicals, machinery, gas, electricity and asbestos. For each hazard, you should think about:
•   the risk of somebody being harmed
•   who can be harmed
•   how serious the harm will be
You can also ask your employees if they have noticed any potential risks, as they may have noticed hazards that aren't obvious to you. In addition, involving employees in the process shows you're serious about their safety, and allows them to raise concerns and influence decisions directly.
Once you've highlighted potential hazards, consider what should be done to reduce or eradicate the risk, and put the appropriate measures in place.

Write a health and safety policy
A health and safety policy is the best way to let your staff and others know that you are committed to providing a safe workplace. Writing a policy doesn't have to be time consuming, but should clearly outline:
•   what you want to achieve
•   what you are going to do
•   who is responsible for specific actions
A written policy is a legal requirement for companies that employ any number of people.

Provide training
Once you've written your health and safety policy it is important you relay the information to your team, so everyone working for you knows what they are expected to do. Training should be provided on the risks they face, what measures are in place to deal with hazards and how to follow emergency procedures. You should also record when training has been carried out to keep track of when refresher sessions might be needed.
It is also necessary to display the workers compensation law poster in an easy-to-read position, so details of the policy are always available. 

Keep up to date
It is important that you keep a record of any accidents that take place in the workplace, so you can keep your health and safety procedures up to date. Recording injuries, incidents and cases of work-related illnesses will allow you to identify patterns and introduce effective measures to remove or reduce any future risk. In addition, your insurance company might want to see your records if an employee makes a claim for compensation.

Appoint someone to help
If you're not confident in your ability to manage all aspects of this side of the business, don't worry, you can appoint one or more people to help you meet your firm's requirements. This person must have the ability to work under pressure and make tough decisions, as well as have the knowledge and expertise to do the job effectively, and can be an employee or an external consultant. 
Health and safety may not be the first thing on your agenda as a start-up, but it's something that needs to be considered early on. It will make your business easier to manage, and help you avoid paying out compensation for accidents and penalties.
ISOsafe are health and safety specialists with decades of experience. Get in touch with one of our team members to learn about our services for businesses and their owners.

Free Ladder Safety Inspection Checklist For Your Workplace

For many short-duration tasks, ladders are undoubtedly the most suitable piece of access equipment: they’re relatively cheap, easy to handle and can be used by almost anyone with a bit of suitable training

However, using a ladder also has its dangers! If your ladder isn’t positioned correctly, regularly inspected or used appropriately then accidents are likely – did you know that last year alone around 567,000 working days were lost due to falls from height?

Before you set foot on the first rung, whether it be to paint a wall, clean a window or reach a shelf, make sure you tally up your task against the following safe ladder procedures and ensure you stay safe:

Assess the risks
☐ Is a ladder the most suitable equipment for the task? Ladders are recommended only for short-duration, low-risk tasks
☐ Will the task last longer than 30 minutes? If so, another form of work at height equipment may be more suitable
☐ Is the person using the ladder competently trained?
☐ Does any personal protective equipment, such as gloves and a hard hat, need providing to the user to enhance their safety?
☐ Are you using the right ladder for the job? 

Check your footing
☐ Is the ladder placed on firm, level ground? Sloping, unsolid or moveable ground can cause the ladder to slip when in use
☐ Are there hazards around the base of the ladder that need removing, such as wet leaves, oil or mud?
☐ Do the ladder’s rungs run parallel (horizontally) with the floor?
☐ Is the ladder fixed at regular intervals or do you have a stability device in place to prevent it from slipping and falling?
☐ Is the top of the ladder resting against a strong surface, such as a brick wall? Weak surfaces, like plastic guttering and glass, can easily break and so should be avoided
☐ Is the ladder at a 75° angle – 1 unit out for every 4 units up? If this angle cannot be obtained then do not use the ladder

Do an inspection
☐ Has the ladder been checked for defects before use?
☐ Are the rungs and stiles bent or damaged? If so, remove the ladder from use
☐ Are the feet missing, worn or damaged? If so, remove the ladder from use
☐ On a stepladder, does the locking mechanism engage fully? If not, remove the ladder from use
☐ Are the steps or feet contaminated with dirt? If so, remove the ladder from use and ensure it is properly cleaned before using
☐ Has a regular formal inspection of the ladder been done? Are there records of this to show any defects that were found?

Climb the ladder with care
☐ Are you ascending and descending the ladder one rung at a time?
☐ Are you facing the direction of the rungs when climbing?
☐ Are you moving too quickly? Quick climbing can cause the ladder to ‘bounce’ and lose footing so always move slowly
☐ Can you maintain 3 points of contact at all times, i.e. two feet and one hand?
☐ Are you overreaching or leaning sideways to reach your task? If so, reposition the ladder so that it’s face on to the work activity or select a ladder with greater height
☐ Are you carrying items up the ladder? If so, use a tool belt to ensure your hands are free to grip the ladder as you climb

Once all of the above have been considered then you should be ready to start your task – the key point is to always assess the situation, inspect the ladder and climb with care. If your workers require ladder safety training, contact us today.

Benefits of Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSAS 18001)

OHSAS 18001 is the British Standard for Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S / WHS). It is an internationally applied and recognised system for the management of Occupational Health and Safety. OHSAS 18001 aligns with the structure and requirements of the popular ISO 9001 and ISO 14001; this means, organisations already certified to the ISO 9001 and/or ISO 14001 Management Systems Standards can become OHSAS 18001 certified with little effort.

Perhaps the most important and attractive feature of implementing an OH&S Management System (OHSAS 18001) is the ability to advertise of a safe working environment. There are many benefits to implementing an OH&S Management System, such as:

•    Improving corporate image and credibility among stake holders, regulators, customers, prospective clients and the public
•    Adoption of international best practice in relation to risk management
•    Ensure health and well being of employees, sub contractors and the public
•    Minimisation of liability of employers through adoption of proactive rather than reactive controls
•    Ensuring legislative awareness and compliance
•    Reducing accident and incident rates by reducing and elimination workplace hazards
•    Improving the incident investigation process
•    Improving employee motivation through the provision of a safer workplace and participation process

For further information on OHSAS 18001 or the certification process, contact us today.