Warning to avoid Brisbane asbestos testing company

Businesses utilising the services of asbestos testing providers are advised to remain vigilant. One asbestos testing company, in particular, is being investigated by the Queensland Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

The company and its director are being investigated for allegedly charging customers to test asbestos samples but failing to have them tested.

The OFT began investigating after receiving a complaint from a regional Queensland council. It found that the company had been consistently invoicing clients for samples taken but not tested.

WorkSafe Victoria Executive director of Health and Safety, Marnie Williams, said that if the allegations proved correct, the company’s behaviour was “outrageous”.

“Asbestos is a dangerous substance, which is why employers put their faith in companies such as this one to ensure appropriate testing is conducted,” Ms Williams said.

“Employers need to have confidence that testing procedures are carried out to ensure workplace health and safety is never compromised.”

Ms Williams said any business who had engaged Asbestos Audit should check whether the company had provided NATA-accredited analysis reports for all samples taken at their site as part of the report.

“If such reports have not been, or cannot be, provided, they should organise for a competent person to re-take those samples and have them analysed by a NATA accredited laboratory,” she said.

Any Victorian business or consumer who has used the company and have concerns about its testing procedures should contact the Queensland OFT by calling 13 74 68 or make a complaint online at www.qld.gov.au/fairtrading.

For expert advice on how to make your workplace safer contact ISOsafe today on 1300 789 132. Protect your staff with ISOsafe’s asbestos awareness training and safety programs.

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.