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 vapours 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.

Demolition and public safety

Demolition isn’t exactly on the low risk end of the spectrum – so, it goes without saying that health and safety measures need to be stepped up when you’re engaging in this type of work.

One story that springs to mind, is that of the rubbish removal company prosecuted after an 87 year-old suffered debilitating injuries when she was hit by a skip truck.

Melbourne Bin Hire Pty Ltd, which trades as Melbourne’s Cheapest Bin Hire, was convicted and fined $20,000 in the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on Monday 21 February 2011. The company pleaded guilty to one charge under section 23(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 – for failing to ensure that members of the public are not exposed to health or safety risks.

The incident occurred while a skip truck was being used to remove debris from an Essendon North demolition site. The truck, which had been reversed into the site, was being driven out when it struck a pedestrian walking across the driveway. The woman was dragged under one of the truck’s front tyres and pulled onto the road. Her right arm was de-gloved from the upper arm to the fingers, and she suffered a heart attack on the way to hospital.

Could it have been avoided? Of course! The company in concern had identified risk factors, but had failed to implement control measures.

So if you’re demolishing or dismantling, what risk factors should you be on the look out for? And what should you do to avoid costly penalties?
•   Identify the risks
The risks that you could be facing really depend on the kind of work taking place, so there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. That means you need to stay alert and pay attention!
Are there likely to be building openings, or partially demolished floors? There could be a risk of falling from height.
Demolishing produces a lot of debris and material falling – which can pose another serious risk to both workers and passers-by. Keep exclusion zones and hard hat areas where there’s the greatest risk of debris, and try to keep walkways covered up.
•   Make sure you carry out a structural survey
You’ll need to be aware of the building or structure’s own possible risk factors, so a survey is essential.
This will help you answer some important questions and identify possible risks – how old is the building and how was it constructed? Are there other buildings nearby? What’s the weight of the material or machinery on any floors above the ground floor?
Based on this information, you can decide on the safest way to carry out the demolition process.
•   Be wary of hazardous materials
As well as larger pieces of debris, there’s likely to be some hazardous material that could be airborne. This can cause serious health damage. Some of the biggest culprits are dust, asbestos and respirable crystalline silica.
Then there are the materials that might not have been cleared fully from the old building, such as paints and flammable liquids, or chemicals from industrial processes.
•   Be alert when it comes to noise and vibration
Damage from intense vibration and loud noises may not be as obvious as some of the other risk factors around – but they’re no less serious!
Frequent exposure to loud noises can permanently damage a person’s hearing – and using vibrating hand tools can lead to hand-arm vibration syndrome. So make sure that anyone at risk of these issues has been properly trained, and given adequate respite from exposure.
•   Engage the right contractor
Selecting the right contractor to do the job is key. So make sure that you engage a company with knowledge and experience for the job, you don’t want to employ a contractor without checking their competency. Getting that right will help avoid problems further down the line.

Are you involved in demolition? Get in touch with ISOsafe today on 1300 789 132 to learn more about how we can help protect your business

Why all business owners and employers should implement an Environmental Management System (EMS) (ISO 14001:2015) today

More and more customers are asking for environmental credentials as part of their supplier approval process. Requests may be made in tender applications or supplier questionnaires. Customers questions can range from 'does your business have an environmental policy?' through to 'is your business ISO 14001 certified?'

There are a number of advantages to having an Environmental Management System (EMS). From a corporate social responsibility standpoint, it demonstrates that a business is committed to reducing its carbon footprint.

Government bodies and multinational companies are often inclined to select a contractor/supplier based on evidence of a well maintained EMS, as it demonstrates effective risk management and due diligence.

A well designed EMS also helps businesses avoid costly environmental impacts through established protocols derived from operational assessments (environmental aspects) and consideration of regulatory frameworks.

The identification of a business’s most significant environmental impacts also creates opportunities to operate more efficiently. Such opportunities may include cost reducing waste management and energy consumption strategies, translating to increased profits and a competitive advantage over other contractors/suppliers in the market. A well maintained EMS formalises environmental performance and ultimately assists business’s in the achievement of financial objectives / targets.

To get started with an EMS for your business today email us at: enquiries@isosafe.com.au 

Benefits of ISO certification for businesses

ISOsafe helps Australian business owners stay on top of workplace safety ( OHS / OH&S / WHS / WH&S ) regulatory changes, but did you know we can also assist with ISO certifications such as Quality (ISO 9001), OHS (ISO 45001 / OHSAS 18001 / ASNZS 4801) and Environmental (ISO 14001) Management Systems?

Some of the benefits of ISO certification for businesses include:
•    demonstrate commitment to their products / services and the environment;
•    competitive advantage - win government and high risk (transport, mining and construction) tenders (RFP);
•    greater employee engagement through training, communication & accountability;
•    better governance and management of suppliers and outsourced processes;
•    minimise waste and duplication;
•    boost operational performance & achieve cost savings;
•    achieve legal compliance;
•    gain corporate reputation; and
•    reduce workplace injuries, accidents & incidents.