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

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.

Fire Safety Tips for Australian Business Owners

No matter the type of business you conduct at your workplace, fire safety should always be a main concern. Here are a few fire safety tips you can distribute to your staff:

•   Install a fire detection and warning system – the alarm can be raised automatically but if the system is manual, all employees should be taught how to operate the alarm.

•   Check your fire escape routes – they must take people to a safe place, be well-labelled, have good lighting and be designed in accordance with the Building Codes.

•   Nominate a fire warden – have one person (or more if needed) to be in charge of creating and enforcing fire safety procedures and ensuring that everyone knows what to do and where to find fire-fighting equipment.

•   Introduce evacuation procedures – in cases of emergency, everyone must be able to escape safely. Use your fire wardens to ensure people leave calmly and by the most direct route.

•   Use emergency lighting – all emergency routes and exits must be well-lit. Include lighting at each door, corridor, change of direction, staircase, change in floor level and next to all fire-fighting equipment and alarms.

•   Know your fire extinguishers – make sure you understand the different types of fire extinguisher available and have the correct ones stored in the appropriate places.

•   Check your fire safety signs – are the signs displayed clear, unambiguous and suitable for those with poor vision or lack of English language skills? Replace signs where necessary and ensure that they are well-lit and easy to understand.

•   Prepare an emergency plan – every employer must prepare an emergency plan covering things such as: the actions employees must take on discovering a fire, warning systems, evacuation procedures, fire warden duties etc.

•   Train your employees in fire safety – all staff must be instructed in how to raise the alarm, evacuation procedures and where fire-fighting equipment is kept. Without this knowledge, cases of fire have the potential to become even more serious.

•   Hold regular fire drills – practice your fire drill at least annually but more frequently if appropriate to ensure all employees know what to do and where to go.

ISOsafe can develop tailored Evacuation Procedures, Evacuation Plans/Diagrams for your workplace. We also offer a range of Emergency Preparedness training options such as; annual fire drills at your facility.