Ever wondered what happens when you ignore WorkSafe notices?

A Moorabbin furniture manufacturer who failed to address WorkSafe notices to fix serious safety breaches has been convicted and fined more than $22,000.

The company pleaded guilty to two charges under the 2004 OHS Act for failing to ensure its workplace was safe and without risks to health.
 

The company was fined $22,500 and ordered to pay $4027 in costs.
 

The Moorabbin Magistrates Court was told that WorkSafe inspectors visited the business several times between April 2015 and July 2016 and issued numerous improvement notices.
 

The first charge related to breaches that included failing to fit a non-conductive, non-flammable cover to an electrical switchboard exposing workers to risk of electrical shock; failing to correctly store flammable liquids; allowing employees to smoke in close proximity to dangerous goods; and failing to guard a high-speed rotating fan and situating it in a doorway.
 

The second charge related to failing to undertake regular housekeeping tasks, thereby exposing workers to the risk of slips, trips and falls, or coming into contact with hazardous objects.
 

WorkSafe’s Executive Director of Health and Safety, Marnie Williams, said employers who ignored improvement notices may face prosecution.
 

For more information on WorkSafe inspections go to: www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/safety/inspections

If youre unsure of your obligations, contact ISOsafe on 1300 789 132 or email us at enquiries@isosafe.com.au.

How to quickly migrate from ISO/TS 16949:2009 to IATF 16949

On 1 October 2016, The International Organization for Standardization  (ISO) and International Automotive Task Force (IATF), released the first edition of the new standard for the automotive sector IATF 16949:2016

The new standard will replace ISO/TS 16949 and outline the quality management system requirements for organizations working in automotive production, service and/or accessory parts of the automotive industry

The new standard has been developed to bring it into alignment with the recently overhauled ISO 9001:2015

If your customers require you to maintain ISO/TS 16949 certification, start planning your transition. Here are some timelines to work to:
Organisations certified to ISO/TS 16949:2009 will need to transition to IATF 16949, through a transition audit in line with the current audit cycle for ISO/TS 16949:2009

After October 1, 2017 no audits (initial, surveillance, re-certification or transfer) will be conducted to ISO/TS 16949:2009

ISO/TS 16949:2009 certificate will only be valid until 14 September 2018

ISOsafe have helped many businesses successfully and seamlessly transition. Get in touch with us today for a free quote in five minutes, email us at: enquiries@isosafe.com.au or why not speak to one of our friendly consultants on 1300 789 132

Victorian courts order local businesses to pay record $6.2 million in penalties over health and safety breaches in 2015-16

WorkSafe Victoria have revealed that over the 2015-16 financial year, 108 businesses and 21 individuals were fined totalling more than $6.2 million.

Of the 108 businesses, almost 40 were from construction sector. The worst offenders included:
A piling, foundations and ground engineering company which was convicted and fined $750,000 over the death of a worker who fell more than 40 metres when the mast of a piling rig collapsed at Southbank in 2011.
A mining services provider, which was convicted and fined a total of $600,000 following two incidents involving an overloaded barge working on the Patterson River. One of the incidents involved the barge capsizing, throwing three workers into the water and trapping one in the excavator in the water, seriously injuring him.
A residential builder, which was convicted and fined $300,000 over an incident in which a carpenter died after being crushed by a brick wall on a construction site at Brighton East in 2014.
A sign company, which was convicted and fined $250,000 over its involvement in the attachment of a timber hoarding to a wall which increased the risk of the wall collapsing at Carlton. The wall collapsed and killed three people in 2013.

A significant number of businesses in the manufacturing sector were also prosecuted. They included:
A conveyer belt manufacturer, which was fined $90,000 over an incident in 2014 in which an employee suffered serious arm injuries when he became caught in machinery beneath a moving conveyer belt.
A caravan manufacturer, which was convicted and fined $80,000 over an incident in 2014 in which an employee had two fingers severed while using an unguarded router.
A Chicken processer, which was convicted and fined $60,000 over an incident in 2014 where an employee suffered serious hand and arm injuries when she became caught in a giblet processor.

WorkSafe Chief Executive, Clare Amies, said the record amount of fines imposed by the courts in 2015-16 was a reminder to businesses and individuals of the significant penalties they faced if they did not comply with their health and safety obligations.

“WorkSafe is committed to improving workplace health and safety and, if it is found that employers have failed to provide a safe working environment for their workers, they can expect to face large fines and significant damage to their reputation,” Ms Amies said.

Don’t risk noncompliance. ISOsafe’s services will protect your business. We will prepare all safety documentation to demonstrate compliance. 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.