Posts tagged #public health

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.

Posted on June 5, 2016 by ISOsafe Team and tagged o&hs occupational hazard ohsas google OHS hazop health risks H&S Health & Safety excavate excavator emergency preparedness quality control quality assurance quality management system QMS ASNZS4804 ASNZS4801 Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points apprentices nzs4801 safework SafeWork safety site manager safe safety induction safe work method Safe Work Australia safety health labour demolition fire safety fire equipment environmental impact evacuation plan Disability worker forklift safety Risk Management risk assessment Risks risk Disability safe tradie tradie safe truck safety trainees RSI best practices builder build business continuity bricklayer safety brickie safety Absenteeism NHVR NHVL heavy vehicle national law national heavy vehicle regulator management system managing environmental impacts WHS Management System muster point mental health dust platform ladder public health public safety Corporate reputation OHSMS OH&S ohs on the job training safety Workers Compensation workplace training workplace induction induction safety Injury Management Integrated Management System customer management young worker yellow card Tenders tradie safety tender build work at height working at heights whs tradie WHS whsas work platform Workcover WHSMS WH&S Work Workplace training workcover SWMS JSA Risk Assessment contractor safety Glazier job safety analysis jsa swp swms project manager construction manager demo demolition safety wellbeing explosion blast ohs Safety blast explosion at work fire at work.

Principal contractor convicted and fined after concrete pumping truck tips over

Earlier this month a construction company was convicted and fined $50,000 on one charge of breaching the OH&S Act (2004). Further, the company was ordered to pay $20,000 in court costs.
The company had failed to ensure a safe workplace resulting in a concrete truck tipping over and crashing into nearby scaffolding carrying a worker, on April 5, 2012. The worker suffered a fractured spine, crushed right hand, broken right ankle and foot. He also required skin grafting.
WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety, Marnie Williams, said the company had failed to visually identify or barricade the location of the ventilation shaft at the construction site.
“Covering a shaft with a thin layer of concrete, presumably to prevent people from falling into it, created a new hazard because it actually looked like part of a capping beam,” Ms Williams said.
“There was an obvious risk of serious injury or death. The company failed to ensure that the workplace was safe by not clearly identifying this to workers at the site.”
Ms Williams said construction site safety was a priority for WorkSafe.
“Construction is a high-risk industry and employers must do everything they can to ensure construction sites are managed with the health and safety of all employees in mind,” she said.
“We are planning to conduct more than 13,000 site inspections across the state this year and we will continue to drive home to employers that the safety of every worker must be their number one priority.”
With regulatory bodies on the lookout, can you afford to get caught? 
Don’t risk noncompliance. ISOsafe’s services will protect your business from costly reputational damage. We will conduct workplace safety assessments, prepare site safety management plans and provide training to your workers ensuring compliance and peace of mind. Call us now 1300 789 132 to learn more about our services for businesses and their owners

Posted on May 22, 2016 by ISOsafe Team and tagged hvnl NHVR NHVL heavy vehicle national law national heavy vehicle regulator nhvr iso4801 iso4804 ohsas OHSAS18001 whsas Workplace health and safety (WHS) WHS Work Workplace training workcover workers compensation injury work at height WH&S WHSMS WHS Management System SafeWork work platform wellbeing workplace training ASNZS4804 nzs4801 ASNZS4801 management system National Health and Safety Commission best practices build builder safety sick days Safe Work Australia Workers Compensation Work Workplace training workcover SWMS JSA Risk Assessment Workcover working at heights safe work method QMS ewp swms swp RFP risk risk assessment Risk Management Risks OH&S OEPA o&hs occupational hazard OHSMS OHS tradie sparkie safework Injury Management Integrated Management System incident volunteer safety business continuity UV Radiation customer feedback exercise physiology hazop Hazards Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points hazard COR chain of responsibility rms roads and maritime services cor chain of responsibility CoR heavy vehicle operator safety height Heavy equipment operator customer management public safety public health ISO45001 iso 9001:28015 ISO 14001:2015 ISO 14001 ISO9001 ISO14001 ISO iso IMS ohs whs tradie tradie safety carpenter safety electrician safety plumber safety welder safety brickie safety bricklayer safety corporate safety construction safety Sun Safety.