Landmark workplace prosecution in Queensland continues

Two family owned businesses and their respective directors have been committed to stand trial following a Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) investigation into the death of a 62 year old roofer.
These are Queensland's first category 1 prosecutions under work safety laws, with the companies, if found guilty of the alleged offences, facing maximum fines of $3 million, and the two directors fined up to $600,000 each and facing maximum gaol terms of five years.
The defendants, the PCBUs (in this instance the Directors) and registered companies have been charged for contravening Section 19 (2) and/or s20 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
The deceased worker, who only started the job four days earlier, fell almost six metres to his death while working on the edge of a roof without protection. The worker was one of five roofers working on an industrial shed at Lake Macdonald in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland on 29 July 2014 when he fell.
The shed was part of a larger complex being refurbished by a building business that contracted a roofing business to fit roof sheeting.
An indictment relating to four separate complaints under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 was presented at the Maroochydore District Court on 8 February 2017 against the defendants, who will stand trial in the Brisbane District Court. The matter is due for mention on 19 April 2017.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland head Dr Simon Blackwood said falls from heights is a serious issue in most industries, particularly construction.
“The roofing/reroofing trade is certainly one where things can go wrong at height. In this case, the court will hear evidence that appropriate safety equipment was available and on site.” Said Dr Blackwood.
This workplace death was preventable. What are you doing as a business owner or manager to prevent your workers taking unnecessary risks? Don’t risk prosecution and non-compliance, contact ISOsafe today on 1300 789 132 or email us at enquiries@isosafe.com.au.

What is required as an absolute minimum for ISO 9001:2015 certification?

It is a common misconception that every process within an organisation (business) must be documented in order to gain ISO 9001 certification. This is simply not the case. With the shift towards risk based thinking, the 2015 revision of the standard is more adaptable than ever before. We’ve put together a list of the required documents for ISO 9001 below

Policies and Records required by ISO 9001:2015
Policies	Clause
Scope of the Quality Management System	4.3
Quality Policy	5.2
Quality Objectives and Plans for Achieving Them	6.2
Procedure for Control of Externally Provided Processes, Products and Services (outsourced processes)	8.4.1
Records	Clause
Record of Maintenance and Calibration of Monitoring and Measuring Equipment	7.1.5.1
Competence Records	7.2
Product/Service Requirements Review Record	8.2.3.2
Record of New Requirements for Product or Service	8.2.3.2
Design and Development Inputs Record	8.3.3
Record of Design and Development Controls	8.3.4
Design and Development Outputs Record	8.3.5
Record of Design and Development Changes	8.3.6
Record of Evaluation of External Provider (supplier)	8.4.1
Record of Product/Service Characteristics	8.5.1
Record of Changes on Customer’s Property	8.5.3
Record of Changes in Production/Service Provision	8.5.6
Evidence of Product/Service Conformity	8.6
Record of Nonconformity	8.7.2, 10.2.2
Monitoring Performance Information	9.1.1
Internal Audit Program and Results	9.2.2
Management Review Results	9.3
Nonconformities and Corrective Action	10.2.2

Feeling overwhelmed?

Contact ISOsafe for help with your ISO 9001 project on 1300 789 132. Don’t risk a failed ISO audit

Baker’s fingers amputated – employer cops $40,000 penalty

A bakery south-west of Melbourne was fined $40,000 for breaching the 2004 OHS Act after a worker's fingertips were amputated by a machine filling pastries with custard. The business pleaded guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for failing to provide and maintain safe plant and failing to provide appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision.

On 2 December 2015, the worker was operating a machine used to fill pastries with custard. The court heard that one of the worker’s tasks was to manually refill the machine because the filler pump was broken. The court was told that the company was aware the machine had been malfunctioning all day and decided to keep it in operation.

After noticing that the custard was not dispensing equally into the pastry casings, the worker reached into the machine to clear a blockage. His hand became stuck and the tips of three of his fingers were amputated.

Further the court heard that both his supervisor and line manager had left the factory before the incident. The worker told WorkSafe investigators that he had not been trained if a malfunction occurred.

Employers and business owners have a duty under the OHS Act to provide workers operating machinery or equipment with information, instruction, training and supervision.  Other duties of employers include the provision of adequately guarded machinery/equipment and requirements to complete risk assessments.

For more information on how to better comply with OHS Act, protect your people and investment contact ISOsafe today on 1300 789 132.

Queensland employer fined 180,000 after death of young worker

A Queensland transport company has been fined $180,000 for failing to comply with health and safety laws after a teenager was crushed to death operating a vehicle loading crane at Westside Christian College in 2012.

Head of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) Dr Simon Blackwood said this was a tragic example of a young employee desperately trying to please his boss, but way out of his depth – a situation the company could’ve easily avoided.

“Around 50 young Queenslanders a day – mostly young men suffer a compensable work injury, and one a day is permanently impaired,” Dr Blackwood said.

Since the tragedy, the company has stopped similar jobs and no longer uses the vehicle involved in the incident.

Magistrate David Shepherd said the young man died trying to do his best for his employer and had no doubt company bosses feel this matter very deeply and personally.

Dr Blackwood said for his family, this is closure. For everyone else, it’s a timely reminder to put measures in place to ensure safe working environments so that employees go home to their families every day.

"Young workers have a unique risk profile and it’s up to employers to consider this when managing them. A proper induction, plenty of support and much needed training are vital," he said.

Work health and safety laws require employers to:
•  identify the health and safety risks of particular work tasks and adopt procedures to eliminate or control them;
•  train workers in the procedures and provide them with any safety equipment they need;
•  ensure workers perform their tasks safely by providing training, supervision and support; and
•  encourage workers to speak to supervisors about any health and safety concerns.

Since July 2016, the Office of Industrial Relations has successfully completed 21 prosecutions in the courts, leading to fines totaling three quarters of a million dollars.

Over the same period, WHSQ issued 37 infringement notices with fines totaling more than $94,000, as well as 921 improvement notices and 265 prohibition notices.

For more information on managing young workers, contact ISOsafe at enquiries@isosafe.com.au. We support business owners; helping create safe and compliant workplaces.

10 good things ISO 9001 standards can do for small business

•    help you compete on a level playing field with bigger enterprises
•    open up export markets for your products and services
•    help you discover best business practices
•    will drive efficiency in your business operations
•    add credibility and confidence for your customers
•    open new business opportunities and sales
•    give you the competitive edge
•    make your brand name internationally recognized
•    help your company grow
•    enable a common “language” to be used across an industry sector
ISOsafe make ISO 9001 simple for business owners and employers. Contact us today for a fast free quote on 1300 789 132