Warning to avoid Brisbane asbestos testing company

Businesses utilising the services of asbestos testing providers are advised to remain vigilant. One asbestos testing company, in particular, is being investigated by the Queensland Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

The company and its director are being investigated for allegedly charging customers to test asbestos samples but failing to have them tested.

The OFT began investigating after receiving a complaint from a regional Queensland council. It found that the company had been consistently invoicing clients for samples taken but not tested.

WorkSafe Victoria Executive director of Health and Safety, Marnie Williams, said that if the allegations proved correct, the company’s behaviour was “outrageous”.

“Asbestos is a dangerous substance, which is why employers put their faith in companies such as this one to ensure appropriate testing is conducted,” Ms Williams said.

“Employers need to have confidence that testing procedures are carried out to ensure workplace health and safety is never compromised.”

Ms Williams said any business who had engaged Asbestos Audit should check whether the company had provided NATA-accredited analysis reports for all samples taken at their site as part of the report.

“If such reports have not been, or cannot be, provided, they should organise for a competent person to re-take those samples and have them analysed by a NATA accredited laboratory,” she said.

Any Victorian business or consumer who has used the company and have concerns about its testing procedures should contact the Queensland OFT by calling 13 74 68 or make a complaint online at www.qld.gov.au/fairtrading.

For expert advice on how to make your workplace safer contact ISOsafe today on 1300 789 132. Protect your staff with ISOsafe’s asbestos awareness training and safety programs.

Victoria: Truck driver and farmer die in separate incidents

Earlier this month, it was reported that a delivery driver died after he was struck over by his truck at a storage depot in Tullamarine. The man was believed to have been at the rear of his vehicle at the time of the incident. The man, 65, died at the scene.

In a separate incident; a farmer was seriously injured when he was run over by a tractor he was undertaking maintenance work on at his farm at Meredith, near Geelong. The man, 68, suffered serious head injuries and died later in hospital.

Both incidents are being investigated by WorkSafe Victoria. 

WorkSafe’s Executive Director of Health and Safety, Marnie Williams, said the men were working alone when the incidents happened. “Both incidents will be thoroughly investigated, and our thoughts are with the families and friends of each man,” Ms Williams said.

For expert advice on how to make your workplace safer contact ISOsafe today on 1300 789 132. Protect your staff with ISOsafe’s training and safety programs.
 

Salmonella outbreak linked to pork pies produced by Adelaide bakery

SA Health has issued a warning linked to a selection of pork and ascot pies manufactured by a bakery in Victor Harbor after five people were struck down with salmonella earlier this week. Those affected by the salmonella outbreak were aged between 54 and 80, and four of them were hospitalised.

It was reported that the pork and ascot pies were sold by 30 retailers including independent supermarkets, delis and butchers across metropolitan Adelaide. The manufacturer has since stopped production of the affected pies and commenced a recall process.

SA Health are advising consumers to confirm the origin of any pork or ascot pies with the place of purchase prior to consumption. Any products affected by the recall should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase for refund.

For expert advice on Food Standards Australia New Zealand laws contact ISOsafe today on 1300 789 132. Protect your food business, customers and staff with ISOsafe’s food safety programs.

Four workplace deaths in Victoria, in just over 3 months

A 69 year old man who suffered critical head injuries earlier last month after falling four metres at a construction site at Merricks North on the Mornington Peninsula has died in hospital from his injuries.

Other reported workplace deaths, in Victoria, this year:
•    On 11 January, a 61-year-old woman driving a tractor towing fruit bins across a main road near Mildura was struck and killed by a truck.
•    On 18 February, a 52-year-old worker was crushed by a load of steel which fell from a forklift at a scrap metal yard at Foster in South Gippsland.
•    On 17 February, a 38-year-old man also died when his quad bike overturned on a property at Reedy Flat, near Ensay, in east Gippsland. 

It is a legal requirement for all businesses to ensure they have appropriate systems in place to ensure risks to employees are reduced or eliminated a far as reasonably possible. Protect your business and staff, contact ISOsafe today on 1300 789 132

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.