The risks of falling objects at building sites will be the focus of WorkSafe inspectors when they visit Victorian construction sites in the coming weeks. In January there were a number of serious incidents involving falling objects, including an incident in which a tower crane dropped a concrete slab weighing about 11.5 tonnes.
Common causes for falling objects include gaps between safety screens or holes in safety netting, missing kick or toe boards on scaffolding, and debris or materials coming loose from plant while being lifted. Unsecured items stored close to edges or exposed to high winds can also cause incidents involving falling objects.
Visit the link below to view the full safety alert.
On Wednesday 30 January 2019, WorkSafe ACT was called to a construction site in Braddon where a large precast concrete panel fell from the building and impacted a neighbouring property.
It is imperative that a rigid system and safe work method statements are prepared and strictly followed when undertaking high risk construction work. There are no circumstances under which the installation of concrete panels can occur without being sufficiently planned and documented in a safe work method statement. It is imperative that any safe work method statement is strictly followed and the planned process is not deviated from without appropriate planning and documented variations made to the safe work method statement.
Following a number of recent incidents involving SafeWork inspectors, businesses and workers are being reminded that it is a criminal offence to hinder, obstruct, assault, threaten, or intimidate an inspector.
SafeWork SA has commenced a six-month audit campaign of Elevating Work Platforms (EWPs) (i.e. scissor lifts) in order to educate businesses and operators about their safety duties and enforce compliance with the law.
SafeWork SA Work Health and Safety Inspectors will visit workplaces using EWPs higher than 3 metres across a range of industries, including construction, to ensure appropriate safe systems of work are in place to protect workers, and that workers and employers are educated on their responsibilities.
In November 2018, a concrete pump operator sustained serious injuries when his arm was caught in moving parts within the receiving hopper of a concrete pump.
Cleaning out concrete pumping equipment including the hopper can be a highly hazardous operation. Entanglement, crushing and amputation hazards exist in a concrete hopper and pumping device of the concrete pump. Read on to find out more about preventing a similar incident.
This safety alert reminds electrical workers of the hazards associated with working on or near energised (live) electrical equipment. These hazards include electric shock, arc flash explosion and fire.
The lead up to the end of the year is traditionally a high-risk period for all sectors of the construction industry in South Australia. With just a few weeks left until the festive season, principal contractors, Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU’s) and workers may feel under pressure to get jobs completed prior to the holiday period.
Avoid tragedy in the lead up to this holiday season by staying focused on the most important aspect of construction work – ensuring you and your mates get home safely to your families every day
A Safety Alert has been issued by NT Worksafe to highlight the risk of horizontally mounted fire extinguishers detaching during transportation and causing a hazard to other road users.
Worksafe VIC are urging employers and workers to slow down and put safety first as we enter a traditionally dangerous time of year for workplaces. Between 2008 and 2017 in Victoria, 53 people died in the months of November and December as a result of workplace incidents. This two-month period accounts for 22.3 per cent of all workplace deaths.
Riding for the Disabled, the University of Sydney and a number of innovative construction businesses are just some of the workplaces recognised as the safest in NSW for 2018. For the full list of winners and more information on the 2018 SafeWork NSW Award winners, visit www.safeworkawards.com.au
