Crane hire company fined $12,000 at retrial

A crane hire company has been fined $12,000 at a retrial for failing to ensure the required number of people were involved in the use of their crane at a construction site.

Halifax Crane Hire Pty Ltd was found guilty of breaching the now-repealed Occupational Safety and Health Regulation dealing with the number of people required to be involved in the use of cranes, and was fined in the Bunbury Magistrates Court yesterday.

WorkSafe and Fortescue agree to Enforceable Undertaking

WorkSafe’s prosecution of Fortescue over failing to supply documents and answer questions is to be discontinued, with an Enforceable Undertaking agreed to by both parties.

Acting WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North has accepted an undertaking by Fortescue to deliver wide-ranging strategies to address inappropriate workplace behaviours in the mining industry.

An Enforceable Undertaking is an alternative to prosecution, but it is not an admission or finding of guilt.

Preventing slips, trips and falls

Common causes of injury to workers in mining are missteps and falls when stepping out of large trucks and other plant.  Under the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022, duty holders need to manage the risk of falls at mining workplaces, and this can only be done by considering all the factors which can lead to a potential fall risk. Other than the design of steps, accessibility of grab rails for plant users and the integrity of tread grip, several organisational and environmental factors can influence the risk of a fall.

Cyclone contingency plans should be in place

With Ex-TC Lincoln threatening the N-W coast, businesses in the affected area have been reminded to ensure that cyclone contingency plans have been established and are in operation.

The Bureau of Meteorology expects the system to move out to sea, and there is a high chance it will re-intensify as a cyclone and track towards the west Pilbara coast this weekend.

Acting WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said today it was crucial that everyone on both sea and land had safe systems of work in place and operating when a cyclone approached.

First charges under new work health and safety laws

WorkSafe has initiated the first four prosecutions under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020, which came into effect in March 2022.

Wesbeam Pty Ltd, a manufacturer of engineered wood product, has been charged with failing in its duty while in control of plant and consequently causing serious harm to an individual.

WorkSafe will allege that in April 2022, an operator at Wesbeam’s Neerabup factory was clearing a blockage on a conveyor belt when his arm was dragged into an unguarded section, resulting in serious injuries requiring extensive medical treatment.

First charges under new work health and safety laws

WorkSafe has initiated the first four prosecutions under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020, which came into effect in March 2022.

Wesbeam Pty Ltd, a manufacturer of engineered wood product, has been charged with failing in its duty while in control of plant and consequently causing serious harm to an individual.

WorkSafe will allege that in April 2022, an operator at Wesbeam’s Neerabup factory was clearing a blockage on a conveyor belt when his arm was dragged into an unguarded section, resulting in serious injuries requiring extensive medical treatment.

WA’s worst workplace hazards revealed

New statistics have shown Western Australian workers have a much lower chance of being fatally injured at work in 2024 than they did 34 years ago.

When the increase in WA workforce numbers is taken into account, a worker’s risk of being fatally injured fell by 83 percent between 1988/89 and 2022/23.

In 1988/89, WA recorded 49.5 fatalities per million workers. By 2022/23, this number had reduced to 8.5 fatalities per million workers.