Victorian News Appeal against gaol term dropped
Maria Jackson, 72, of Foster in South Gippsland, sentence to gaol after an employee died when the forklift she was operating dropped a scrap metal bin on him, has dropped her appeal against her six-month sentence. She had been convicted and also fined $10,000 in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates' court in December 2018. She then appealed the decision.
In February, 2017, an employee in his 50s died when an industrial bin carried by a forklift being operated by Ms Jackson at her scrap metal business in Foster fell on him. Ms Foster pleaded guilty to two contraventions of sections 24 and 32 of the OHS Act – for failing to ensure other people in the workplace were not exposed to risks to their health, and for recklessly engaging in conduct that placed others at the workplace in danger of serious injury. WorkSafe's full statement on the case can be found here.
WorkSafe issues new safety alerts
The regulator has issued a new alert, and updated an existing one for the health and community sector.
- Portable patient handling ceiling hoists (Update) - Information for employers about safe use of portable patient handling ceiling hoists.
SafeWork NSW new video
The NSW regulator has launched a new video on forklift safety - about six minutes long, it's a useful tool to ensure the necessary checks are made. Check it out here.
Safe Work Australia news
Virtual Seminar on Heat and Work Injury Prevention
SWA has today released its latest virtual seminar, where an experienced panel of work health and safety experts explore key issues on heat and work injury, including: the importance of developing and adhering to preventative strategies for working in heat, identifying hazards, implementing risk-management strategies, and the need for training and awareness across all levels of management.
Of the seminar, SWA says:
Heat is a hazard that can cause heat-related illness and increase the risk of work-related injury. Preventative strategies are needed for both indoor and outdoor work environments to address the risks working in heat poses for workers, as well as potential losses in productivity. Safe Work Australia and SafeWork SA have been working with researchers at the University of Adelaide, Monash University, University of Western Australia, Queensland University of Technology and SA Health, on a national project focused on preventing work-related injury in hot conditions. Researcher and educator Professor Dino Pisaniello opens the panel discussion with key insights from this research which sets the scene for industry experts to discuss the work-related injury in hot conditions. The panel agree that elimination and safe design should be a priority for decision and policy makers. Click here to check out the panel discussion.
Fatality statistics
As of the 24 January, 2019 there had been five fatalities reported by the state authorities to Safe Work Australia. The workers killed have come from the following industries:
- 1 Transport, postal & warehousing
- 2 Agriculture, forestry & fishing
- 2 Construction
To check for updates, and for more details on fatalities since 2003, go to the Safe Work Australia Work-related fatalities webpage and in particular, here.
