OHS Regulator News

WorkSafe taskforce created to deal with cleaning dangerous goods on site

WorkSafe's dangerous goods taskforce will clear another site in Campbellfield after it was assessed that it contains industrial waste including a significant amount of dangerous goods.

The taskforce crackdown comes after a chemical blaze in Campbellfield made national news earlier in the year after it was discovered that the business was storing 400,000 litres of hazardous materials on site, well above what the regulations stipulate.

In January, a WorkSafe-led taskforce including EPA, fire services, Victoria Police and local councils stepped in to oversee the removal of waste chemical stockpiles discovered in eight warehouses in Epping and Campbellfield.

While the exact quantity of waste chemicals at the latest site is unknown, preliminary calculations indicate that there is potential to store up to 1.6 million litres at the site, many times that which were found to be found at the site of the chemical blaze earlier in the year.

You can read more about WorkSafes task force here: www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2019-07/taskforce-clean-additional-dangerous-goods-site

WorkSafe events
A reminder of two upcoming events which will provide an opportunity to meet the WorkSafe Agriculture Practice Team. Anyone with farm safety issues should get along to one of these. The team at the WorkSafe stand is keen to have a chat, hear about approaches to managing on-farm safety and about any new and innovative safety solutions. There will be information and guidance materials for people to take away.

  1. Mallee Machinery Field Days
    When:
     Wednesday 31 July - Thursday 1 August, 8:30am to 5:00pm
    Where: 
    Speed Airport, 2574 Sunraysia Hwy, Speed VIC 3488 
  2. Sheepvention 
    When: Sunday 04 Aug 2019
    Where: CRT Innovations Hub, Hamilton Showgrounds, Shakespeare St, Hamilton

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Safe Work Australia news
Fatality statistics

Safe Work Australia has updated their toll numbers. These are the most up to date numbers as of July 8th.

  • 25 in Transport, postal & warehousing
  • 17 in Agriculture, forestry & fishing
  • 11 in Construction
  • 7 in Public Administration & safety
  • 6 in Electricity, gas, water & waste services
  • 5 in Mining
  • 2 Professional, scientific & technical services
  • 2 in Wholesale trade
  • 1 in Manufacturing
  • 1 in 'Other services'

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.

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