$490K FOR MULTIPLE BREACHES, RECKLESSNESS HEARING SCHEDULED
A company has been fined heavily over a fatality and other safety breaches.
The County Court heard that in May 2018, a PST truck driver was killed when the milk tanker he was operating in Leongatha rolled onto its side while travelling around a bend.
A WorkSafe Victoria investigation into the incident found that despite the company experiencing nine previous rollovers since 2009, it failed to provide drivers with detailed information, instructions or supervised training in driving milk tankers carrying dynamic loads.
A subsequent inspection of vehicles at PST's Leongatha depot resulted in major defect notices being issued for eight of the 10 prime movers and tanker trailers inspected, requiring them to be taken off the road immediately.
PST then failed, in September 2018, to notify WorkSafe of a rollover incident in Echuca that resulted in a driver needing hospital treatment for a serious laceration.
PST has recently charged with reckless endangerment, relating to incidents involving the alleged poor condition of its heavy vehicles.
It faces a maximum penalty of about $3.3 million under the recklessness charge.
Source: OHS Alert, Thursday, 09 June 2022
COMPANY FINED OVER CRYSTALLINE SILICA EXPOSURE RISK
Hilton Stone Pty Ltd pleaded guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court yesterday to two rolled-up charges of failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment.
The company was fined $12,500 for failing to provide proper controls to reduce the risk of exposure to silica dust and a further $12,500 for failing to have required guarding on a power saw.
A WorkSafe found that equipment used to cut, grind or polish engineered stone did not have controls in place such as an integrated water delivery system to suppress silica dust an on-tool extraction system to remove airborne particles, personal protective equipment such as a respirator or health monitoring checks of workers.
Employers can protect workers from the dangers of crystalline silica exposure by:
- Providing tools with water suppression.
- Providing on-tool extraction.
- Providing fit-for-purpose respirators and appropriate PPE.
- Carrying out air monitoring.
- Ensuring workers undergo an annual health check
Source: WorkSafe Victoria media release