Victorian news
Government extends quad bike rebate
In the same week a three year old was killed on a quad bike, the Victorian Government announced it would be extending the quad bike safety rebate to 30 June 2020 and that it is now open to farmers whose main source of income is not from farming.
Small operators will now have access to the $600 rebate to fit rollover protection to their vehicles, or the $1200 rebate to purchase a more suitable option, such as a side-by-side vehicle, according to the state Government. More than $4.5 million has been paid out to farmers since the scheme was introduced in 2016 as part of a dedicated campaign to reduce quad bike fatalities on farms. Minister for Workplace Safety Jill Hennessy said farmers must ensure they take every opportunity to control the risks of quad bike rollovers on their properties. “Farms continue to be one of the deadliest workplaces so we strongly encourage all farmers to help keep themselves, their families and their employees safe, by checking if they are eligible for the rebate,” Ms. Hennessy said.
WorkSafe is also continuing its quad bike safety and enforcement campaign to ensure employers are meeting obligations to protect their workers while the rebate remains available. Read more: Victorian government media release Find out more about the rebate and quad bikes in general on the WorksSafe website.
Dodgy Operators Storing Dangerous Goods On Notice
The government is asking Victorians to keep a look out for dodgy operators storing or handling dangerous goods in a way that might put the community at risk. An Andrews Labor Government awareness campaign has been launched urging members of the public to call WorkSafe if they suspect dangerous goods – such as drums or containers of flammable liquids – are being stored, handled or disposed of in a way which might be unsafe.
The campaign comes after legislation was introduced creating tough new penalties for the illegal storage and handling of dangerous goods, under which individuals face up to 10 years in jail and body corporates fined more than $6.4 million for the most serious offences.
The six-week campaign features print, digital, radio, social media and outdoor advertising targeting high risk locations - in 10 different languages to raise awareness among the high number of migrant workers employed in the storage and handling of dangerous goods as they are particularly vulnerable to working in unsafe conditions. Read more: Victorian government media release
WorkSafe issues two safety alerts
WorkSafe Victoria has issued two new safety alerts. Both alerts provide advice on how to control the risks involved, as well as references to legal duties and other information.
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Electric shocks from hospital bed power cords (October 3) WorkSafe was recently notified of an incident in which a hospital employee received a severe electric shock from the power cord of an electric hospital bed. The cord's protective outer insulation was damaged by the bed wheels after it was left to trail along the floor during a patient transfer. This exposed the power cord's electrical wires. The employee, who did not notice the damage and plugged the bed into a power outlet, received a large electric shock requiring immediate medical treatment. Similar incidents have been reported at aged, disability and residential care facilities where electric beds are commonly in use.
- Amusement ride guarding (October 8) WorkSafe was recently notified of an incident involving a large rotating amusement ride at the Royal Melbourne Show. The ride has a harness release mechanism consisting of a metal plate installed on the arm of the ride behind the seats and a sensor block located next the seat. When the ride is operating, the seats are free to rotate clockwise or anticlockwise independently of the arm. As a result, a shear point is created between the metal plate and the sensor block. During the ride a rider's arm was caught in the shear point causing the rider to receive a severe cut which required immediate medical treatment.
Safe Work Australia news
Fatality Statistics
As of September 26, the number of fatalities notified to Safe Work Australia was 116: This is five more since the last update on September 12. The workers killed came from the following industries:
- 38 in Transport, postal & warehousing
- 28 in Agriculture, forestry & fishing
- 16 in Construction
- 7 in Mining
- 6 in Public Administration & safety
- 6 in Electricity, gas, water & waste services
- 5 in Manufacturing
- 2 in Professional, scientific & technical services
- 2 in Wholesale trade
- 2 in 'Other services'
- 2 in Administration & support services
- 2 in Arts & recreation 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.
