Regulator news

Posted on 15 April 2020

WorkSafe Victoria news

New guidance on COVID-19

WorkSafe has issued new guidance for the healthcare sector: Prevention and Management of exposure to coronavirus in healthcare and social assistance

This guidance was created with the assistance of a number of OHS stakeholders from employee and employer representative groups from the health sector including; ANMF, VHIA, ASU, CPSU, HACSU, VHIA, HWU, UWU and Victorian Ambulance Union.

More charges laid over Campbellfield chemical fire

WorkSafe has laid more charges against Bradbury Industrial Services Pty Ltd over an explosion and chemical fire at a Campbellfield warehouse in April 2019. The new charges follow 35 charges already filed in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court in relation to alleged chemical stockpiles at other Bradbury sites in Campbellfield and Craigieburn.

The company, which is now in liquidation, has been accused of committing three offences under sections 21(2)(e) of the OHS Act and section 31C(1) of the Dangerous Goods Act.

WorkSafe alleges that Bradbury failed to provide workers at the Thornycroft Street site with the information, instruction, training and supervision they needed to perform their work safely and without risks to health. The company is also accused of failing to take reasonable precautions to prevent fire or explosion at the site in circumstances where it knew that that failure would endanger the safety or health of people, property or the environment. It is further alleged Bradbury failed to take reasonable precautions for the prevention of fire or explosion involving dangerous goods in its ownership, control or possession.

The latest charges have been listed for a filing hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 29 April 2020.
Source: WorkSafe media release

WA: Regulator reminds employers to reduce workers' risk of exposure on public transport

WorkSafe WA has reminded employers to take care of the health and safety of their workers and others at the workplace and to protect them from exposure to coronavirus.

The state's 1984 OHS Act requires employers to ensure the health and safety of workers by providing and maintaining a work environment that is without risk to health and safety, as well as adequate facilities for workers in carrying out their work. The state’s safety regulator urges employers to identify risks at their respective workplaces and to remove or minimise the risks. “The relatively confined spaces and limited ventilation of public transport, taxi and rideshare services increases the risk of workers and passengers being exposed to the COVID-19 virus. In these circumstances, the risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus cannot be completely eliminated. However, employers must do all that they can to minimise that risk so far as reasonably practicable,” WorkSafe WA said in its statement. Read more: WorkSafe WA statement

National Fatality Statistics

As of 9 April there had been 54 worker fatalities notified to the national body - a staggering eleven more since the previous update on 26 March. Three of these were in the construction sector, and also three in the manufacturing sector. We send our condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of these workers.

The fatalities this year have come from the following industries: