No.18

Crush injury using lifting chains results in amputation of 2 fingers.

The associated enforceable undertaking includes a $462k safety improvement spend for the concrete manufacturer.

It is believed a front-end loader with attachments and lifting chains was used to move concrete blocks using an unapproved lifting point or device.

The organisation will be delivering a presentation about the incident for discussion at the next state meeting of the Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Association (SA*) > LINK

Death of an Apprentice leads to a record fine.

A manufacturing business has been fined a record $840,000 following the death of an apprentice in 2021 when the cable on a gantry crane failed, causing a stainless-steel tank weighing more than three tonnes to fall on a worker, crushing him to death.

A SafeWork SA investigation found the gantry crane, and others operated by the company, had not been subjected to regular maintenance that complied with the relevant codes of practice.

• Part of the tank construction process requires the tanks to be suspended from an overhead crane while the welding was undertaken inside and outside of the tank frame.
• A ramp was set up to provide workers access to a basement under the floor of the shed to allow access to the tanks via a trapdoor to avoid exposure directly under a suspended tank, however, the SafeWork SA investigation found that it was common practice for workers to take a shorter route by going under the suspended tank to gain access
• Damage to the crane’s cable had been identified and repaired twice in the four weeks before the incident.

Judge Crawley said ‘The unsafe practice of avoiding the use of the ramp and trapdoor to access the interior of the tanks was well known and had become the system of work.’ > LINK

21-year-old labourer seriously burned refuelling a petrol-powered pressure washer

Whilst attempting to refuel the pressure washer while it was in use, the nozzle connected to the fuel container dislodged resulting in an uncontrolled release of petrol which ignited from the hot surface.

One of the key elements missing here was -

• prior to refuelling, the plant is not in use, engine and all electrical equipment are turned off and the engine is allowed to cool as per the manufacturer’s instructions

For other related safety information click here

Heat & UV Hazards

It’s starting to heat up all over Australia, let’s safeguard our people who work outdoors from Heat & UV whilst using the hierarchy of controls.

Resources -

WA SunSmart Tools

ACT Working in heat

QLD Sun safety and skin cancer

VIC Sun protection

Cancer Council's SunSmart App