The below Serious Workplace Injuries / Incident Alerts for October (Embedded Content Extracts) were taken from WorkSafe QLD at https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au
WORKPLACE INJURIES / INCIDENT ALERTS FOR OCTOBER
Serious injuries following fall from yacht
In August 2020, a worker suffered serious injuries after falling approximately 2.5 metres from the rear of a large yacht docked on a hardstand at a marine maintenance facility. Early investigations indicate the worker was doing maintenance at the time. Investigations are continuing.
$50,000 fine for Toowoomba Second Range Crossing incident
A subcontractor working on the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing was fined $50,000 this week over a work safety incident in which a mobile concrete pump with a 60m boom became unstable and tipped, putting workers at risk.
Poor supervision of new worker costs business $40,000
At a recent hearing in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court, a company was fined $40,000 for failing to ensure the health and safety of its workers, resulting in exposure to risk of death or serious injury. In particular, the defendant failed to adequately supervise an employee.
$60,000 fine after incident left worker with partial thumb amputation
A Brisbane warehousing, transport and distribution business has been fined $60,000 over an incident which left a young worker with a partially amputated thumb which had to be surgically repaired. At a recent hearing in the Wynnum Magistrates Court, it was revealed workers performed various tasks at the Hemmant warehouse including unloading cargo from shipping containers.
Industrial manslaughter charge laid against Gympie business owner
The independent Work Health and Safety Prosecutor, Mr Aaron Guilfoyle, has commenced an industrial manslaughter prosecution against the owner of a Gympie business which sells and services electric motors. Mr Guilfoyle has charged Jeffrey Owen with one offence under s.34C of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, alleging that in July last year at his business premises in Gympie, Mr Owens negligently caused the death of worker.
Two workers injured by tractor slasher
In September 2020, two workers were injured, one seriously, when a tractor slasher lowered unexpectedly. Early investigations indicate the two workers were removing barbed wire wrapped around the vertical shaft underneath the slasher at the time. The slasher was the type that "floats" and kicks up when the tractor drives over a culvert or similar (i.e.
NQ employer fined $65,000 over death of backpacker from heat stress
A sole trader who used backpackers to pick produce in the Burdekin area has been fined $65,000 over the heat stress death of a worker. The employer pleaded guilty in the Townsville Magistrates Court recently to breaching Queensland's Work Health and Safety Act 2011, failing to comply with his health and safety obligations.
Fall-arrest systems for continuous vertical ladders on tower cranes
The purpose of this safety alert is to highlight that specific fall-arrest systems are required if a continuous vertical ladder is in place for accessing the total length of a crane tower. The Tower crane Code of Practice 2017 (the Code) sets out these requirements.