Health and Safety Incidents and Fines

A list of the incidents, prosecutions and fines which took place over August 2010, brought to you by OSHEM Solutions via Health, Safety.

23 yr old go kart driver suffers neck and throat injuries when his scarf is entangled.

WorkCover call for go karts operators and their patrons to heed the warnings about loose clothing after a 23 year old driver is nearly strangled by his scarf after it became entangled in the rear axle. General Manager of WorkCover’s Occupational Health and Safety Division, John Watson, appealed to drivers to ensure they are not wearing loose clothing and to operators of such amusement devices to ensure that their guarding is sufficient to protect drivers. More on Go Kart Safety

School students may have been exposed to asbestos due to poor practices by construction companies.

As of August 2010, WorkCover NSW have investigated 94 school-related asbestos complaints since 2007. The incidents relate to the disturbance of asbestos through construction, demolition, excavation, and in some cases, illegal removal of the material. Some of the complaints cite construction workers who did not provide adequate protection and/or were not appropriately trained and authorised under NSW Regulations. The regulator has issued 22 notices as a result of their investigations.

Woman receives $420,000 compensation for falling off an office chair incident.

The Supreme Court of Brisbane has awarded an office worker a little under $420,000 in a civil case against her former employer as a result of injuries and mental trauma suffered when she fell off an office chair.

Remake of SA’s Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations.

The South Australian Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 will expire on 1 September 2010, in line with the normal time limits imposed on South Australian Government regulations. New OHSW Regulations will come into force as of 1st September 2010.

16 yr old apprentice shot in hand by nail gun.

An construction apprentice is fortunate to have escaped any serious damage when he accidently shot himself in the hand with a nail gun he was operating. Fast thinking co-workers stopped the boy from attempting to remove the nail and called an ambulance. According to the ambulance staff, the apprentice was waiting calmly by the time they arrived.

40 yr old construction worker falls 6m from scaffolding onto concrete.

A Victorian construction worker has survived a 6m fall from scaffolding onto the concrete bottom of an aquatic centre pool under construction on Saturday 4th August.