WorkSafe

A South Bayswater engineering company has been fined $200,000 (and ordered to pay $3320.50 in costs) over an incident in which a worker’s arm was amputated below the elbow.

B&Y Precision Engineering Pty Ltd (trading as De Cassan Industries) pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment and was fined in the Armadale Magistrates Court last week.

In October 2018, an employee at B&Y was instructed to polish a steel shaft to reduce its diameter so a bearing could be slid onto it.

WorkSafe is investigating the work-related death yesterday of a 72-year-old farmer at Maya in WA’s Mid-West, around 240km NNE of Perth.

The man was reported to have been jump-starting an old tractor in order to use it to release a bogged truck when the tractor struck him. It then continued travelling into a paddock where it hit trees and started a fire.

WorkSafe investigators examine the circumstances of incidents with a view to ensuring compliance and preventing future incidents of a similar nature.

WorkSafe is investigating the work-related death of a shearer at Katrine, between Northam and Toodyay.

The man was reported to have been placing wool into a wool press yesterday when he was caught in the machinery.

WorkSafe investigators examine the circumstances of incidents in workplaces with a view to ensuring compliance and preventing future incidents of a similar nature.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Darren Kavanagh said any work-related death was a tragedy, and relayed his sincere condolences to the man’s family.

WorkSafe is investigating the work-related death of an 89-year-old farmer at Berkshire Valley – 200km north of Perth – late on Tuesday.

The farmer was reported to have been unloading hay from a tractor when the vehicle slipped into gear and rolled, striking him.

WorkSafe investigators examine the circumstances of incidents with a view to ensuring compliance and preventing future incidents of a similar nature.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Darren Kavanagh said any work-related death was a tragedy, and relayed his sincere condolences to the man’s family.

The State of Western Australia (Department of Justice) has been fined $900,000 (and ordered to pay $6404 in costs) after an employee was seriously injured when attacked by a dog that was intended to respond to critical incidents.

Department of Justice pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment and, by that failure, causing serious harm to an employee, and was fined in the Armadale Magistrates Court yesterday.

The new Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WHS Regulations) were gazetted on 11 March 2022 and will commence on the 31 March 2022, bringing the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 into full force and effect.

The WHS Regulations replace the current Occupational and Safety Regulations 1996 (OSH Regulations). You can access the WHS Regulations on the WA Legislation website: WALW - Work Health and Safety Act 2020 - Subsidiary legislation.

The new Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WHS Regulations) were gazetted on 11 March 2022 and will commence on the 31 March 2022, bringing the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 into full force and effect.

The WHS Regulations replace the current Occupational and Safety Regulations 1996 (OSH Regulations). You can access the WHS Regulations on the WA Legislation website: WALW - Work Health and Safety Act 2020 - Subsidiary legislation.

A Bayswater waste recycling company has been fined $230,000 after successfully appealing an earlier conviction in which it was fined $330,000 over an incident in which a labour hire worker’s arm was amputated at the shoulder.

Resource Recovery Solutions Pty Ltd was previously found guilty and sentenced in November 2020 for two offences – gross negligence in failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment for a labour hire worker, and non-compliance with an improvement notice issued by WorkSafe.

A building company has been fined $45,000 (and ordered to pay $5000 in costs) over an incident in which a worker fell approximately three metres through a concealed void at a construction site in Safety Bay.

Alcove Engineering & Construction Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment for a person who was not their employee, and was fined in the Rockingham Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

WorkSafe has commenced prosecution action against a Bassendean engineering company over the death of a worker who was crushed by machinery in May 2019.

Hofmann Engineering Pty Ltd has been charged with failing to provide a safe work environment and, by that failure, causing the death of an employee.

On May 9, 2019, a welder employed by Hofmann Engineering was in the fabrication workshop welding large gear segments with the aid of a welding manipulator.

The boom of the welding manipulator fell suddenly onto the worker, resulting in fatal crush injuries.