Work health and safety regulations for the control of psychosocial risks will come into effect on 24 December 2022. These regulations will require a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) to eliminate psychosocial risks, or to minimise them so far as is reasonably practicable. This new duty places psychosocial hazards on the same footing as other significant hazards such as falls or operating machinery.
WorkSafe inspectors will be visiting crane businesses and operators to audit registered mobile cranes. Initial visits have revealed that some owners and operators are not conducting major inspections of their cranes.
A major inspection must be carried out by a competent person, and requires:
The Work Health and Safety Regulations Amendment Regulation (no.2) 2023 came into effect on 10 August 2023 and provide for minor corrections and technical refinements.
These amendments include:
A crane hire company has been fined $12,000 at a retrial for failing to ensure the required number of people were involved in the use of their crane at a construction site.
Halifax Crane Hire Pty Ltd was found guilty of breaching the now-repealed Occupational Safety and Health Regulation dealing with the number of people required to be involved in the use of cranes, and was fined in the Bunbury Magistrates Court yesterday.
WorkSafe’s prosecution of Fortescue over failing to supply documents and answer questions is to be discontinued, with an Enforceable Undertaking agreed to by both parties.
Acting WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North has accepted an undertaking by Fortescue to deliver wide-ranging strategies to address inappropriate workplace behaviours in the mining industry.
An Enforceable Undertaking is an alternative to prosecution, but it is not an admission or finding of guilt.
Common causes of injury to workers in mining are missteps and falls when stepping out of large trucks and other plant. Under the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022, duty holders need to manage the risk of falls at mining workplaces, and this can only be done by considering all the factors which can lead to a potential fall risk. Other than the design of steps, accessibility of grab rails for plant users and the integrity of tread grip, several organisational and environmental factors can influence the risk of a fall.
The WorkSafe Mines Safety inspectorate has identified a concerning number of notifiable incidents where the site has not been preserved as required by the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 section 39(1).
A 'notifiable incident' is:
With Ex-TC Lincoln threatening the N-W coast, businesses in the affected area have been reminded to ensure that cyclone contingency plans have been established and are in operation.
The Bureau of Meteorology expects the system to move out to sea, and there is a high chance it will re-intensify as a cyclone and track towards the west Pilbara coast this weekend.
Acting WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said today it was crucial that everyone on both sea and land had safe systems of work in place and operating when a cyclone approached.
WorkSafe has initiated the first four prosecutions under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020, which came into effect in March 2022.
Wesbeam Pty Ltd, a manufacturer of engineered wood product, has been charged with failing in its duty while in control of plant and consequently causing serious harm to an individual.
WorkSafe will allege that in April 2022, an operator at Wesbeam’s Neerabup factory was clearing a blockage on a conveyor belt when his arm was dragged into an unguarded section, resulting in serious injuries requiring extensive medical treatment.
WorkSafe has initiated the first four prosecutions under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020, which came into effect in March 2022.
Wesbeam Pty Ltd, a manufacturer of engineered wood product, has been charged with failing in its duty while in control of plant and consequently causing serious harm to an individual.
WorkSafe will allege that in April 2022, an operator at Wesbeam’s Neerabup factory was clearing a blockage on a conveyor belt when his arm was dragged into an unguarded section, resulting in serious injuries requiring extensive medical treatment.
