In August 2019, a worker suffered burns when fuel vapour ignited causing an explosion. The worker was refuelling a boat, when for reasons yet to be established, fuel vapour ignited causing an explosion. Unleaded petrol gives off vapours which can ignite if not properly managed. Transferring fuel often creates static electricity which can ignite flammable […]
In April 2019, a worker was seriously burned while attempting to decommission a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank from a motor vehicle at a workplace. It appears he was removing screws on the LPG tank using a battery-operated screwdriver which created an ignition source and started a fire. Read more about preventing similar incidents in […]
On average in Queensland each year 281 workers’ compensation claims are accepted for crush injuries involving forklifts. Forty per cent of these involve serious injuries requiring five or more days off work. PCBUs must ensure the provision and maintenance of safe plant. Effective risk management starts with a commitment to health and safety from those […]
A recent electrocution death in north Queensland is a reminder that employers need to conduct a site-specific risk assessment, develop a safe system of work before starting, keep workers and contractors informed about electrical safety. Queensland’s Electrical Safety Office (ESO) and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland are investigating the incident where a crane came into […]
Work on vehicle tyres and wheel rims continues to cause injuries, with an average of more than 35 injuries annually being subject to claims for workers’ compensation. In a recent incident, a young worker suffered serious facial injuries when the split rim that he and another worker were performing maintenance on, exploded. Read more on […]
Employees using mobile cranes in their workplace have been urged to read a recent Workcover Queensland safety alert is to highlight the risk of rope sheave failure. Crane owners, crane operators and workers involved in rigging cranes should apply the principles in this alert to any crane with rope sheaves, after a catastrophic failure resulted […]
Mobile plant use continues to be responsible for many worker injuries in the agricultural, forestry and fishing industries. Since 2013, there has been an average of 22 accepted workers’ compensation claims each year for injuries relating to being trapped by mobile plant. Fifty per cent of these claims involve serious injuries with five or more […]
On average each year in Queensland there are 38 accepted workers’ compensation claims for crush injuries involving machinery and fixed plant in the agricultural, forestry and fishing industries. Around half of these are for serious injuries requiring five or more days off work. Since 2013, Worksafe Queensland has been notified of 48 incidents involving machinery […]
A Nerang poultry producer has been fined $90,000 after a worker was run over by a forklift that had its reverse warning beepers switched off because of noise complaints. The company has operated a poultry abattoir and sold poultry products for more than 25 years and recently pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court to breaching […]
An electrocution of a worker on an outdoor billboard has brought a court conviction, $250,000 fine and forced a large outdoor advertising company to take action to improve workplace safety. The company knew the powerline was a hazard near the billboard and was closer than the three-metre exclusion zone required under state law. Read more […]