Friday 19th March 2021

Weekly Safety News Roundup: Friday 19th March 2021

Welcome to our safety news wrap for Friday 19th March 2021. This week's roundup covers three serious enforcement actions from SafeWork SA, the EPA NSW and WorkSafe New Zealand, each highlighting the consequences of inadequate risk controls.

Fine issued after double leg amputation

SafeWork SA successfully prosecuted a hay processing and exporting company after a 2017 incident in which a worker's legs were amputated in a hay press.

The worker was attempting to dislodge a metal bale from behind a guardrail and fell approximately 3 metres onto a table below. His weight on the metal bale activated the hay press's cutting blade, which amputated both legs below the knees.

The company pleaded guilty in the South Australia Employment Tribunal (SAET) for breaches of duties under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA). A fine of $350,000 was imposed.

SafeWork SA identified that the incident could have been avoided if a risk assessment of the plant had been completed and adequate engineering controls were in place, such as guarding and sensors.

SafeWork SA Executive Director Martyn Campbell stated that "this incident should serve as a reminder to all employers of their duty to ensure adequate controls and safe systems are in place, which are the basic fundamentals to work health and safety." Read the full article on the SafeWork SA website.

Conviction and fine over untreated sewage offence

In October 2018, almost 3 million litres of untreated sewage was released into Toongabbie Creek and Parramatta River by Sydney Water.

The spill occurred when the inner wall of Sydney Water's Northmead Pumping Station collapsed, damaging and ultimately disabling its pumps.

Sydney Water pleaded guilty to two offences of water pollution and was convicted by the Land and Environment Court, and was ordered to pay $175,500 to the City of Parramatta Council for multiple environmental projects.

Since 2018 the EPA has prosecuted Sydney Water for nine offences against environmental protection legislation, including the offence above.

View the media release on the EPA NSW website.

Corroded edge protection leads to death

WorkSafe New Zealand has released a reminder that edge protection must be inspected, maintained and routinely replaced to ensure it can effectively prevent falls from heights.

This warning follows a January 2019 incident where a worker fell three metres to the ground from the top deck of a trailer.

He had leased the trailer to transport cars and was strapping the vehicle down when he leaned against wired edge protection that then snapped. Brain injuries resulted from the fall, and he later died in hospital.

An investigation by WorkSafe NZ found wire ropes on the trailer's top deck were severely corroded.

Records showed the business had four previous falls from heights on their trailers between 2017 and 2018.

In February 2021, the business was ordered to pay a fine of $279,000 and reparation of $90,000 to the victim's family.

Full details can be found on the WorkSafe NZ website.

Catch up on previous weeks

For more workplace safety enforcement news, see our earlier roundups, including Friday 12th March 2021 and Friday 5th March 2021. Our next update lands on Friday 26th March 2021, so check back for further updates on prosecutions and enforcement outcomes affecting construction, manufacturing and healthcare sectors.