Friday 21st May 2021

Friday 21st May 2021: Workplace Safety News Roundup

This Friday news roundup covers two significant workplace safety compliance stories: an EPA Victoria enforcement action against a Benalla manufacturer, and Comcare's annual Work Health and Safety Year in Review. Both stories highlight why proactive regulatory compliance remains essential for organisations across construction, manufacturing and other high-risk industries.

Benalla Manufacturer Fined by EPA Victoria

Bellana company received multiple fines from EPA. A Benalla particle board manufacturer has been fined by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria more than $16,000 over multiple offences.

The first fine was issued after a member of the public reported an explosion, which took place inside the facility on 3 November 2020. The second was for a monitoring plan that was inadequate to satisfy the company's EPA licence conditions.

EPA North East Regional Manager Renee Palmer said, "It's a legal requirement for any company operating under an EPA licence to notify EPA of any breach of their licence conditions, and that is a clear responsibility, it's in writing on their licence."

EPA officers contacted the company for additional information, which determined the discharge of smoke and pressure is considered an unlicensed release to the air, which must be reported to EPA. Organisations managing similar environmental risks should review their workplace safety compliance obligations regularly to avoid comparable breaches.

View the original article on the EPA Victoria website.

Comcare Releases Annual Work Health and Safety Year in Review

Comcare's regulation and engagement activities conducted throughout 2020 are highlighted in their recently released report, offering valuable insight for safety professionals tracking regulatory trends.

A survey found that 85% of workplaces visited by Comcare inspectors realised the need for improved work health and safety outcomes because of a visit — a finding worth noting as this Friday's safety news continues to demonstrate the value of proactive inspection programs.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruption in 2020, Comcare maintained a strong approach toward serious incidents and fatalities, establishing COVID-19 focused programs to ensure the jurisdiction had effective safety systems minimising infection risk in workplaces.

The increase in major infrastructure projects has resulted in Comcare focusing on monitoring high-risk construction. In November 2020, a specialist team of inspectors was deployed, continuing to provide enhanced oversight and intelligence into 2021.

For more information on this topic, head to the Comcare website.

Stay Informed with Weekly Safety News

Keeping track of enforcement actions and regulatory reports helps safety professionals benchmark compliance practices against industry standards. Catch up on previous instalments, including Friday 14th May 2021 and Friday 7th May 2021, or look ahead to Friday 28th May 2021 for the next update on this date in workplace safety news.