Friday 26th March 2021

Lack of processes resulted in serious injuries. 

The Woolworths Group Limited was successfully prosecuted by SafeWork South Australia after a bakery trolley fell onto a worker, causing serious injuries.

The incident occurred in August 2018 when a worker was moving a full bakery trolley from the supermarkets’ bakery department.

While walking backwards and manoeuvring the trolley, the wheel on the two-metre-high trolley jammed, causing the worker to fall back, and the trolley landed on her.

The worker fractured her sternum, lumbar vertebrae, and tibia, along with soft tissue injuries.

An investigation identified the wheels on the trolly were compromised due to deterioration, therefore restricting the trolley's movement.

Despite having maintenance processes for other equipment, Woolworths did not have a process to inspect and maintain bakery trolleys.

In the South Australian Employment Tribunal (SAET), Woolworths Group Ltd pleaded guilty for breaches of their duties under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA).

A fine of $120,00 was imposed.

The original article can be viewed on the SafeWork SA website.

Inspectors issue 91 improvement notices during three-day blitz. 

During February, inspectors from WorkSafe, Department of Health and Labour Hire Authority Victoria visited growers across the Shepparton region.

The purpose of these visits was to ensure growers were complying with occupational health and safety regulations, staying COVID-safe and supporting vulnerable workers.

The three-day operation saw inspectors issue 91 improvement notices to 18 of the 22 properties inspected.

A lack of roll-over protection and helmets being worn on quad bikes, missing or broken guarding on tractor power take-offs, and other machinery were the most common safety issues.

Department of Health officers only sighted a COVID Safe Plan at just over half of the sites visited. COVID induction and training, worker “bubbles”, cleaning schedules and record-keeping were among the other most common COVID issues identified. Labour Hire Licensing Commissioner Steve Dargavel stated that ‘These site inspections were important because they helped identify providers that needed COVID Safe plans. By working with growers and providers to make sure they have compliant COVID Safe plans, we’re protecting regional communities and the harvest’.

More information on the visits can be found on the WorkSafe Victoria website.