Occupational lung disease target of new Safe Work Campaign

Competent workers and direct supervision remain essential when operating cranes. WorkSafe New Zealand has warned businesses that allowing staff without appropriate training or supervision to operate cranes and other machinery is unacceptable.

The warning follows a tragic accident in 2019 where an employee training to use an overhead gantry crane was fatally crushed by a pack lifter crane implement attached to a 2.5-tonne pack of glass.

Investigations by WorkSafe found the employee had climbed up the pack lifter to hook the crane onto it and was completely unsupervised at the time of the incident. Findings also revealed crane implements should not be left attached to a load, and the business's health and safety system, along with its risk register, was inadequate. Anyone reviewing lifting operations should consult a Rigging Safe Work Procedure to ensure similar hazards are properly controlled.

The situation could have been entirely avoided had the employee been properly supervised during training, and if the pack lifter had been stored without a load attached, said WorkSafe Area Investigation Manager Steve Kelly.

"This is a situation that reinforces the need for proper health and safety systems to be in place. Employees who are not competent in operating machinery must be effectively supervised."

The company was sentenced on Thursday, 1 July, at the Christchurch District Court. A fine of $270,000 was imposed, and reparation of $110,000 was ordered to be paid to the victim's family.

Read the full article on the WorkSafe New Zealand website.

Occupational Lung Disease Target of New Safe Work Campaign

Safe Work Australia has launched a national campaign to raise awareness of occupational lung disease. Called Clean Air Clear Lungs, the initiative runs until December this year and targets industries where workers face daily exposure to hazardous dust.

Why Occupational Lung Disease Remains a Major Concern

"Occupational lung disease continues to be a major work health and safety concern in Australia," said Safe Work Australia chief executive officer Michelle Baxter.

"The Occupational Lung Diseases in Australia 2006-2019 report highlighted a substantial increase in coal workers' pneumoconiosis, as well as silicosis from working with engineered stone."

Employers responsible for machinery operations connected to dust-generating tasks, such as grinding or surface finishing, should also review a Linisher Safe Work Method Statement or a Jigsaw Safe Work Method Statement to ensure dust and health hazards are managed correctly across each industry.

Industries Most at Risk

The campaign focuses on four industries facing the greatest risk:

• Manufacturing
• Agriculture
• Engineered stone work
• Construction

Workers at high risk of occupational lung disease have experienced long-term exposure to hazardous dust in the workplace, including miners, construction workers, farmers, and engineers across nearly every relevant industry in Australia.

Resources for Workplace Safety

The campaign includes a kit on the Safe Work website, informing people of the dangers of dirty air and outlining steps to take if you believe you may be at risk. For more information, visit www.swa.gov.au/clearlungs.

Businesses across every industry can strengthen their broader health and safety documentation by reviewing Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS), particularly where asbestos, coal dust, or engineered stone materials are present on site. For trades handling render or plaster finishes, a dedicated Plastering SWMS can also help control airborne dust exposure.

The full article can be viewed on The Trinitas Group website.