Thursday 8th April 2021

Worker crushed when dismounting from moving tractor. 

The Bowen Magistrates Court has fined a North Queensland produce company after one of their workers died in a workplace incident.

The 37-year-old worker dismounted the moving tractor to restock the seedling trays when he became trapped under the wheel of the planter. He was later declared deceased at the scene.

It wasn't the first time the worker had dismounted from the moving tractor. It was common practice to do so until around mid-2018, when the produce company introduced a policy prohibiting it.

A safety induction was held only a month before the incident in which the worker had taken part. Records show he signed a document confirming he took part in the induction. Despite this, the worker continued to dismount the moving tractor and reprimanded for it three times.

Although the produce company had policies and procedures in place for their workers' safety, Magistrate James Morton stated the incident could have been avoided had a more forceful approach been enforced.

A $15,000 fine was issued for the 2019 incident, and no conviction was recorded.

More on this media release can be found on the WorkSafe QLD website.

National forklift safety roadshow reaches 1055 businesses. 

WorkSafe New Zealand wrapped up its national forklift safety roadshow in Dunedin last week.

The seminars managed to reach 1055 businesses across the country, highlighting the health and safety risks associated with forklifts.

Forklift related injuries between 2013 and 2018 resulted in ACC estimated life cost claims totalling more than $11 million.

Presentation during the seminars encouraged attendees to look at operator safety and businesses' responsibility to ensure work is carried out safely.

WorkSafe New Zealand will look at rolling out seminars to other parts of the country.

Read the full media release on the WorkSafe NZ website.

Goulburn company fined $15,000 for hosing spilt chemicals. 

A Goulburn company has been fined by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) for polluting waters by allegedly washing herbicide into a stormwater drain.

The alleged spill of the herbicide Paraquat from a chemical spray truck occurred on 30th November 2020. The company failed to notify emergency services of the incident.

A member of the public notified the EPA’s 24-hour Environment Line of the spill the following day. The EPA then launched an investigation.

On 2nd December, EPA officers detected the herbicide in the Mulwaree River, only 2.3km downstream of the spill site.

EPA officers found puddles of blue liquid at the premises; testing showed high concentrations of Paraquat in those puddles.

The EPA issued a clean-up direction to which the company complied.

EPA Director Regulatory Operations Cate Woods said, “The company told the EPA they spent four hours hosing the spilt herbicide into the stormwater as they were concerned for their worker’s safety,”

“The correct procedure is to call triple zero for expert assistance and to also report the spill to the EPA.”

A fine of $15,000 was issued by EPA NSW.

View the EPA NSW website for the complete media release.