Tuesday 13th April 2021

Fire eruption on Antarctic supply ship MPV Everest. 

The Antarctic resupply vessel the MPV Everest, operated by Dutch-based company Maritime Construction Services, has suffered a fire in the port engine room, destroying two inflatable rubber boats stored on the deck.

The Australian Transport Bureau (ATSB) has launched an investigation, with the ship still days from reaching its dock in Fremantle, Western Australia.

The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) said, 'None of the 109 people among the expedition party and crew were injured in the incident.'

The ship had just completed a two-month voyage to Antarctica, resupplying and changing over personnel at Australia's Davis and Mawson research stations.

The cause of the port engine fire will be investigated by the ship's owner, Maritime Construction Services and relevant safety regulators.

The vessel's damage has been classified as substantial and has been listed as a serious incident by the ATSB.

The report is expected to be finished by the second quarter of 2022.

To read the full story, head to the ABC website.

Telehandler incident alert issued by WorkSafe QLD. 

A worker was killed in January 2021 after a telehandler reversed over him while loading a crop-dusting plane with fertiliser. The incident occurred on a private airstrip and investigations into this incident are continuing to determine the exact cause.

There are many risks that telehandlers pose to operators and pedestrians; including:

• Overturning
• The operator being ejected
• Objects falling onto the operator
• Pedestrian workers suffering crush or impact injuries

Employers have a legal obligation to control the risk associated with mobile plant, including the risk they can have to pedestrians.

The best way to protect pedestrians is to make sure people and vehicles cannot interact. This can be implemented by not allowing vehicles into pedestrian spaces or vice versa.

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