Tuesday 25th May 2021

Safety News Update: Tuesday 25th May 2021

In today's roundup of workplace safety news, we cover a vehicle safety compliance campaign targeting Newcastle businesses and a fatal farm incident in Gippsland. Both stories highlight the ongoing need for robust safe work systems across Australian industries.

Vehicle Safety Campaign Focuses on Newcastle Businesses

Beginning last week, the Safety Around Your Vehicle Compliance Project follows on from the recent launch of SafeWork NSW's Safety Around Your Vehicle Glove Box Guide (PDF 1.2MB).

Due to several serious accidents causing death that have occurred recently, visits by SafeWork inspectors will address operators on requirements to have safe systems of work in place when carrying out activities around heavy vehicles.

SafeWork Executive Director, Tony Williams, said: "Almost every week we see workers getting injured, or worse while working around vehicles, whether that's in a transport depot, unloading on a construction site, loading at a distribution centre or making retail or home deliveries."

"Many of the incidents are not driving related, but happen as people work around the truck or vehicle. These visits are not about driving habits; they're about safe work practices around the vehicle. To help achieve this, we will have up to 12 inspectors visiting sites across the region."

Employers seeking further guidance on heavy vehicle safety may find it useful to review our previous safety news update from Tuesday 18th May 2021, which touches on related compliance matters affecting industry.

View the original article on the SafeWork NSW website.

Farm Worker Dies After Hay Bale Fall

WorkSafe is investigating the death of a farm worker at a property in Binginwarri, in Gippsland.

A 74-year-old man was working alone in a shed when six large round hay bales are believed to have fallen from a stack behind him, striking his head against machinery.

He died after suffering severe head injuries. This accident, which happened last Thursday, brings the workplace fatality toll to 17 for 2021 — a sobering figure for safety professionals monitoring incident numbers throughout the year.

Farm-related fatalities remain a persistent concern within Australian workplace safety news, underscoring why lone worker protocols and machinery risk assessments deserve ongoing attention from employers in agricultural settings.

The original release can be found on the SafeWork Victoria website.

Stay Informed With Weekly Safety News

Keeping pace with workplace safety developments helps businesses stay compliant and protect their workforce. Catch up on last week's coverage in our Tuesday 4th May 2021 safety news summary, or look ahead to our Tuesday 1st June 2021 update for the latest developments beyond this date.

We publish safety news regularly to help construction, manufacturing, and healthcare professionals stay ahead of emerging risks. Checking today's update alongside prior editions gives a clearer picture of recurring hazards across sectors, and returning today for further updates ensures you remain current on compliance obligations throughout 2021.