Company forks out $40,000 for safety failures

Foreword

Today, Solve Safety is analysing and reviewing this latest reported WorkSafe Victoria's (workplace safety regulator) News and Safety Alerts. Solve Safety is not identifying the nature of the specific problem of any person or organisation in this commentary but only speculating on what could be happening generally in a situation like this, as described by the regulator's media press release.

Introduction

Solve Safety is a Triple ISO Certified Professional Services organisation (Safety, Quality and Environmental) that offers specialised support for your workplace safety compliance by providing occupational health and safety advice for workplace’s operational task and activities management (workplace safety compliance made easy) to create the safest and most efficient environments possible, protecting both lives and livelihoods.

Topic Elements

As a learning from the topic elements, Solve Safety has both analysed the background and the timeline of both how and why an incident like this could take place and what judgements or decision reasoning was reached by the workplace safety regulator’s published conclusions.

Are You Managing the Hazards When Operating Your Forklifts and Mobile Plant?

Background

According to WorkSafe Victoria's recent news and safety alerts, a transport and logistics company has been convicted and fined for repeatedly failing to address the risk at one of their workplaces for the potential of someone being struck or crushed by a forklift and with multiple instances of forklifts operating too close to pedestrians.

WorkSafe Victoria further reported that their inspectors witnessed:

• A truck driver rebuking a forklift operator for operating too closely.
• A forklift operator driving over walkways while pedestrians were crossing.
• People interacting with forklift operations as they crossed through a warehouse and driveway exclusion area.
• Areas where designated exclusion zone walkways line markings had been worn away.

Described by the regulator as a no-excuse case for not taking the risks seriously, as this year alone almost 150 Victorian workers needed time off work after sustaining injuries from forklift activities. It was further reported that it’s simply non-negotiable to not implement an up-to-date and effective workplace traffic management plan for both forklift and mobile plant operations, so pedestrians don’t mix.

The regulator stated that it was unacceptable to not eliminate or reduce these risks, ensuring that a three-meter exclusion zone between pedestrians and powered mobile plant is maintained and/or designated pedestrian walkways and truck driver safety zones are maintained.

Are You Controlling the Risks of Your Mobile Plant and Forklift Operations?‍

According to this WorkSafe Victoria's news, workplace employers (duty Holders) should ensure they have currently risk assessed and reviewed their organisations’ operational activities and tasks (harm minimisation) controls for mobile plant and forklift operations, such as ensuring they have:

• An appropriate traffic management plan in place for pedestrians and powered mobile plant and that it’s currently reviewed and updated.
• Separate pedestrians from moving machinery and that there is an effective communication system between operators, transport contractors and ground staff in place.
• Appropriate signage in place with barriers erected where appropriate.
• Identified and controlled visibility issues, particularly if lighting is poor.
• The appropriate high-risk work licences, as required, for workers operating equipment.
• A suitably qualified person to inspect and maintain machinery and equipment.
• Consultation on health and safety issues with employees and health and safety representatives.

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Solve Safety focuses on comprehensive workplace Duty Holder OHS/WHS Prosecution Mitigation by providing guidance on workplace safety compliance measures that reduce both the hazards and risks (harm minimisation). This is achieved by controlling workplace hazards that Duty Holders are required to consider by law when conducting their organisational operational activities and tasks.

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Workplaces can be dangerous due to many hazards that have the potential to kill, injure or cause ill health or disease, so discover safer workplaces and stress-free assessments by seeking subject matter expert safety advice prior to any of these serious safety incidents which will impact both a range of internal and external factors. Additionally, it can affect several stakeholders, making it an imperative Duty Holder’s strategy to mitigate the potential likelihood of an occupational health and safety (OHS/WHS) prosecution situation for non-compliant organisational operational activities and tasks.

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Multiple Regulator OHS/WHS Prosecution Routes

There are several different legislated Safety Acts and Regulations that OHS/WHS prosecutions by WorkSafe can institute or conduct legal proceedings against duty holders (person or organisation). This occurs when there are cases of an employee, contractor, customer or visitor who has been either injured or killed whilst in the workplace.

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No matter the size of your workplace from small, medium or major or services you may offer, such as transportation, logistics, postal, warehousing, agricultural, forestry, fishing, construction building trade, manufacturing, mining and quarries, public administration and safety emergency, administration and support, arts, culture and design, retail and wholesale trades, every other workplace and rental, hiring and real-estate, electricity, gas, water and waste water recycling, office works and professional services, health care and hospital, health and community support, education and training, hospitality, automotive, sports and recreation, aged care or disability services, a risk assessment of the workplace that identifies all the hazards is of paramount importance.

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Our consultants are Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) certified, qualified and experienced to have expert skills and knowledge over every aspect of Workplace Safety for Duty Holder OHS/WHS Prosecution Mitigation. This gives them the abilities to meticulously review and support your safety planning, so it meets the highest safety standards, minimising risks and enhancing productivity.

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