OHS Alerts

04/05/2012
safe use nail guns

http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/formspublications/publications/Documents/safe-use-nail-guns-3709.pdf

04/05/2012
Entanglement rotating machines

http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/formspublications/publications/Documents/entanglement-rotating-machines-3722.pdf

27/03/2012
Storing gas cylinders in vehicles

WorkSafe Victoria has issued the attached Safety Alert after workers died or were seriously injured when their vehicles exploded.

The Alert provides advice about how to manage the risk of explosion from leaking portable flammable gas cylinders inside work vehicles.



12/03/2012
Mobile cranes with a free fall feature

The purpose of this safety alert is to highlight the importance of correctly locking out the free fall controls on mobile cranes fitted with this feature.


Background
A worker was fatally injured by a falling load while erecting a transmission tower west of Dalby in Queensland in March 2012. A 20 tonne rough terrain mobile crane was being used to lift part of the tower when it appears the auxiliary winch inadvertently went into free fall and the load fell, striking the worker.

16/08/2011
Trench Collapse Alert

A number of incidents have occurred recently where workers have been seriously injured after being engulfed while working in trenches that have collapsed.

Wet weather and increased ground moisture has created a higher risk of ground slippage and engulfment.

Trenches greater than a metre deep can pose a significant risk to workers, especially those who are bending down to work on pipes or other services. The risk of fatalities will also considerably increase with depth.

As a result, a Safety Alert has been issued.

26/07/2011
Tower Crane Access Alert

With crane operators being forced to climb up to 40, 50, 60 metres, some cases much higher to access their cranes, a safety alert has been issued.

This follows concerns due to modern tower cranes being erected in free standing mode to unacceptable heights for safe access and egress.

Download the Alert.

26/07/2011
Safe Use of Portable Ladders Safety Alert

An Alert from WorkCover Authority NSW following two recent incidents where painters fell from ladders. Both suffered serious injuries, one fatally. In both cases the painters used portable ladders and were working at a height of approximately five metres.

26/07/2011
National Asbestos Declaration

National Declaration: Towards an Australian Safe Asbestos Free Environment (SaFE).

Our aim is to eliminate asbestos related disease and exposures to all forms of asbestos in Australia.

Australia has an unenviable record of one of the world's highest rate of asbestos related diseases and a legacy of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) in many workplaces and buildings - public and private, commercial, domestic and industrial.

26/07/2011
Webbing Slings Warning

The tragic death of a worker on the Adelaide desalination plant is a sad reminder of the inherent dangers of synthetic slings.

The accident occurred when a synthetic sling failed.

Any use of synthetic slings must be part of a 'Safe Work Method Statement' that takes into account possible hazards and potential damage to the sling.

The NSW ‘Guide For Rigging’ includes this chapter on synthetic slings:

26/07/2011
Alimak 650 Hoists Alert

Alimak Hek A.B Sweden has issued a Safety Alert after major concerns regarding the use of Alimak Scando 650 Hoists.

It’s feared many of these types of hoists are using old Scando Type III Mast Towers, which have been locally modified to suit the Alimak 650.

This alert is intended to remind companies and Alimak operators that only Scando A50 Mast Towers are to be used with Alimak Scando 650 Hoists.

These have been designed to match the higher performances of the 650 hoists.