Media statements - May 2005
Audit aims to improve crocodile farm safety
Transport industry workplace health and safety audits underway
Complaints lodge following investigation into fatal incident at school
Audit aims to improve crocodile farm safety
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) is auditing crocodile farms throughout the State in a bid to improve safety in the industry.
WHSQ General Manager, Judy Bertram, said the audits are focusing on fencing, public access and signage.
"These audits follow the release in February of new guidelines that stipulate crocodile enclosures should be off limits to the public and untrained theme park employees.
"The audits ensure employers are taking the necessary health and safety precautions to prevent workers and visitors from crocodiles, including providing training and supervision and using safe systems of work."
Under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, employers in the crocodile industry are obligated to ensure the health and safety of members of the public and employees at their workplace.
For more information call Workplace Health and Safety Queensland on 1300 369 915 or visit www.dir.qld.gov.au.
Media contact: 3225 2484
SCU026/2005
Transport industry workplace health and safety audits underway
Workplace health and safety audits of operators and owners of car carriers, tankers and livestock carriers are currently underway.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland General Manager, Judy Bertram, said the audits focus on falls from trucks, which are a serious health and safety issue for all trucking companies and drivers.
"Where owners and operators are required to access high areas of trucks, tankers, car carriers and livestock carriers for the purposes of their work and there is a risk of falling, employers and owners must provide a safe system of work to minimise the risk of falls," Ms Bertram said.
"Ideally, the best approach is to eliminate the need to climb on vehicles but where this is unavoidable, engineering controls such as guardrails and slip-resistant walkways should be used.
"Other risk reduction measures include personal fall protection and fall arrest systems such as restraint belts, harnesses and lanyards," she said. "However, fall arrest systems should not be used unless there is at least one other person around the truck to assist the user in the event of a fall.
"Operators must also be provided with the necessary information, instruction and training to carry out their work safely."
Ms Bertram said a statewide audit of car carriers' was completed in May. An audit of tankers will be follow in June and livestock carriers in non-metropolitan areas will be audited in June and July.
"These audits are part of a national campaign that also included safety solutions seminars held across Queensland during Work Safe Week last October, demonstrating current best practice in managing the risks associated with falls from trucks," she said.
"The findings of these audits will be reported back to industry once the national compliance campaign has been finalised in late 2005."
Ms Bertram said from June 2001 to July 2003, 207 drivers fell from trucks in Queensland, which resulted in serious injuries and an average of 36 working days absent from work.
"These results influenced Queensland's decision to join the national falls from trucks campaign, which will assist to reduce falls from heights in the heavy vehicle sector," Ms Bertram said.
For further information visit www.dir.qld.gov.au or telephone 1300 369 915.
Media contact: 3225 2484
SCU027/2005
Complaints lodged following investigation into fatal incident at school
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) has laid two complaints in the Industrial Magistrates Court at Charters Towers following an investigation into the death of a student at All Souls St Gabriels School in May 2004.
Both complaints allege breaches of section 24(1) of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995.
One alleges All Souls St Gabriels School Incorporated failed to discharge an obligation imposed by section 28(3) of the Act to ensure other persons were not exposed to risks to their health and safety arising from the school's conduct of its undertaking.
The other complaint alleges a worker at the school failed to discharge an obligation imposed by section 36(d) of the Act in that he willfully placed at risk the workplace health and safety of a person at the workplace.
Both complaints are scheduled for first mention before the Industrial Magistrate at Charters Towers at 9.30am on 22 August 2005.
Media contact: 3225 2484
Last updated 21 July 2009
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