The Steel Barn Pty Ltd

Incident description:

A worker employed as a storeman in a steel storage facility sustained fatal injuries while unloading stock from a storage rack using an overhead crane and a forklift. As the worker was attaching a sling to a bundle at the bottom of the racks, the welds on the steel supports broke releasing a large amount of steel onto him.

The racking was not suitable for storing the amount of steel stacked on the day of the incident. After the incident the defendant removed the faulty racks from the workplace and replaced them with safe racking.

Court result:

The company pleaded guilty and was fined $60 000. No conviction was recorded.

Considerations for prevention:

When working in the manufacturing industry where there is exposure to risks from the use of plant, obligation holders should apply a risk management approach to ensure the selection of suitable control measures.

Risk management involves evaluating the consequences and likelihood of harm that may result from the hazard, deciding on and implementing control measures to prevent or minimise the level of the risk from the hazard and monitoring the effectiveness of the control measures to ensure they remain working correctly.

When deciding on and implementing appropriate control measures associated with the use of plant, obligation holders should ensure that such tasks are undertaken by suitably qualified and experienced workers. When working in the warehousing and storage industry, employers should consider conducting regular risk assessments of the workplace to identify potential hazards. A review of workplace procedures should also be considered periodically to ensure they are relevant to the current storage facilities and stock.

Workers should also be trained to identify hazards and to ensure they are aware of the risks involved in working around high risk plant (e.g. cranes, hoists, forklifts). When working with these high risk plant employers should also ensure that all workers operating this plant are licensed and competent in their operation.

Visit the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland website for more information on:

• health and safety information for manufacturing
• managing risk
• implementing controls or evaluating or monitoring them
• crane and hoist licensing requirements
• forklift licenses
• training staff as a control measure to manage risks
• assessing the risks associated with working with or around forklifts
•  Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995
• what penalties apply under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995