Alerts
Selected filters
All alerts
-
Incident alert
Worker’s hand partially amputated by a saw
In April 2022, a worker suffered a partial amputation of his hand after it contacted a moving saw blade approximately 1m in diameter. Early investigations revealed it was a breakdown saw used to mill trees. It appears the worker was cutting a large timber log on the saw when he has accessed another blade to clear or dislodge an obstruction. Unfortunately, his hand has come into contact with the moving operational blade, causing significant amputation injuries. Investigations into the incident are continuing.
-
Incident alert
Worker seriously injured when struck by hay bale
In May 2022, a worker was seriously injured when he fell through a ceiling panel, approximately 3.5m onto the concrete floor. Early investigations indicate the worker was removing a ceiling panel that had broken away from the remaining fixtures possibly due to rust and corrosion. It appears he plummeted with the panel, which broke most of his fall. Investigations are continuing. Investigations into these matters are continuing. Early indications are the trolley appears to have failed. Investigations are continuing.
-
Incident alert
Worker seriously injured after falling through a ceiling panel
In May 2022, a worker was seriously injured when he fell through a ceiling panel, approximately 3.5m onto the concrete floor. In June 2022, a business owner died after falling approximately 7.5m through a skylight panel onto a concrete floor. In July 2022, a roofing contractor scoping work to fix a leak was fatally injured when he fell through roof sheeting onto a concrete floor.
-
Incident alert
Chemical reaction exposes worker to toxic gas
In March 2022, a worker was seriously injured after being exposed to a toxic gas following a chemical reaction in a pump shed. Initial enquiries indicate the man was using a drum pump to deliver sodium hypochlorite inadvertently into a tank containing sulphuric acid as part of a water treatment process. As a result of the two chemicals reacting, a toxic gas was generated. It escaped through an unsealed opening on the tank into the work area. Investigations are continuing.
-
Incident alert
Worker struck by steel post at construction site
In March 2022, a worker suffered a chest laceration and internal injuries when he was struck by a steel post. Early enquiries indicate the worker was part of a team installing a retaining wall at a residential construction site. The steel post had been stood upright, using a sling attached to an excavator in close proximity to the worker. It then appears the steel post has slipped off the sling, striking the worker. Investigations are continuing.
-
Incident alert
Worker injured after asphalt plant hits elevating work platform
In February 2022, a worker suffered serious leg injuries when the basket of a boom-type elevating work platform (EWP) he was using was struck and pulled along by an elevated asphalt bin system, part of an asphalt plant. Initial enquiries indicate the man was in the EWP basket doing maintenance work close to the asphalt bin system, when for reasons yet to be established, the bin and associated components began moving along its tracks without warning. As a result, part of the EWP’s basket was caught by the asphalt bin system and dragged along, injuring the worker. Investigations are continuing.
-
Workplace health and safety alert
Major inspections identify severe corrosion on critical bolts on teacup (cup and saucer) type rides
The purpose of this safety alert is to highlight the risk of a potential catastrophic failure of corroded bolts on amusement rides. During inspection of teacup (cup and saucer) rides the bolts attaching the patron carriage (teacup) were found with severely corroded bolts. The severely corroded mounting bolts cannot be identified without being removed for inspection. The information in this alert applies to bolted joints on any amusement devices that have limited access for inspection.
-
Incident alert
Dangerous falling object incidents in construction
In December 2021, a worker suffered a badly broken arm and puncture wounds to his shoulder after being struck by part of a retractable awning system that fell. Initial enquiries indicate he was a member of a team installing the system, when it appears part of the retractable awning dislodged from the building and fell on him. In January 2022, a piece of aluminium fell from the 17th floor of a high-rise construction site, landing on the roof of a building across the road. It was part of the building’s window system. It appears, the piece of aluminium became jammed and a worker used a pinch bar to release it. As a result, the aluminium piece came out of the end of the window, striking a column and falling out of the building. In a third incident last month, a tile fell from the 50th floor of a high-rise construction site onto the 7th floor pool level. Early investigations indicate a worker had placed the tile against a unit’s balcony balustrade when for reasons yet to be established,
-
Incident alert
Workers injured by stone slabs
In January 2022, two workers (including a young one) suffered serious lower limb and foot injures when several unsecured engineered stone slabs fell from a trolley they were using. A third worker received a laceration when he tried to lift the slabs off the others. The stone slabs weighed approximately 120 kilograms each. Early indications are the trolley appears to have failed. Investigations are continuing.
-
Workplace health and safety alert
Concrete placing boom king post failure
To provide information on the collapse of concrete placing booms and the importance of properly maintaining and inspecting these units in accordance with the Concrete pumping Code of practice 2019.
-
Incident alert
Mobile concrete placing boom overturn incidents
In December 2021, a concreter suffered serious injuries including a cervical spinal fracture and lacerations to his head and body after being struck by a mobile concrete placing boom at a residential construction site. The concreter was part of a team pouring a house slab.
-
Incident alert
Worker struck in abdomen with stun gun
In February 2022, a worker suffered serious injuries after being struck in the abdomen by a loaded captive bolt stun gun (also known as cattle gun, bolt gun, stun gun or stunner). Early investigations revealed the worker was part of a maintenance team and was cleaning the loaded captive bolt gun when it fired.