This alert reminds nail gun users to prevent their guns from inadvertently discharging when they’re using them. It also reminds them to prevent nails from inadvertently ricocheting and hitting persons or penetrating other surfaces.

Background
Nail guns are a high risk tool widely used in the residential construction industry. Numerous incidents involving their use are reported each year. These incidents usually involve serious injuries to those using or to those in the vicinity of their use.

Contributing factors for incidents
Investigations into incidents involving nail guns have identified two main contributing factors:
• When in bump fire mode, the nail gun can be inadvertently discharged due to contact with an object such as the human body. A nail is fired when the operator maintains pressure on the trigger each time the contact tip is depressed.
• Inadvertent ricochets or penetrations can occur when a nail is fired into a hard surface such as a wood knot, another nail, or other hard surfaces and results in the nail being bounced or projected off in an unpredictable direction.

Action required
Those in control of work should ensure that the following is in place:
• Young or inexperienced workers should only use nail guns under strict supervision as statistics indicate they are the most at risk.
• Where possible, use the single shot type/mode.
• The nail gun is maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications.
• Users are trained and instructed in their safe use.
• Users should be competent to use the nail gun they use, whether it is a single shot or bump fire type. Competence should be verified through assessment and regular reinforcement.
• Appropriate personal protective equipment such as eye and hearing protection is worn.
• The timber surface should be inspected for cracks or knots prior to their use.
• Never place your finger(s) on the trigger when moving between work areas (e.g. up/down ladders).
• Avoid use in awkward positions. They should not be held above the line of your shoulder
• Nail guns must never be pointed or fired in another person’s direction.

• Take regular breaks from their use to address the ergonomic risks associated with their long term and repetitive use.
• Areas where nail guns are used are to be isolated from other workers and clearly defined with physical barriers and signage.

Further information
• The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) requires a person conducting a business or undertaking to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that safe systems of work are provided and maintained and that all workers are provided with the necessary information, training, instruction or supervision.
• Nail guns can be powered by gas canister or pneumatic. There are two main types/modes of nail guns used:Single shot – requires finger depression of the trigger for each nail fired.
• Bump fire – the trigger can be held down with a nail fired each time the nozzle comes into contact with an object.

Contact us here for assistance or queries!

Below are three videos from the QLD Government which we love, and thought you might too!

Building bridges – The Jed Millen story.

Workplace incidents are life changing for the worker and their family and friends.

Jed’s accident impacted on his own physical ability to move, his relationships with his wife and children.  It ruined him financially.

Changing focus – The Gavan McGuane story.

The hospitality industry faces injuries every day. A simple trip on a mat can leave a person with a serious debilitating injury for the rest of their life. Gavan’s story is truly heart-breaking because it could have been prevented

Between a rock and a hard place – The Garry Nichols story.

This film, about a rural tractor roll-over incident, shows how quickly an ordinary work day can change into something more disastrous. This compelling and tragic story is told by Garry and those closest to him. The film exposes the traumatic injuries to Garry and the emotional and financial impacts that followed as he struggled to maintain his relationships with family and friends and manage the financial impacts that resulted in him losing possession of his farm.

Remember to contact us here for any Safety consulting needs!

Southern Ultimate Sign Installations Pty Ltd (Southern USI) pleaded guilty at the Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court this week to one charge of failing to provide a safe system of work.

The incident happened on 9 November 2010 when the worker and his colleague were dismantling an advertising sign at Northland Shopping Centre in Preston.

The court heard the worker was taking off a metal rod at the top of the sign – which had to be removed so he could install a new banner – when it hit an overhead power line, sending 22,000 volts though his body.

The worker remained in intensive care for five days and has since undergone extensive skin grafts to treat third degree burns, the court was told.

A WorkSafe investigation found the company failed to ensure employees had sufficient training when working near powerlines at this particular site.

The investigation also found the company could have installed “fixed tracking” at the site, which would have prevented the worker from being able to remove the metal rods over his shoulder, striking the power lines.

The court heard that following the incident, Southern USI undertook a range of remedial measures, including fixing the metal tracking at the site, providing training in “no go zones” areas for its employees and mandating the use of a “spotter” in all jobs.

Magistrate Anthony Parsons convicted and fined the company $50,000 and ordered it pay almost $6000 in legal costs.

WorkSafe Construction and Utilities Acting Director, Allan Beacom, hoped this case served as a reminder of the dangers associated with working near powerlines.

“Understanding “no go zones” when working near power lines is essential and strict procedures must be implemented,” he said.

“Not doing so greatly increases the risk of workers receiving an electric shock through either direct contact with the powerlines or due to arcing of the electricity.”

Want to know more or need help? Why not contact us here.

Five new national work health and safety model Codes of Practice are currently open for public comment. They are:

• Safe Design, Manufacture, Import and Supply of Plant
• Working in the Vicinity of Overhead and Underground Electrical Lines
• Traffic Management in Workplaces
• Scaffolding Work
• Formwork and Falsework.

To submit a comment on these draft model work health and safety Codes of Practice, visit the Safe Work Australia website.

The public comment period for these Codes of Practice will close at 5 pm Friday 22 June 2012.

Draft Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022

Safe Work Australia invites all Australians to provide comments on the draft Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022. The input received will help shape the final Strategy and ultimately the future coordination of work health and safety in Australia over the next decade.

You can view the draft and make a comment until 5.00pm (AEST) Monday 21 May 2012.

Public comment closed for:

Recreational Dive and Snorkelling Industry Reference Group recommendations

Twelve recommendations were made by the Recreational Dive and Snorkelling Industry Reference Group.

Comment on the proposed changes is now closed. (Closed 31 March 2012).

Rural Plant Code of Practice 2004

The public comment period on the proposed changes to the Rural Plant Code of Practice 2004 is now closed (Closed: 31 March 2012).

Consultation Regulation Impact Statement on precursor chemicals to homemade explosives

The community and businesses were invited to provide comment on four options that serve to reduce the national security risks posed by chemicals of security concern (Closed: 30 March 2012).

A list of the submissions received, and further information on the development of the Decision RIS is available at the Chemicals Security website (non-Queensland Government link).

The first of seven action areas targeted by the draft strategy is Health and Safety by Design. In this section is an outline of how structures, plant, equipment and substances can be designed so risks are eliminated or minimised before they enter the workplace.

It also wants work processes and systems to be designed and managed to eliminate or minimise risks.

Supply chains are the number two action area. The draft strategy outlines a range of issues, including how all those in the supply chain must “understand their cumulative impact and actively improve the health and safety of the supply chain”.

The other action areas include Work Health and Safety Capabilities, Culture and Leadership, Research and Evaluation, Government, and a Responsive Regulatory Framework.

By 2022 the draft strategy is aiming for a 20 per cent reduction in the number of injury fatalities, a 30 per cent reduction in incidence rates of claims resulting in one or more weeks off work, and a 30 per cent reduction in the incidence rate of claims due to body stressing.

The draft strategy is open for public comment until May 2012.

We understand  Safe Work Australia will release more draft model work health and safety codes of practice for public comment in April, while other draft codes are being tweaked before they are submitted to the Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council for final approval.

Want to know more or need help?

Why not contact Safety Concepts and speak with one of our Safety Consultants.

The presence and location of asbestos should be indicated if reasonably practicable by a label.

Registers are required for workplace buildings built up to 31 December 2003 – compared to current cutoff date of 1 January 1990.

Asbestos management plans and training are required for naturally occurring asbestos.

PCBUs must provide health monitoring for certain workers involved in removal work or other asbestos-related work.

There is a requirement to notify the regulator of:

• licensed asbestos removal work
• demolition of a pre-31 December 2003 structure or plant in an emergency
• asbestos fibre levels exceeding 0.02 fibres/ml during Class A asbestos removal work.

A new licence category for individual ‘asbestos assessors’ required for Class A asbestos removal work – air monitoring, clearance inspections and clearance certificates.

An independent competent person is required for clearance inspections and clearance certificates for Class B removal work.

Both Class A and Class B licence holders must be a PCBU.

There are new obligations when the demolition or refurbishment of a structure or plant built or installed before 31 December 2003 is undertaken:

• a PCBU with management/control must, so far as reasonably practicable, ensure ACM is removed before demolition
• a PCBU must before refurbishment of structure or plant where asbestos is likely to be disturbed, identify and, so far as reasonably practicable, remove the asbestos before refurbishment
• there are requirements for when an ‘emergency’ requires something to be demolished (e.g. structure is structurally unsound). There is a procedure to reduce risk of exposure to asbestos and notify the regulator prior to demolition.

Want to know more or need help?

Why not contact Safety Concepts and speak with one of our Safety Consultants.

Workers have died or sustained serious injuries after their work vehicles exploded. These explosions occurred when gas from leaking portable gas cylinders ignited inside the vehicles. In many cases, the ignition source was the vehicle’s electrical system.

Flammable gas cylinders include those containing oxygen, acetylene, liquefied petroleum gas and propane or butane throwaway-style cylinders.

These incidents could have also killed or seriously injured members of the public.

Control measures

Gas cylinders should be stored and transported in vehicles with cargo areas open to the air, and not stored inside closed type vehicles. When storing or transporting fuel gas cylinders,

ensure:

• main cylinder valves are tightly closed

• there is no leakage from the main valve area (e.g. using a gas detector or soapy water test)

• cylinders are secured in an upright position to prevent them tipping or falling over

• cylinders cannot be struck by other objects (e.g. loose tools and materials)

• cylinders are always removed from the vehicle before the gas is used

• at least one 10B dry-powder fire extinguisher is fitted in the driver’s cabin.

Open-type vehicles

Open-type vehicles have cargo areas open to the air with unrestricted ventilation. The cargo areas of some open-type vehicles with sides (e.g. utility vehicles) can potentially retain escaped gas. This is due to escaped gas flowing to and accumulating in low, enclosed and poorly ventilated areas. If you are not sure if your cargo area may allow gas to accumulate, assume it can until a competent person determines otherwise.

The cargo area should be assessed by a competent person for its potential to retain gas, and to identify the likely areas where gas could accumulate. Consider installing vents in these areas.

Closed-type vehicles

Closed-type vehicles are vans, utilities and other vehicles that have cargo areas with restricted natural air movement and ventilation. This includes vehicles where gas cylinders are stored under canopies, inside service bodies or toolboxes, and vehicles where cylinders are covered by tarps or tonneau covers.

If you cannot avoid using a closed-type vehicle, it should be fitted with a separate gas storage cabinet that is vapour-tight from the rest of the vehicle.

The gas cabinet must be secured to the vehicle and be big enough to store all cylinders carried in the vehicle, including empty cylinders. It must be designed to ensure gas from leaking cylinders cannot accumulate inside the cabinet but is vented to the atmosphere outside the vehicle (see Figure 2). The cabinet door must be securely sealed whenever cylinders are stored in the cabinet.

The cabinet must have:

• one or more permanent vents or drains positioned at the bottom of the cabinet (either floor or side), with an internal diameter of at least 25mm

• vents located so they cannot be blocked when the cylinders are in the cabinet

• a way of securing cylinders in an upright and stable position (e.g. straps)

• a visible flammable gas label on the outside

• regular inspections and maintenance of door seals and vents.

Gas cabinets must also be installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions. Gas cabinets are available from plumbing wholesalers, gas suppliers and safety equipment suppliers.

Information and training

Ensure workers are informed and trained in procedures for:

• checking and testing for leaking cylinders

• securing cylinders and sealing gas cabinets

• regularly checking cabinet seals and vents

• dealing with damage to the gas cabinet, gas leaks or explosion.

Want to know more or need help? 

Why not contact Safety Concepts and speak with one of our Safety Consultants.

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 inQueensland 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.

Hoist winches on some mobile cranes are fitted with a free fall feature that allows the hook and load to fall under gravity in an uncontrolled manner. This feature has been traditionally provided on cranes for activities such as clam-shell dredging and dynamic compaction. However, the risk associated with an inadvertent activation of the free fall feature can be high and the provision is rarely needed. Most mobile crane manufacturers do not provide this feature on new cranes. The risk to workers from falling loads and potential damage to the crane and crane operator is too great to continue to allow free fall on cranes as standard industry practice.

To prevent inadvertent activation of the free fall feature, it is a common practice for crane owners to install a physical lock. Unfortunately, some of the physical lock arrangements have not been effectively installed. Errors have been made when interpreting the operation of the free fall switching mechanism.

Remedial action required

This incident has highlighted the need for the cranes to be operated so that inadvertent free fall of the load cannot occur. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) considers that the following action should be taken by all owners of mobile cranes inQueensland:

1. Immediate action:

• Owners of cranes with free fall features, that do not have a physical lockout arrangement to prevent inadvertent activation, are to engage a competent person to install a lockout and test the arrangement.
• Owners of cranes with a free fall lockout on the crane are to engage a competent person to inspect and test to ensure that the lock out has been correctly installed and free fall cannot be inadvertently activated.

The test of the free fall function (while the lock is installed) is to verify that free fall cannot be inadvertently activated. The test is to be carried out in a controlled environment where people cannot be injured and the crane cannot be damaged. A signed, written record of the test is to be provided on the crane.

2. Action within six months:

• Owners of any crane with free fall capabilities should consider de-activating the free fall facility permanently unless there are no alternatives for this type of operation. A documented risk assessment should be prepared for this situation. This de-activation of the free fall should include removal of free fall switches on the crane and a certificate from the crane manufacturer or a competent person (preferably a professional engineer) to state that the free fall function has been permanently removed.

The following additional information should also be noted:

• Workers should avoid being located under the suspended loads.
• The use of the free fall function on a mobile crane should be extremely rare and only be permitted where a documented safe work method statement has shown there is no other reasonable alternative.
• Free fall operation on a mobile crane should never be carried out with people any where near the lift zone.

Want to know more or need help?  Why not contact Safety Concepts and speak with one of our Safety Consultants.

Proposed measures to stop chemicals falling into the wrong hands: chance to have your say.

Industry and members of the community have until 30 March 2012 to comment on measures designed to reduce the risks of common chemicals getting into the wrong hands and being used to make homemade bombs.

There are literally tens of thousands of chemicals used daily in Australia for commercial and household purposes. There are over 400,000 chemical-based products on the market, which are used by some 570,000 workplaces and millions of Australian consumers.

The vast majority of these chemical products have important and legitimate uses. However, in the wrong hands, some chemicals can be used to make lethal weapons.

Terrorism remains a significant threat to Western societies, including Australia. While terrorists use a wide-range of weapons to pursue their objectives, the ease of availability of chemicals in Australia makes homemade explosives an ideal weapon.

In 2011, we saw the devastating effects of precursor chemicals when a homemade explosive device was detonated in Oslo, Norway, killing eight people and injuring 90. That bomb was created using chemical materials that are readily available in Australia, including fertilizer, nitromethane and aluminium.

So far Australia has been fortunate in not having experienced a direct terrorist attack on its own soil. However, it has still been impacted significantly through terrorism incidents worldwide, many of which involved chemical explosives.

Australia’s National Terrorism public alert remains at ‘medium’ which means authorities believe a terrorist attack could occur. This ongoing concern has driven governments and industry to work together to determine practical ways of minimising the risk of chemicals being misused by terrorists to make homemade explosives.

Part of this work is a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) that weighs up the costs and benefits of a number of different policy options, including a targeted awareness campaign, codes of practice and supply-chain regulation.

Stakeholders have an important opportunity to help shape government policy on this issue by commenting on the RIS. In particular, this is your chance to put forward your views and comment on issues, such as cost, effectiveness and likely uptake of a range of measures. These include: employee and contractor checking, inventory and consignment control, security during transport and storage, and point-of-sale procedures.

AGD is particularly interested in receiving input from businesses that manufacture, handle or use any products that contain the following chemicals:

• Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
• Ammonium perchlorate (NH4ClO4)
• Sodium chlorate (NaClO3)
• Sodium nitrate (NaNO3)
• Nitric acid (HNO3)
• Potassium nitrate (KNO3)
• Potassium chlorate (KClO3)
• Nitromethane (CH3NO2)
• Sodium perchlorate (NaClO4)
• Sodium azide (NaN3)
• Potassium perchlorate (KClO4

To access a copy of the Consultation RIS and to find out how to make a submission, please refer to the AGD Chemical Security program website at www.chemicalsecurity.gov.au/RIS. For further information you can also contact AGD on (02) 6141 2925 or (02) 6141 3012.

 The public consultation period will commence on Friday 3 February and end on Friday 30 March 2012.

Background
A worker was killed when he was crushed by the lifting device while replacing one of the scissor lift arms. The incident involved a scheduled manufacturer warranty recall on a vehicle lifting device.

Contributing factors
It should be noted that in this incident, the design of the device was not shown to be deficient – rather the system of work used at the time of incident was unsafe.
One of the scissor lift arms on the unit was being replaced as required by the manufacturer. The supplier of the vehicle lifting device was engaged to carry out the remedial work on the unit.
The lifting device itself had been designed to accommodate purpose built post stands for supporting and securing the unit’s platform deck into position, so that the under chassis scissor arm and hydraulic ram components could be disconnected. However, the two workers carrying out that task did not use the post stands while performing work under the platform.
Instead of using the recommended safe system of work, the workers used two makeshift props under one end of the platform deck, along with a hydraulic jack under the opposite end of that deck to support the platform. While attempting to align and fit one of the connection pins into the newly fitted scissor arm, the platform deck became unstable and one of the support props dislodged. This caused the platform deck to crash to the ground, tragically crushing one of the workers between the scissor arm action and the frame.

An investigation of the incident revealed the following:
• The manufacturer provided the supplier with information explaining the procedure to follow when replacing the scissor arm. The procedure specified the use of three purpose built post stands made by the manufacturer, to support the platform deck, through brackets that are securely attached to that deck.
• The two makeshift props and hydraulic jack used to support the platform were not restrained or clamped to prevent lateral movement.
• The employer of the workers did not ensure, either by way of instruction, training or supervision, that the workers were aware of, or followed, the procedure as recommended by the manufacturer.

Action required
Plant that supports vehicles must:
• be used/designed to ensure structural integrity and stability
• be fitted with an additional back up safety system which must be engaged prior to commencing work underneath the plant. For example use of vehicle axle stands (once vehicle raised from ground).
Prior to commencing work consider the following:
• Have the hazards/risks been identified?
• Have the risks been assessed?
• Have all appropriate controls been considered and implemented?
• Have the manufacturer’s instructions on the use or maintenance of the plant been considered and implemented?
• Have those involved in the work received all the instruction and training required to perform the work safely?

Want to know more or need help? Why not contact Safety Concepts and speak with one of our Safety Consultants