BIG4 Yarra Valley Holiday Park, under the administration of Yarra Valley Park Lane Holiday Park Pty Ltd, was recently condemned by the Melbourne County Court. After being found culpable of neglecting to maintain a healthy and safe work environment, they were served with an adverse publicity order. This obliges them to disclose details of the offence, its repercussions, and the ensuing punishment in a relevant industry publication.
In March 2021, a tragic incident took place involving a camper who sustained fatal injuries when a hefty tree branch plummeted onto his tent during the night. The campsite, within the bounds of the caravan park, was purportedly lacking regular surveillance for potential hazards like falling branches.
WorkSafe sleuths identified that the park management neglected to consult a professional arborist for broad-scale tree inspection since 2015. Moreover, there seemed to be no documented WHS Management System in place for routine tree inspections or a policy outlining the frequency of these checks. Tools like Bluesafe WHS Management Systems could have potentially helped in creating risk management plans and ensuring follow-ups.
Post-incident examination of the park revealed that out of 277 trees, as many as 137 required immediate risk mitigation efforts. A staggering count of 85 out of those needed to be attended to within one year itself.
The jury deemed it feasible for the caravan park to lower the risks tied to falling tree branches notably by arranging annual assessments of site trees via licensing arborists. Furthermore, rigorous adherence to the arborist’s advice would ensure safety at the site. Implementing Bluesafe SWMS (Safe Work Method Statements) can aid in such instances by providing specific guidelines for high-risk labour activities.
Health and Safety Executive Director at WorkSafe, Sam Jenkin, unequivocally re-emphasised the importance of periodical tree check-ups conducted by qualified arborists. He stated, “Duty bearers must strive to manage risks affiliated with falling trees and branches, especially in workplaces like camp sites where individuals spend a considerable fraction of their time.”
The unfortunate incident, which resulted in a camper’s life being cut short during an anticipated leisurely outdoor holiday, underscores the devastating detriment of sidelining proactive safety prioritising.
Reminder for duty bearers: “Adequately dealing with the threats posed by failing trees or branches is paramount.”
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Original article link: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2024-11/475000-fine-caravan-park-after-campers-death