A tragic incident leading to the loss of a 55-year-old worker’s life happened at the job site when he became impaled by a telehandler’s fork attachment during construction of a metal roller door. This points towards the vital importance of employing appropriate work safety products such as WHS management systems, SWMS, and robust policies.
Boyd Industries Pty Ltd is currently confronting three charges under section 23(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. These are due to their failure in ensuring health and safety risks weren’t exposed to individuals other than employees.
According to WorkSafe assertions, the company was deficient in minimising the risk of severe injuries or fatalities originating from the telehandler, its load, or any attachment interacting with an individual. This clearly emphasises the criticality of a comprehensive ‘Bluesafe WHS Management System’ for effectively managing workplace hazards.
Moreover, Boyd Industries is alleged to have contravened regulation 327(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. They supposedly neglected to formulate and implement a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) for high-risk construction tasks. The importance of a ‘Bluesafe SWMS‘ becomes apparent here, showing how it could potentially prevent such dangerous occurrences on worksites.
This case is set to be deliberated at the filing hearing decided to take place at the Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court on 20th December 2024. Underscoring this incident and subsequent legal proceedings is the profound importance of steadfast commitment to workforce safety through utilisation of effective safety measures like Bluesafe WHS Management Systems and SWMS.
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Email: media@worksafe.vic.gov.au
Phone: 0438 786 968
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Original article link: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2024-12/company-charged-after-worker-fatally-impaled