WorkSafe

WorkSafe’s prosecution of Fortescue over failing to supply documents and answer questions is to be discontinued, with an Enforceable Undertaking agreed to by both parties.

Acting WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North has accepted an undertaking by Fortescue to deliver wide-ranging strategies to address inappropriate workplace behaviours in the mining industry.

An Enforceable Undertaking is an alternative to prosecution, but it is not an admission or finding of guilt.

Common causes of injury to workers in mining are missteps and falls when stepping out of large trucks and other plant.  Under the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022, duty holders need to manage the risk of falls at mining workplaces, and this can only be done by considering all the factors which can lead to a potential fall risk. Other than the design of steps, accessibility of grab rails for plant users and the integrity of tread grip, several organisational and environmental factors can influence the risk of a fall.

The WorkSafe Mines Safety inspectorate has identified a concerning number of notifiable incidents where the site has not been preserved as required by the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 section 39(1).

What is a notifiable incident?

A 'notifiable incident' is:

With Ex-TC Lincoln threatening the N-W coast, businesses in the affected area have been reminded to ensure that cyclone contingency plans have been established and are in operation.

The Bureau of Meteorology expects the system to move out to sea, and there is a high chance it will re-intensify as a cyclone and track towards the west Pilbara coast this weekend.

Acting WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said today it was crucial that everyone on both sea and land had safe systems of work in place and operating when a cyclone approached.

WorkSafe has initiated the first four prosecutions under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020, which came into effect in March 2022.

Wesbeam Pty Ltd, a manufacturer of engineered wood product, has been charged with failing in its duty while in control of plant and consequently causing serious harm to an individual.

WorkSafe will allege that in April 2022, an operator at Wesbeam’s Neerabup factory was clearing a blockage on a conveyor belt when his arm was dragged into an unguarded section, resulting in serious injuries requiring extensive medical treatment.

WorkSafe has initiated the first four prosecutions under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020, which came into effect in March 2022.

Wesbeam Pty Ltd, a manufacturer of engineered wood product, has been charged with failing in its duty while in control of plant and consequently causing serious harm to an individual.

WorkSafe will allege that in April 2022, an operator at Wesbeam’s Neerabup factory was clearing a blockage on a conveyor belt when his arm was dragged into an unguarded section, resulting in serious injuries requiring extensive medical treatment.

New statistics have shown Western Australian workers have a much lower chance of being fatally injured at work in 2024 than they did 34 years ago.

When the increase in WA workforce numbers is taken into account, a worker’s risk of being fatally injured fell by 83 percent between 1988/89 and 2022/23.

In 1988/89, WA recorded 49.5 fatalities per million workers. By 2022/23, this number had reduced to 8.5 fatalities per million workers.

WorkSafe is investigating work-related deaths in two separate incidents today.

At around 8am in Donnybrook, a male worker suffered fatal injuries while in the process of collecting a skip bin from the front yard of a residential premises.

WorkSafe investigators attended and conducted an examination of the scene.

At around 2pm at Maida Vale, a worker is believed to have been electrocuted while conducting tree lopping work near overhead high voltage power lines.

Investigators from WorkSafe and Building and Energy attended the scene.

WorkSafe has commenced a proactive inspection program to look at safety issues in WA waste and recycling facilities.

The inspection program will look at a number of randomly selected facilities across metropolitan and regional areas of the State throughout the 2024/25 financial year.

Inspectors will look at waste treatment, remediation, and material recovery and disposal services throughout the course of the inspection program.

Consumer Protection and WorkSafe have issued a warning after traces of asbestos were found in some imported crayons.

Testing carried out by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and WorkSafe Victoria found asbestos at trace levels in the following products: