Since 2008 the West Australian government has participated in the national process of harmonising occupational health and safety law across all states and territories. WA’s future health and safety legislation will be based on a national model work health and safety legislation and

A study undertaken by the Department of Mines and Petroleum in 2013 reviewed mining fatality rates for Western Australia from 2000 to 2012. Results of the review showed a total of 52 mining deaths in the thirteen years covered. Reviewers searched for trends amongst injuries with the a

WorkSafe is to conduct an inspection program to look at the safety and health of labour hire workers in WA workplaces. The purpose of the program is to ensure that both host employers and labour hire agents are aware of their obligations, and to provide them with information required

WorkSafe has issued a warning on guarding against the effects of extreme temperatures in work environments during the summer months. WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch today reminded employers and workers of the need to take extra care during the summer months to avoid the risk of

A SouthWest mine management company was fined $100,000, after a worker was injured during a 2008 explosion at a trial coal drying and char plant. An Electrical contractor, 61 years old, suffered severe burns to the upper part of his body and head at a trial char plant near Collie, whi

Each year, around four people die in electrical incidents and more than 3000 dangerous electrical events and serious electrical incidents are reported to the Electrical Safety Office. This film highlights the emotional struggles and wider impacts on family and friends of Tim Martin, w

The WorkSafe Operations Directorate routinely identifies a number of priority areas across industries, which are targeted for compliance improvement activities, with the aim to reduce work-related injury and promote safe work practices. Selection of priority areas involves the consid

A Canning Vale freight company has been fined $20,000 (plus $1591 in costs) over an incident in which an employee was injured by a reversing forklift. The company that employs around 30 people at a transport yard in Karratha pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe wor

The WA Government’s department of Commerce has released a safety alert regarding the use of wooden and general-purpose flat pallets. The alert comes as a result of  WorkSafe investigations over the last 12 months into the freight forwarding industry, which identified that damag

The WA Government’s department of commerce has released a safety alert regarding the  level of communication readily available to truck drivers.  In 2011 a truck driver working alone died from heatstroke when he walked away from his bogged vehicle near Wiluna. In 2013/2014, W

The WA Government’s Department of Commerce has released a safety alert, following a fatal injury involving the operation of a robot palletiser  at a fertiliser factory.  The deceased machine operator,  inadvertently activated a light sensor, which caused the arm to move and

WA’s chief resources safety regulator has found an alarming rate of serious manual handling injuries amongst Pilbara mining operators and workers. Department of Mines and Petroleum Resources Safety Executive Director Simon Ridge said 107 of the injuries that occurred in the Pilbar

At 18, Tiffany Ward was severely injured at work when both of her arms were caught in a potato processing auger. This film highlights the traumatic impact of the incident on Tiffany’s life and tells of her ongoing battle to live with the physical and emotional consequences of

A miner was crushed to death by a scissor lift at Nelson Pt rail workshop on the 29th of July 2008. In February this year his employer, a mining company, was found guilty and fined $130,000 plus required to pay $300,000 in legal costs, at the Perth Magistrate’s Court,  over fa

On February 14th 2013, a Perth Magistrates Court brought down a decision to fine a goods transport company $60,000 (plus $7673 in costs) over a failure to provide and maintain a safe work environment for a person not being an employee and, by that failure, causing serious harm to the

Frank Kraemer of Safebound presented “Working in Heat” at the “Hard Rock Mine Ventilation” conference held at the Holiday Inn in Perth. The conference was held from 26th to the 28th of February 2013, where on the 27th Frank was invited to give a talk about ther

With the onset of the cyclone season, and Cyclone Narelle expected to cross the North-West coast this weekend, WorkSafe has requested workplaces on land and sea to be become familiar with emergency/contingency plans. The threat of cyclones can’t be underestimated and a coordin

In a recent announcement WorkSafe WA has released information about their latest inspection campaign. WorkSafe is undertaking an inspection program to look at safety issues associated with retail hardware and building suppliers. The workplaces involved in the program are engaged in

In a statement about their latest  inspection campaign, WorkSafe WA has posted on their website that  Worksafe inspectors will focus on freight forwarding safety risk. The campaign will concentrate on workplaces where freight forwarding is in operation and targeting will continu

WorkSafe WA is currently undertaking an assessment of the benefits and cost of implementing the harmonised Work Health and Safety legislation. WA is one of four jurisdictions that have not yet adopted the new harmonised WHS Act and Regulations. WorkSafe is encouraging workplaces to p