Media Releases 2007

Monday 24 December 2007

$1.2 million recovered in wages and entitlements

SafeWork SA's Industrial Relations inspectors and Help Centre have again helped to recover more than a million dollars for South Australian employees over the past year, after resolving claims for incorrect wage payments and other entitlements.

View this Media Release from the link below.

Wednesday 19 December 2007

Deadline looms for OHS&W Regulations Review

Less than two weeks remain to lodge submissions in the current review of South Australia's occupational health, safety and welfare regulations.

The Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Regulations 1995 support the Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Act 1986 by outlining the practical steps that need to be taken to prevent injuries and illnesses at work.

View this Media Release from the link below.

Tuesday, 18 December 2007

Penalties for workplace safety breaches to treble in 2008

Corporations face tougher penalties for workplace safety breaches in South Australia from 1 January 2008 under the State Government's Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare (Penalties) Amendment Act.

Industrial Relations Minister Michael Wright says the legislation will be enforced by SafeWork SA and its inspectors.

View this News Release from the link below.

Monday 17 December 2007

Employers fined over serious construction site injuries

Two SA construction firms have been fined over safety breaches that resulted in serious injuries to their employees.

The penalties were handed down in SA Industrial Relations Court last Friday, after both companies pleaded guilty to breaches of Section 19 of the Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Act 1986, in failing to ensure the safety of employees whilst at work.

View this Media Release from the link below.

Friday 14 December 2007

Fatality at Piccadilly

SafeWork SA inspectors have attended a property at Piccadilly in the Adelaide Hills to investigate the death of a male in an incident involving a tractor.

View this Media Release from the link below.

Thursday 13 December 2007

'Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities' goes online

The Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities (HWSA) Chair, John Watson, today announced the launch of a website for the national body at www.hwsa.org.au.

View this Media Release from the link below.

Wednesday 12 December 2007

Fatality at Roxby Downs

SafeWork SA is investigating the death of a male worker at the Olympic Dam mine site at Roxby Downs.

The incident happened at about 12:30pm in the acid plant section of the mine complex.

View this Media Release from the link below.

Friday 7 December 2007

KI fire investigation update

SafeWork SA's investigation into the death of a 22 year old man during a bushfire on Kangaroo Island yesterday has indicated that there was no contract arrangement with the Country Fire Service.

View this Media Release from the link below.

Friday 7 December 2007

KI fire fatality

Two investigators from SafeWork SA are with emergency services today investigating the death of a young man in yesterday's bushfire on Kangaroo Island.

View this Media Release from the link below.

Friday 30 November 2007

Steel workers injured in separate incidents

SafeWork SA is investigating separate incidents in the state's steel industry today, which led to workers being injured.

View this Media Release from the link below.

Friday 30 November 2007

$48k fine over far north railway death

A company, which handles maintenance on the Port Augusta to Leigh Creek railway line, has been fined over a safety breach that led to the death of one of its employees in 2004.

View this Media Release from the link below.

21 November 2007

Trebling of penalties for workplace safety breaches

Corporations soon face radically tougher penalties for workplace safety breaches in South Australia after the State Government's Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare (Penalties) Amendment Bill passed through Parliament.

Industrial Relations Minister Michael Wright says the Rann Government is committed to making South Australian workplaces safer.

View this News Release from the link below.

20 November 2007

Expert to meet SA MPs on work life balance

An academic and former Western Australian MP who is driving work life balance initiatives in her home state, is coming to South Australia to discuss her work.

View this Media Release from the link below.

19 November 2007

Look after your workmates ahead of Christmas

SafeWork SA is urging South Australians to look after each other's safety and take greater care at work, as the busy pre-Christmas schedule heightens the risk of harm.

View this Media Release from the link below.

16 November 2007

The following is a summary of court cases finalised today resulting from prosecutions brought by SafeWork SA.

View this Media Release from the link below.

15 November 2007

Warning on haybaling after K.I. fatality

SafeWork SA is urging farmers and farm workers to review their safety procedures on haybaling operations, following the death of a 43 year old man at Kangaroo Island on Tuesday.

View this Media Release from the link below.

9 November 2007

$22k fine after forklift injury

A Riverland fruit-packing firm has been fined $22,000 over a series of safety failures which led to a woman being permanently disabled after a forklift ran over her foot and crushed it.

View this Media Release from the link below.

3 November 2007

Safe and smart answers to workplace dangers

Innovation, persistence and attention to detail have characterised the winners of the 2007 Safe Work Awards, presented in Adelaide last night by the Industrial Relations Minister, Michael Wright.

View this Media Release from the link below.

2 November 2007

Safe Work Award Winners 2007

Some of South Australia's leading businesses including Hardy Wine Company, OneSteel, Santos, GM Holden and their staff have led by example in demonstrating their commitment to workplace health and safety at this year's Safe Work Awards.

View this News Release from the link below.

18 October 2007

Tribute to anti-asbestos campaigner

SafeWork SA extends its sympathy to the family, friends and colleagues of Jack Watkins, who died late on Tuesday.

Mr. Watkins campaigned for decades against the dangers of asbestos, and was the President of the Asbestos Diseases Society of South Australia.

View this Media Release from the link below.

October 11, 2007

$19,000 fine after woman loses hand in industrial blender

An Adelaide food manufacturing company has been fined almost $19,000 after a woman lost her hand while cleaning an industrial blender.

View this Media Release from the link below.

October 9, 2007

Workplace culture under the spotlight

A culture where the employer makes employees judge for themselves whether a task is safe has led to a small roofing contractor facing a fine of almost $30,000.

View this Media Release from the link below.

28 September 2007

Warning over fumes hazard

The dangers of working with chemicals in enclosed spaces have been highlighted in another case before the South Australian Industrial Relations Court today.

View this Media Release from the link below.

27 September 2007

Retail giant fined over injury to elderly shopper

Major retailer, Harris Scarfe Australia Pty Ltd, has been convicted and fined more than $20,000 after an 89 year old woman suffered serious leg injuries in an incident while shopping at its Rundle Mall store, two years ago.

View this Media Release from the link below.

25 September 2007

Fine after unguarded machine injures worker

A failure in basic safety precautions and training has cost a young woman a section of her right index finger and her employer an $11,000 fine in the SA Industrial Relations Court.

View this Media Release from the link below.

20 September 2007

Australia's women are too valuable to waste

The choices women are given on how they can take part in work will make a significant difference to Australia's future prosperity, a national conference in Adelaide has been told.

View this Media Release from the link below.

17 September 2007

Outstanding safety performance at Royal Adelaide Show

SafeWork SA has welcomed the safety performance of amusement ride operators at this year's Royal Adelaide Show.

View this Media Release from the link below.

13 September 2007

Key legal concession over serious workplace injury

A company, which services compressed air and gas installations, has withdrawn its appeal over a workplace incident in 2003, which left one if its maintenance workers severely brain injured. (SafeWork SA was notified of the development on Tuesday 11 September)

View this Media Release from the link below.

10 September 2007

Penalties confirm OHS obligations of small businesses

SafeWork SA is reminding small businesses that they must not compromise on occupational health and safety, following a court ruling on an incident in which a worker suffered a disfiguring hand injury.

View this Media Release from the link below.

6 September 2007

New workplace safety campaign - 'Look after your mates'

Mateship at work is the theme of a new advertising campaign promoting workplace safety in South Australia.

'Look After Your Workmates' is the key message of the $1-million campaign designed for SafeWork SA by local agency, Clemenger BBDO.

View this News Release from the link below.

3 September 2007

Work-life balance strategy gathers momentum

A SafeWork SA project on work-life balance is taking shape, with the objective being to involve both the public and private sector in a strategy on how best to manage the issue.

View this Media Release from the link below.

31 August 2007

Paint maker fined over serious fumes hazard

A southern suburbs paint manufacturer has been convicted and fined over an incident last year, in which four workers were overcome by solvent fumes.

View this Media Release from the link below.

14 August 2007

Federal Ombudsman receives SafeWork SA findings on Trolley Collecting Industry

South Australia's government industrial relations agency, SafeWork SA, has been actively auditing the trolley-collecting industry in a parallel initiative to that recently announced by the Federal Workplace Ombudsman.

The agency's findings on six companies have been passed on to the Federal Workplace Ombudsman for further action.

View this Media Release from the link below.

10 August, 2007

Record Entries for Workplace Safety Innovation Award

A key category in this year's Safe Work Awards has received a record number of entries.

At the close of nominations recently, 23 entries had been received for the category, 'Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue', nearly double the number received in 2005. (12 entries in 2005, 14 in 2006)

View this Media Release from the link below.

July 28 2007

Safe Work Awards - Great innovations, rewarding careers

Nominations for the 2007 Safe Work Awards close in less than a week, meaning a short time is left to highlight successful safety innovations and systems and reward examples of individual excellence in workplace health and safety.

Winners in the main categories of the South Australian awards are automatically nominated for the national Safe Work Australia Awards.

View this News Release from the link below.

27 July 2007

Orchard firm fined over gunshot wound to worker

SafeWork SA is warning of the need to include the proper use of firearms in any farmwork safety system after a case before the SA Industrial Relations Court today.

View this Media Release from the link below.

25 July 2007

Online help to 'Compare What's Fair' under AWAs

An online programme is up and running to help South Australian employees determine how they'll fare under any new Australian Workplace Agreement they might be offered.

View this News Release from the link below.

17 July 2007

New team to oversee mine safety

As part of its ongoing commitment to workplace safety, SafeWork SA is forming a new team to specifically address safety in South Australia's booming mining industry.

The Mines and Major Hazard Facilities Team will not only deal with safety issues in the mining industry, but will also oversee the safety of facilities such as those in the oil, gas and chemical industries, which may be classified as major hazard facilities.

View this Media Release from the link below.

5 July 2007

Workplace injury at Wingfield

SafeWork SA has launched an investigation into how a male worker suffered a hand injury this morning at a Wingfield recycling business.

View this Media Release from the link below.

5 July 2007

Mt. Gambier seminar on Work Life Balance

The challenges to the community of balancing the demands of modern day work and private life will be discussed in a special seminar in Mt. Gambier, next week.

View this Media Release from the link below.

29 June 2007

Unsafe work system results in injury and fine

An Adelaide car component maker has been fined over unsafe work systems that resulted in an experienced employee suffering a permanent hand injury.

View this Media Release from the link below.

22 June 2007

Search begins for new Safe Work Champions

Industrial Relations Minister Michael Wright wants South Australian organisations and individuals who practice exemplary workplace safety to be in the spotlight for this year's Safe Work Awards.

View this News Release from the link below.

11 June 2007

Daylight Saving Consultation drawing to a close

South Australians have until Friday to have their say on a proposed extension of daylight saving.

The proposal would see the daylight saving period begin on the first Sunday in October and finish on the first Sunday in April.

Industrial Relations Minister Michael Wright says it would mean an extra four weeks of daylight saving for SA and bring us into line with New South Wales, Victoria, the ACT and Tasmania.

View this News Release from the link below.

8 June 2007

Warning over latest run of workplace injuries

SafeWork SA is urging all South Australian workplaces to heighten their safety checks after a series of workplace injuries in the past week.

View this Media Release from the link below.

6 June 2007

SafeWork SA urges Automatic Personal Flotation Devices for workers at sea

SafeWork SA is strongly recommending employers equip their workers at sea with automatically-inflating personal flotation devices.

The issue has been highlighted by the Supreme Court decision on 18 May 2007 dismissing an appeal by prominent Port Lincoln tuna company, Dinko Tuna Farmers Pty. Ltd.

View this Media Release from the link below.

5 June 2007

'Bunny Bombing' incurs $22K fine after Farm Worker loses hand

A Tintinara farmer has been fined over a lack of safety systems with explosives that led to an employee losing his hand two years ago.

View this Media Release from the link below.

31 May 2007

Crane collapse results in fine

SafeWork SA is warning of the need to consider the safety of the general public in identifying hazards and assessing risks in any workplace.

View this Media Release from the link below.

May 30 2007

SA leads the way in Demolition & Asbestos Safety

South Australia has performed strongly in the findings of a Trans-Tasman campaign focusing on safety in the demolition and asbestos removal industry.

SA received top marks with respect to asbestos removal and was the best state when it came to demolition practices.

View this News Release from the link below.

25 May 2007

Update on incidents at Glenunga and Oakbank

SafeWork SA is further investigating workplace safety incidents this week involving heavy machinery at suburban Glenunga, and Oakbank in the Adelaide Hills.

View this Media Release from the link below.

24 May 2007

Worker injured after 12 year old allowed to operate forklift - developer fined

SafeWork SA has expressed its frustration and disappointment at the work practices of a Largs North developer who was fined today over the injury of a worker three years ago.

View this Media Release from the link below.

18 May 2007

Supreme Court confirms Lukin company conviction

A Full Court of the South Australian Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed an appeal by a major Port Lincoln fishing company over a safety breach at sea.

View this Media Release from the link below.

16 May 2007

Look at volunteering in Work Life Balance

SafeWork SA is looking closely at the role volunteering can play in promoting a healthy work-life balance for South Australians.

View this Media Release from the link below.

16 May 2007

Worker loses fingertip while safety guard sits unused

SafeWork SA is reminding employers of the dangers to their staff in neglecting the necessary checks for safety guarding on their plant and machinery.

View this Media Release from the link below.

9 May 2007

Gladstone - Several Possible Causes

On the first anniversary of the destruction of the Quin Investments factory near Gladstone, SafeWork SA can reveal that its investigators have found a number of key indicators as to the cause of the blast.

View this Media Release from the link below.

1 May 2007

Cleaner seriously injured at Mawson Lakes

SafeWork SA inspectors are on site at Mawson Lakes, to investigate an incident, which has left a window cleaner seriously injured this afternoon.

View this Media Release from the link below.

1 May 2007

Farm safety warning as drought breaks

South Australia's farmers are being urged to factor safety into their work as seeding begins on properties across the state.

View this Media Release from the link below.

27 April 2007

Church service to honour victims of workplace fatalities

SafeWork SA will join a number of groups to mark International Workers Memorial Day with a special ecumenical church service.

View this Media Release from the link below.

24 April 2007

Two SA winners at National Safe Work Awards

South Australia has shone at the Safe Work Australia Awards, winning two of the five categories on offer.

View this Media Release from the link below.

23 April 2007

New report highlights need for clear workplace policies on drugs and alcohol

SafeWork SA is urging workplaces to have clear guidelines and procedures in place for dealing with alcohol and other drugs, after a new report found illicit drugs are costing Australian businesses $3.3 billion a year.

View this Media Release from the link below.

20 April 2007

$45k fine for chemical burns

A lack of attention to chemical safety has resulted in a major company being fined $45,000 over injuries suffered by a worker in December 2005.

View this Media Release from the link below.

20 April 2007

Hindering Safety Inspectors earns $15k fine

SafeWork SA is reminding all employers of the protection afforded to its inspectors under the law when investigating alleged safety breaches.

View this Media Release from the link below.

20 April 2007

Major Workplace Safety Program Underway

An extensive workplace safety program is now underway in South Australia.

In a week where three workplace safety incidents could each have ended in tragedy, SafeWork SA says the need for such a proactive safety effort is clearly highlighted.

View this Media Release from the link below.

16 April 2007

SafeWork SA Investigates Fire and Truck Incidents

SafeWork SA is investigating two workplace incidents today, both of which had the potential to end in tragedy.

View this Media Release from the link below.

4 April 2007

Prohibition notices issued at sawmill

SafeWork SA has issued a number of Prohibition and Improvement notices on the site of last week's workplace injury in Adelaide's north.

A male suffered severe groin injuries when his shorts were caught in the exposed chain and sprocket of running machinery at a Parafield Gardens sawmill.

View this Media Release from the link below.

4 April 2007

SA Industrial Relations Commission to hear WorkChoices disputes

The Industrial Relations Commission of South Australia is now empowered to resolve employment related disputes under the Federal Government's WorkChoices system.

This became possible after amendments to the Commercial Arbitration and Industrial Referral Agreements Act 1986 came into effect on April 1st, 2007.

View this Media Release from the link below.

23 March 2007

Fine for Worker Injury and Failure to Notify

Failure to install adequate safety guards on machinery has cost a worker full use of his hand and his employer fines and costs totalling more than more than $16,000, according to SafeWork SA.

View this Media Release from the link below.

23 March 2007

Daylight Saving ends Sunday 3:00 am

Daylight Saving, or South Australian Summer Time, ends officially this weekend.

View this Media Release from the link below.

22 March 2007

Latest penalties reinforce need for safe work systems

Two firms have been fined over workplace safety breaches that left employees with injuries ranging from a crushed arm to a fractured skull.

View this Media Release from the link below.

16 March 2007

Auto firm fined $85,000 after worker injured in crane collapse

An Adelaide suburban automotive component maker has been fined over a workplace incident nearly five years ago, that left a worker seriously and permanently injured.

View this Media Release from the link below.

15 March 2007

Australian and New Zealand Workplace Safety Authorities Set Priorities

Australian and New Zealand workplace safety authorities, meeting as the Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities (HWSA), met in Perth last week (March 8) to discuss current national campaigns and set priorities for the year ahead.

View this Media Release from the link below.

14 March 2007

$20,000 Fine for S.E. Timber Mill Injury

Safety guards for old or little-used machines, and proper training in their use are a must in every workplace, says SafeWork SA.

The agency issued the warning after the SA Industrial Relations Court fined a Mt. Gambier timber firm $20,000 over a serious hand injury suffered by a worker two years ago.

View this Media Release from the link below.

9 March 2007

Zadow Scholarships to help SA's Working Women: Call for Entries

Applications are being sought for two scholarships of up to $10,000 each to improve occupational health and safety outcomes by, or for the benefit of, women in South Australia.

View this Media Release from the link below.

8 March 2007

Incident at Zinifex Smelter, Port Pirie

Inspectors from SafeWork SA's Port Pirie office have been on-site at the town's Zinifex smelter since early this morning investigating a safety incident there.

View this Media Release from the link below.

2 March 2007

Labour Hire Company Fined Over Worker Injury

SafeWork SA is reminding labour hire companies of their legal obligations in keeping workers safe, after a decision today in the SA Industrial Relations Court.

View this Media Release from the link below.

27 February 2007

'Wake Up Call' for Engineering Firm

Old machinery is not exempt from current workplace safety laws, and SafeWork SA is urging firms to review and update safety procedures for older plant and equipment as a priority.

View this Media Release from the link below.

12 February 2007

SafeWork SA Hosts World Class Explosives Safety Training

SafeWork SA has linked with one of the world's premier technology facilities to host a major training course on explosives safety.

More than 100 delegates are attending the course, which will run from the 12th to the 16th of February at the DSTO facilities at Edinburgh in Adelaide's north.

View this Media Release from the link below.

9 February 2007

Fatality Near Murray Bridge

SafeWork SA has conducted preliminary investigations into today's incident at the River Glen Marina, near Murray Bridge, in which a 67 year old man was killed.

View this Media Release from the link below.

9 February 2007

Safety Campaign on Labour Hire in Food Manufacturing

Workplace safety authorities across Australia and New Zealand have launched a coordinated campaign today focusing on the safety of labour hire workers in high-risk sectors of the food manufacturing industry.

View this Media Release from the link below.

7 February 2007

SA joins Aust-NZ effort to reduce manual handling injuries in manufacturing

A new Trans-Tasman workplace safety campaign will target manufacturing in a bid to reduce injuries and disease resulting from heavy lifting, repetitive tasks, and sustained awkward posture.

View this Media Release from the link below.

6 February 2007

Zinifex Smelter Incident - Port Pirie

SafeWork SA has inspected a section of the Zinifex smelter at Port Pirie and interviewed representatives of the company, following a weekend incident involving the sudden release of steam within the slag granulating launder.

View this Media Release from the link below.

4 February 2007

Warning on Duty of Care to Public as pizza chain fined

SafeWork SA is reminding businesses of their duty of care to the public under Occupational Health and Safety laws, after a prominent pizza chain was fined in the SA Industrial Relations Court.

View this Media Release from the link below.

25 January 2007

Deregulated Shopping Hours for Port Lincoln

Port Lincoln has become the latest South Australian town to deregulate its shopping hours.

State Cabinet has accepted an application from the Port Lincoln Council to abolish the town's proclaimed shopping district.

View this Media Release from the link below.

19 January 2007

Heavy Fine After Half Tonne Load Injures Teenage Employee

SafeWork SA is warning of the need to adhere to safe loading practices in the transport and storage industry, after a national transport company was convicted and fined over a serious injury to a young worker.

View this Media Release from the link below.

9 January 2007

Rising Workplace Danger from Snakes

SafeWork SA is urging people involved in outdoor work activities to heighten their vigilance for snakes, and ensure they have an action plan ready should a snakebite occur.

View this Media Release from the link below.

4 January 2007

SafeWork SA Warns on Heat Stress

With the current run of hot weather, SafeWork SA is reminding all South Australians of the importance of preventing heat stress in their workplaces, and the dangers that may arise both directly and indirectly from the condition.

View this Media Release from the link below.

3 January 2007

Investigation Into Winery Fall

SafeWork SA is looking into this afternoon's incident at a Riverland winery in which a man was injured in a fall.

View this Media Release from the link below.