Understanding the causes of injury and the industries most affected can help reduce work-related fatalities, injuries and disease. Work-related fatalities, injuries and illnesses have a devastating impact on workers, their families and the community.

Each year, Safe Work Australia produces national work health and safety statistics, providing important evidence on the state of work health and safety in Australia.The latest publication provides an overview of national work-related fatality data for 2020 and workers’ compensation claims data for 2019-20.

Tragically, 194 people were fatally injured at work in 2020 – 22 of those from a fall from height.

Key findings of the report include:
The fatality rate of Australian workers has decreased by 50% since 2007.
96% of worker fatalities in 2020 were male.
Vehicle collisions accounted for 41% of all 2020 worker fatalities. 
Machinery operators and drivers had the highest number of fatalities by occupation (67 fatalities) in 2020.
The agriculture, forestry and fishing industry had the highest worker fatality rate in 2020.

Workers’ compensation claims 2019-20
There were a total of 120,355 serious workers’ compensation claims in Australia in 2019-20. This is an increase from 114,435 claims in 2018-19.
Body stressing was the leading cause of serious workers’ compensation claims in 2019-20, accounting for 37% of all serious claims.Read the Key Work Health and Safety Statistics, Australia 2021 report. 

https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/collection/key-work-health-and-safety-statistics-document-collection

NSW will today become the first state in Australia to introduce an industry-wide Code of Practice to formally clarify the legal responsibilities businesses have to address hazards in the workplace that have the potential to cause psychological or physical harm.

Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson and Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor today released the Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work which encompasses risks to psychological health covering all NSW workplaces.

“This Code comes after our research found only one in five NSW businesses reported having a basic awareness on how to control work-related psychological health risks and less than ten per cent of all workplaces said they have an established approach to handling these issues,” Mr Anderson said

“Every workplace in NSW has a legal duty of care to their employees to protect them from psychosocial hazards such as bullying and harassment, violence in the workplace and importantly, remote and isolated work.

“This new Code sets out what employers need to be doing under the state’s Work Health and Safety legislation to protect their workers. It will also be used in court as evidence if workplaces fail to take their responsibilities seriously.”

Mrs Taylor said extensive consultation was undertaken in the development of the framework, with input from employers, employees, workplace safety experts and state and national mental health commissions.

“The new code will take the guesswork out for business owners and staff by providing clear guidelines on avoiding potential psychological hazards and safely meeting new and existing challenges together in the workplace,” said Mrs Taylor.

Download the Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work

Source: SafeWork NSW

Article by Deborah Chick for the Working at Heights Association of Australia.

Statistically, falls from heights remain one of the biggest causes of death, disability and injury in workplaces in Australia.

Any time there is a risk of a worker falling from one level to another, the worker is at significant risk of injury and needs to be protected. When each of us turn up to work, our employers have a legal obligation to provide us with a safe work place and we each have our own legal responsibility to ensure we take all reasonably practicable steps to make sure that everyone goes home at the end of the day.

Understanding our responsibilities is vital to ensure there is consistency across our industry and every workplace.

There are a number of documents available to aid in the safe undertaking of works and to maintain our legal obligations. Let’s work our way from the top down!

An Act is legislation passed by parliament: a statue or law which in turn are supported by Regulations, Codes of Practice and Australian Standards.

Acts set out the broad legal / policy principles. For example, the Workplace / Occupational Health and Safety Acts provide a framework to protect the health, safety and welfare or all workers at work and of other people who might be affected by the work.

Acts are known as primary legislation; and the term legislation itself encompasses a single law or a collection of laws.

Regulations are documents that dictate how the provisions of the Act are applied. Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) / Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulations specify the way in which some duties under the WHS Act must be met and prescribes procedural or administrative requirements to support the WHS / OHS Act.

Further guidance for person(s) conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) are Code of Practice or Compliance Codes. These establish and document a practical guide to achieving and maintaining standards of health, safety and welfare. Codes of Practice (COP’s) are developed with consultation with industry bodies, and are subject to review to ensure the content remains relevant and appropriately reflects current industry best practice and new equipment, technology and working practices are developed.

A code of practice applies to anyone who has a duty of care in the circumstances described in the code. For most cases, an approved code of practice would achieve compliance with the health and safety duties in the Workplace Health and Safety Act. Like regulations, codes of practice deal with specific issues and they do not cover all hazards or risks that may arise.

Codes of practice are admissible in court proceedings under the Workplace Health and Safety Act and Regulations. Courts may regard a code of practice as evidence of what is known about a hazard, risk or control and may rely on the code of practice when determining what is reasonably practicable in the circumstances in which the code relates.

SafeWork Australia has developed Code of Practice / Industry Codes to provide practical guidance on how to meet the standards required under the Workplace Health and Safety Act and Regulations: however, the Commonwealth, States and Territories are responsible for implementing, regulating and enforcing Workplace Health and Safety laws in their jurisdiction. Therein lies a notable distinction between State or National (Government) based Codes of Practice and industry based codes.

In specific reference to height safety related matters, the Working at Heights Association (WAHA) has developed  Industry Codeswhich seek to draw details of regulations, codes of practice and manufacturer recommendations together to provide guidance on the correct, safe installation, inspection and recertification of fall protection systems. These are intended to enhance, not replace, the codes of practice and provide all stakeholders with industry-best-practice methods for height safety systems. These codes are an example of industry based codes vs State or National based codes of practice.

The model laws developed by SafeWork Australia have been implemented in all jurisdictions except Victoria and Western Australia; Western Australia is currently consulting on options to implement elements of the model laws.

In the jurisdictions where the model laws have been implemented, each state and territory is expected to make variations to ensure the laws operate effectively in their jurisdictions. In some instances, states and territories have also made more substantial variations. This is why it is important to make sure you always consider the WHS laws that apply in your state or territory.

Additional guidance material is contained within Australian Standards. Australian Standards give us a set of guidelines, specifications and procedures to the purpose of ensuring products, services and systems are safe, consistent and reliable. They are not legally enforceable, unless referenced by legislation: but keep in mind that if a PCBU chooses to operate outside of the scope of these guidelines then they must establish, justify and document their reasoning.

Within Australia, we have several industry standards that are applicable to the working at heights and confined spaces industry sector and you can view some industry specific standards here. It is worth noting that there are additional standards that while not binding within Australia / New Zealand – they do hold merit due to the international nature of the wider working at heights industry.

There are a few International Standards (ISO Standards) that have been recently adopted by Australian Standards. The ISO is an international standards body that has a number of representatives from national standards organisations and it is currently the worlds largest developer of voluntary international standards.

Other standards that you may encounter include European Standards (EN Standards). These are developed by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) which is a non-profit standard setting organisation, which is officially recognised by the European Union. Equipment manufactured to these standards are widely recognised as providing an appropriate standard that is maintained across the industry irrespective of geographical location.

You can also encounter American Standards (ANSI Standards) which include development of standards with ASSE International, the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

The foundation is Operational Documents. In order to keep workers safe from the risk of illness or injury companies need to have operational and site-specific procedures, forms and documentation to assist them in meeting and maintaining their legislative duties as well as their duty of care to their employees.

About the Author: Deborah is the Secretary of WAHA and CEO of Eve Consulting. She has over a decade of business management experience in the industrial rope access and working at heights sector and is a former member of the IRATA International Health and Safety Committee. She holds multiple qualifications in the field including IOSH Rope Access Manager, QMS Lead Auditor and KONG PPE Inspector. 

Source: Working at Heights Association (WAHA) of Australia 

This article was originally posted by IRATA International.

As an association we are still recording an unacceptably high number of dropped object incidents. These are objects being dropped onto, or close to, operatives working below and are quite often dislodged by technician’s ropes whilst manoeuvring.

To prevent this and to help minimise any dropped object occurrences, in addition to ensuring that all tools and personal items are securely attached, technicians should constantly be aware that they may be working in areas where nobody has been for a long period of time. Therefore, technicians need to conduct a ‘Dropped Object Sweep’ as they progress towards and through the work site, in order to identify and remove any potential dropped objects.

DROPPED OBJECT PREVENTION

• Ensure tools are tethered adequately.
• Do not use tape, string or other materials not intended for tool tethering.
• Use manufactured tethers and connectors where possible. There are many options available designed for specific tasks.

Time and cost saving is poor justification for the use of other tethering methods!

In some parts of the world, it is a legal requirement to use purposely designed and manufactured tethers. As leaders in our industry, all rope access technicians should help set and maintain the standards worldwide.

Ensure all equipment attached to a harness is within permissible limits as set by the manufacturer. Bulky, awkward or heavy (e.g. over 8 kg) equipment should be fitted with a separate suspension system.

Be proud of your own safety standards and do not leave accessories unattended, or untethered, where they could be dislodged or tripped over.

POTENTIAL DROPPED OBJECTS

These could be legacy items left at height by other trade groups from previous work scopes or loose features on buildings, structures or natural features which may include:

• Tools, equipment and materials;
• Loose masonry on building façades;
• Loose rocks and stones on slopes and hill sides.

In addition, there may be potential for items which are part of the structure to be weakened by corrosion and the effect of wind and vibration. Any item that may become detached by our additional work, or have the potential to become detached from the structure, should be reported and a plan put in place for their safe removal and recovery.

REMEMBER TOOLS AND MATERIALS LEFT UNSECURED AT HEIGHT CAN BE POTENTIALLY LETHAL. NOT ONLY IMMEDIATELY, BUT ALSO IN THE FUTURE!

[Example of a work tool tether being used. Image courtesy of MIRA Rope Access © 2021.]

HAND AND ARM INJURIES

• Protect yourselves by covering up exposed skin. This will help prevent fluid splashes and spills, low impact injuries, strains, cuts and bruises.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a last line of protection, ensure it is worn correctly.

Maintain your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) correctly and replace it when it shows signs of wear and tear.

Your employer is required to provide you with the correct PPE for your work task. As a responsible, safety conscious, rope access technician, you are expected to use the PPE provided!

FURTHER INFORMATION

More valuable safety information can be found within our annual Work and Safety Analysis reports (WASA), which can be found HERE).

• SAFETY BULLETIN 28 – Dropped objects
• SAFETY BULLETIN 35 – Dropped objects
• SAFETY BULLETIN 40 – Dropped objects
• SAFETY BULLETIN 42 – Falling or dropped objects
• TOPIC SHEET 003 – Avoiding dropped back-up devices
• TOPIC SHEET 011 – Dropped objects
• TOPIC SHEET 015 -Tool lanyards
• IRATA POSTER – Dropped Objects

We take this opportunity to remind you all of the importance and value of reporting incidents and near misses.

IRATA International – Health and Safety Committee

Article by Deborah Chick for the Working at Heights Association of Australia

The topic of performing Equipment Inspections on working at heights PPE and equipment is one of the most widely discussed within industry, and yet it comes with a layer of uncertainty.

Why? Well … there still seems to be confusion.

A lot of people vaguely remember a minor element of training when undertaking the a Work Safely At Heights qualification here in Australia. They may remember that they need to inspect their gear before use and might know that the ASNZ 1891.4 2009 standard requires that all personal use equipment and common use equipment to be inspected … but who is actually competent to perform those inspections? What quantifies that competence?

By definition, a competent person is a person who, through a combination of training, knowledge and experience, has acquired knowledge and skills enabling that person to correctly perform a specified task.

How important is it to regularly inspect your equipment? The simple answer is: it is very important.

Equipment can fail.

Without training in inspection, and having inspection & maintenance procedures in place, items of equipment can have faults that remain undetected for pro-longed periods of time. This may result in an increased risk of injury or harm to technicians, plant and/or equipment.

Two of the biggest issues that companies and individuals face when it comes equipment are time and money, closely followed by the availability of a competent person to perform equipment inspections.

Training to perform equipment inspection may be attained via the manufacturer or through an accredited equipment inspection training provider.

Be aware – some RTO’s here in Australia will advertise a PPE inspection course based off the MEM1500B – Perform Inspection unit of competency under the AVETMISS / ASQA education framework; however this specific unit of competency specifically states that it is “This unit is not intended to be applied to maintenance personnel carrying out their day-to-day activities”. This course is intended for inspection mid manufacturing.

That’s not to say that training doesn’t cover some similar inspection methods, but it isn’t actually specific to working at heights equipment. The closest course we have within the ASQA framework is the PUAEQU001 – Prepare, maintain and test response equipment unit of competency, but even then – due care is needed when selecting your training provider to ensure that they are undertaking training with equipment relevant to the working at heights and confined spaces industry.

Outside of attending a course, it is also possible for persons conducting or undertaking business to develop internal training programs. This is evidence of training and competency.

But it often it falls to senior management and working at heights supervisors to ensure that they are doing the best that they can, in so far as is reasonably practicable. And sadly, there can be a lot of resistance to improvement, because of the time and cost of implementing changes.

Operators should be aware that their lives depend on the efficiency and durability of the equipment and proper inspection is their first line of defence against the hazards of faulty equipment.

So we would invite you to ask yourself the following questions:

• Have I undergone formal training on pre-use and thorough inspections?
• What do I know I need to look for when inspecting textile materials vs metal?
• What information do I need to record and when?
• When was the last time I performed a thorough inspection of PPE and Equipment?

If you were unable to confidently answer any of those questions – it is an exciting opportunity to up-skill!

And there are other points to consider on the day to day management of equipment; The sign off each day by all workers through the SMWM’s or related safety documentation should include inspection of all PPE, whether owned by the company, individual or provided by the facility where the work is being undertaken. The definition of the competent person needs to be clearly defined by the company. If in doubt, ask – after all it is your life at risk.

From some employing companies, there can be push back to make employees and contractors undertake inspection of their own equipment, however – if there is an incident they may be involved in subsequent litigation. You really do need to maintain a record of all equipment on site and when it was inspected, whether you own it or not. This means you need a detailed record, or a safety manual in place to ensure that inspections are scheduled and dates are recorded; and who the competent person was who performed the inspection. These schedules of inspection may need to be flexible depending on the environment the equipment is used in as it may be subjected to more aggressive wear and tear than ‘normal’.

This creates an opportunity for businesses to develop and refine exisiting systems to ensure they have something in place to offer guidance for inspection, be it a manufacturer’s safe use and inspection instruction, or Appendix C and D from AS/NZ 1891.4 standard, or even from other associations such as Annex H from IRATA International. The resources are there for companies to integrate into their workplace.

Ultimately all working at heights equipment and PPE should be inspected prior to first use; this includes visual and tactile inspection, as well as a function check. This is the very first inspection new equipment undergoes, and therefore it should be recorded. It is important to include the unique identifier, date of first use, manufacturer, and other relevant information as listed in AS/NZS 1891.4 2009.

From this very first inspection and start of record keeping – we move on to our on-going equipment inspections.

It is vital to ensure equipment is safe to use prior to undertaking works – this means that there needs to be a visual and tactile inspection, as well as a function check performed before you use any piece of equipment. This inspection is often referred to as the “Pre-Use Inspection”.

Thorough inspections, should be carried out every 6 months in accordance with ASNZS 1891.4 2009, or as specified by the manufacturer.

Equipment and PPE needs to be retired in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions; typically this is 10 years from date of manufacture for textile items (webbing, harnesses, fall arrest lanyard etc). If the tag on the equipment is illegible, and you have no record of date of manufacture, then the item needs to be retired / removed and destroyed to prevent it from being used, as you no longer have evidence of date of manufacture.

Metal items typically do not need to be retired from service, unless the item in question has failed inspection criteria. In many cases they may also be able to be retired to a service agent for repair prior to being returned to service. Manufacturer’s guidance / technical notices provide additional information for inspection.

Inspections shall be by sight and touch and shall include the opening of any equipment where access for daily inspection is provided to ensure that the internal components are in good condition.

Where equipment is considered in any way doubtful by the competent person, it should be tagged out of service. A label should be attached to the equipment indicating the defect and referred to a height safety equipment inspector for further action.

At WAHA we strongly encourage the ongoing development of skills and knowledge – even if you have undertaken a training course in the past, how long ago was it? If it’s more than three years ago it might be time to revisit your training! Technically a nationally recognised competency issued from a reputable RTO does not expire, however the WAHA recommends refresher training for operators every 2 years to maintain currency and to account for manufacturer changes in product designs and materials.

If you would like to learn more, we have details of the ASNZ 1891.4 2009 Australian Standard and additional information about Inspection and Maintenance of Equipment on our website: https://www.waha.org.au/technical-bulletins/inspection-and-maintenance/

Deb is the Secretary of WAHA and CEO of Eve Consulting. She has over a decade of business management experience in the industrial rope access and working at heights sector and is a former member of the IRATA International Health and Safety Committee. She holds multiple qualifications in the field including IOSH Rope Access Manager, QMS Lead Auditor and KONG PPE Inspector. 

In November 2020, a man sustained serious head injuries after falling from a water tank that had just been put in place by a vehicle loading crane. It appears he was standing on the tank close to the crane.

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IMPORTANT
These findings are not yet confirmed and investigations are continuing into the exact cause of the incident.

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Preventing a similar incident

Falls are a major cause of death and serious injury. The risk of falling is common in construction, but may also occur during many other work activities.

The risk of serious injury from a fall is largely dependent on the height, but also the surface below (e.g. working on a roof near an unprotected edge or performing installation work from a ladder). A risk management approach must be used to manage the risks of falls from heights.

Managing work health and safety risks is an ongoing process.

Risk management involves four steps:

1. identify the hazard – find out what could cause harm
2. assess the risk – understand the nature of the harm that could be caused by the hazard, how serious the harm could be and the likelihood of it happening
3. control the risk – implement the most effective control measure reasonably practicable in the circumstances
4. review risk controls – asses control measures to ensure they are working as planned.

Once the risks have been assessed, the next step is to implement control measures to manage the risks associated with working at height.

Effective control measures are often made up of a combination of controls.

Health and safety risks must be managed to eliminate dangers. However, if it’s not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, then it should be minimised using the hierarchy of controls. This can be achieved by doing one or more of the following:

Substitution controls

Substituting the hazard with something of lesser risk (e.g. using an elevating work platform so workers can avoid standing on a ladder to perform the task). Where regular access is required, consider fixed access systems such as stairways and platforms.

Engineering controls

This involves changing physical characteristics of the plant and/or system of work to reduce the risk. Examples may include:

• gauges and inspection points accessible from the ground
• ensuring appropriate auxiliary plant is used in the correct manner
  • e.g. sling arrangement to lift the structure
• integrated guardrails providing physical fall protection.

Administrative controls

This includes information, training, instruction or supervision necessary to control the risks associated with plant. All operating manuals and instructional material provided by the manufacturer showing how to correctly operate and maintain the plant should be kept and followed. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• implementing a safe system of work that considers:
  • the design of the plant
  • condition and layout of elevated work areas, including the distance of a potential fall, slope, grip, undulations, obstacles and the load rating of the structure
  • correct setup, stability and security of ladders
  • only light duty work is done while on ladders, where three points of contact can be maintained, and tools operated safely with one hand
  • the proximity of other plant such as cranes.
• implementing safe systems for a travel restraint or fall-arrest system, which includes adequate training, instruction and supervision on how to use them, as well as emergency and rescue procedure should someone fall
• the adequacy of current knowledge and training to perform the task safely (young, new or inexperienced workers may be unfamiliar with a task)
• safe work procedures that include but are not limited to instructions on:
  • how to safely access the plant.
  • how to carry out inspections, shut-down, cleaning, repair and maintenance, and emergency procedures
  • how to install, commission, decommission, remove and dispose of the plant.
• training programs should be practical and ‘hands on’ and consider the particular needs of workers like literacy levels, work experience and specific skills required for safe use of the plant
• ensuring worker training, experience and competency aligns with the requirements and complexity of the task.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Any remaining risk must be minimised with suitable personal protective equipment. For example:

• the use of hard hats, steel cap boots and high visibility vests
• safety footwear should be:
  • suitable for the type of work and environment
  • comfortable with an adequate non-slip sole and appropriate tread
  • checked regularly to ensure treads are not worn away or clogged with contaminants.

Administrative control measures and PPE rely on human behaviour and supervision, and used on their own, tend to be least effective in minimising risks. The control measures you put in place should be reviewed regularly to make sure they work as planned.

Note: Administrative control measures and PPE rely on human behaviour and supervision, and used on their own, tend to be least effective in minimising risks.

More information

• Managing risks of plant in the workplace Code of Practice 2013 (PDF, 1.04 MB)
• How to manage work health and safety risks Code of Practice 2011 (PDF, 1.02 MB)
• Mobile plant
• Managing the risk of falls at workplaces Code of Practice 2018 (PDF, 2.31 MB)

Source: WorkSafe.qld.gov.au

Safe Work Australia has released the Work-related Traumatic Injury Fatalities Australia 2019 report, which provides the latest detailed national statistics on all workers and bystanders fatally injured at work.

The 2019 report shows that over the last decade, the number and rate of work-related fatalities have been gradually decreasing.

In 2007, the fatality rate was 3.0 fatalities per 100,000 workers. In 2019, this rate has decreased by 53% to 1.4 fatalities per 100,000 workers.

The number of work-related fatalities recorded in 2018 represented an unusual decrease compared to the longer-term trends in fatality numbers.

While the number of work-related fatalities has been steadily decreasing over the last decade, any workplace death is tragic and unacceptable. Understanding the causes of injury and the industries most affected can help reduce work-related fatalities.

The report details that in 2019 62% of worker fatalities occurred in the following industries:

• Transport, postal and warehousing (58 fatalities)
• Agriculture, forestry and fishing (30 fatalities)
• Construction (26 fatalities).

The most common causes of worker fatalities in 2019 were:

• Vehicle collisions (43%)
• Falls from a height (11%)
• Hit by falling objects (11%).

The report and data is drawn from a range of sources, including reporting of fatalities in the media, notifications from jurisdictional authorities, and the National Coronial Information System.

This report provides complements and provides additional detail to the Key Work Health and Safety Statistics published on 12 October 2020.

Source: Workplace Health and Safety Queensland