On 11 January 2018 a worker was seriously injured in an explosion at a waste treatment plant at the Townsville golf club. Early investigations indicate this may have involved an explosive gas or substance in the pump room, but the ignition source has not been confirmed. The worker received extensive burns requiring hospital treatment. Investigations are continuing. Preventing a similar i...

Recent industry engagement and incident investigations have shown there is confusion around the licensing requirements for photovoltaic (PV) system installation and maintenance. The electrical risk associated with making incorrect connections, including MC4 type connectors, may result in serious shock and injury, or significant property damage. Installation and maintenance of PV systems...

A Queensland poultry producer’s efforts to boost safety training and communication with its workers is paying dividends with a significant fall in its workers’ compensation premiums. The Darwalla Group, which operates sites in South East Queensland and across the border in New South Wales, has also been honoured for its achievements with a major prize at the 2017 Queensland Safe Work Aw...

In January 2018, two men were found dead in the bottom of a fibreglass tank on a trailer. The tanker/trailer is a purpose built tri-axle trailer built for the transport of dunder and molasses. It is understood the two men were cleaning the residue in the tanks after unloading the day before. It is believed the last tanker load transported was 20 cubic metres of Suplaflo (dunder cleaned ...

The Queensland Government has approved a new biosecurity regulation to prohibit the entry of Tomato-potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli) (TPP) carriers into the state, unless certain conditions are met. The amendment regulation and risk minimisation requirements are consistent with the measures described in the TPP Movement Control Order (MCO) that was made by the chief executive und...

A new farm safety report card compiled by Sydney University shows there were 68 farm deaths reported by the Australian media in 2017, a slight rise from the 63 in 2016. The research, by the university’s Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety, showed tractors (13) and quad bikes (11) were the leading causes of death, making up more than 40 per cent of the total. Tragically,...

New industrial manslaughter laws are now in place across the state. The laws make it an offence for a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), or a senior officer, to negligently cause the death of a worker. In particular, the offence applies if: a worker dies, or is injured and later dies, in the course of carrying out work for the business or undertaking (including during...

As Queensland swelters through the summer, some of our wildlife is suffering, and in some areas this means a sharp increase in dead or dying bats and flying foxes. Queensland Health is urging the public not to touch or pick up them up, even if the animals are injured or appear to be dead. It is uncommon for bats to come directly into contact with people, but sometimes they can become tr...

If you are using high voltage plant you must be aware of the risks of electric shock. In 2015, two electrical workers were killed in Western Australia in an explosion while they were maintaining a Long and Crawford high voltage oil-insulated fuse switch. The high current fault occurred in the tank of the unit, vaporising most of the insulating oil and causing the fatal explosion. Owner...

In 2018, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland welcomes two new Safety Advocates, Jodie and Mario Cocco, who are passionate about quad bike safety, especially where children are involved. Their son Domenic was just seven years old when he suffered life-threatening injuries after crashing a quad bike into a power pole. We published a film about the incident in 2016, with Jodie and Mario...