SAFETY AND HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE
VOL. 2 NO. 1 JANUARY 2020
ISSN 2651-9577
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QUAD BIKES – CHANGES TO THE RULES
KNOW YOUR HAZARDS: MOULD IN THE WORKPLACE
MEET THE 2019 SAFETY AND HEALTH REPRESENTATIVE OF THE YEAR
NEW WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY LAWS MAKING PROGRESS
Government of Western Australia
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
Š State of Western Australia (Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety) 2020
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS (FROM DMIRS UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED)
ThinkSafe is published by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS). It is distributed free of charge to industry and interested members of the public.
Judith Abbott
Chris Kirwin
Andrew Ballam
Stephen Lane
Gillian Carter
Mark Lewis
Tse Yin Chang
Justine McGillivray
Reproduction of material from ThinkSafe for wider distribution is encouraged and may be carried out subject to appropriate acknowledgement. Contact the editor for further information.
Andrew Chaplyn
Samira Mohamed
Andrew Cotgreave
Sally North
Lizzie Craine
Peter O'Loughlin
Mention of proprietary products does not imply endorsement.
Caroline De Vaney
Gerardo Osorio
Tony Gray
Eve Speyers
Joyce Inma
Lin Stain
Comments and contributions from readers are welcome, but the editor reserves the right to publish only those items that are considered to be constructive towards workplace safety and health. Reader contributions and correspondence should be addressed to:
Fran Joubert
Luke van Baaren
Darren Kavanagh, WorkSafe WA Commissioner
Tracy Wynands
ThinkSafe Editor Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Locked Bag 100 EAST PERTH WA 6892
PHOTO ATTRIBUTION
Enquiries: 08 9358 8153 Email: SafetyComms@dmirs.wa.gov.au This publication is available on request in other formats for people with special needs.
Government of Western Australia
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
AB = Andrew Barker TYC = Tse Yin Chang
HZ = Henry Zuidersma
COVER PHOTO Megan Silvey, Safety and health representative of the year for the 2019 Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards The State of Western Australia supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY) licence.
Safety Regulation Group Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Locked Bag 100 EAST PERTH WA 6892 Telephone: + 61 8 9358 8001 Email: SafetyComms@dmirs.wa.gov.au Website: www.dmirs.wa.gov.au
@DMIRS_WA
Under this licence, with the exception of the Government of Western Australia Coat of Arms, the Department's logo, any material protected by a trademark or licence and where otherwise noted, you are free, without having to seek our permission, to use this publication in accordance with the licence terms.
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
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IN THIS ISSUE
WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE OF?
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We want to hear from you! Working with industry to deliver relevant and useful information and guidance is important to the Department. Is there a particular type of publication or method of communication you prefer? How would you like to receive information from us?
COMMISSIONER'S CORNER 2 Safe movement of vehicles
SAFETY AND HEALTH ALERTS AND GUIDANCE
Send your feedback and comments to SafetyComms@dmirs.wa.gov.au
3 Have your say on the new guidance for major hazard facilities 4 Hazing and initiations 6 Quad bikes – changes to the rules 8 Know your hazards: Mould in the workplace 10 Summer safety tips for transporting dangerous goods
18 2019 Work Health and Safety Excellence award winners 22 Meet the 2019 Safety and health representative of the year – Megan Silvey
LEGISLATION AND LEGAL NEWS 24 New workplace health and safety laws making progress
INDUSTRY NEWS 25 List of WorkSafe Plan recipients 26 Mining Emergency Response Competition (MERC)
12 Dealing with ammonia releases
DEPARTMENT NEWS
14 Latest safety alerts
28 Are you our next WorkSafe inspector?
EVENT NEWS 15 Minesafe International Conference 2020
29 SmartMove update
16 What's been happening?
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COMMISSIONER'S CORNER
SAFE MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES A number of tragic incidents throughout 2019 have led me to focus on the potential dangers of workplaces where vehicles and workers are present in the same area.
and speed of vehicles is managed, segregating vehicles and pedestrians wherever possible, and maintaining workplaces that prioritise the safety of operators and others.
Early last year, there were three fatal incidents involving vehicles and people working in the vicinity. Two of these involved workers attempting to free bogged vehicles, and the other involved a tractor moving unexpectedly while being inspected by a worker.
In addition, safe systems of work, communication systems and signage should be in place, and everyone at the workplace needs to be adequately trained in these systems.
Then, in December, there were a further two deaths involving vehicles on farms. In one, a farm worker died when the utility he was driving rolled on a bend. The following week a visitor to a farm was killed when a farm vehicle reversed over him while he was chasing a calf. There were a number of independent contributing factors to these incidents, but a lack of safe work procedures is a common thread. Wherever vehicles and people occupy the same workspace, strict rules need to be in place to ensure the work environment is kept as safe as possible. I urge employers to minimise the risk of injury by ensuring movement
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Lastly, operators and others should not be permitted to work in the fall zone of ramps or underneath vehicles or mobile plant that is not adequately supported. WA’s Commission for Occupational Safety and Health has developed a guidance note on the safe movement of vehicles at workplaces, and all relevant workplaces should ensure they are familiar with the contents of this publication. A self-assessment tool is also available on the WorkSafe WA website so workplaces that contain vehicles or other mobile plant can assess themselves for compliance with workplace safety laws. I urge you to utilise these valuable tools.
Darren Kavanagh WorkSafe WA Commissioner
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SAFETY AND HEALTH ALERTS AND GUIDANCE
HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE NEW GUIDANCE FOR MAJOR HAZARD FACILITIES The Department is in the process of updating the guide covering Major Hazard Facility (MHF) safety reports. The new document will detail the Chief Dangerous Goods Officer’s (CO) expectations of safety reports submitted under the Dangerous Goods Safety (Major Hazard Facilities) Regulations 2007. The aim of this document is to provide operators with reference information aligned to the legislation and CO’s criteria. It will, therefore, assist with the development, submission and approval process of safety reports. The guide was released for comment in December 2019 and MHF operators are encouraged to provide feedback. Public comment period closes 5.00 pm, Friday 14 February 2020. Access to the consultation page, including a cover sheet and submission instructions, is available from the Department's website.
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SAFETY AND HEALTH ALERTS AND GUIDANCE
HAZING AND INITIATIONS
WHAT IS HAZING? Initiation practices such as hazing are experiences new workers may go through to be recognised and accepted as part of the group. These are not related to the inherent requirements of the job. Hazing commonly involves negative, humiliating or distressing experiences for new workers and can result in physical and psychological harm to health. Examples include: •• •• •• ••
practical jokes horseplay physical assaults requirement to endure hardships (such as staying awake, menial tasks, physical labour) •• forced or required consumption of alcohol or other substances •• coercion to do illegal activities. As hazing and initiation practices are usually targeted, repeated, unreasonable and inappropriate behaviours, they are forms of bullying.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF HAZING? Recent research by Thomas and Meglich (2019) compared hazing with the onboarding of new employees. Results indicate onboarding relates primarily to desirable outcomes like engagement, perceived support, wellbeing, and hazing relates primarily to undesirable outcomes like turnover intention and strain.
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As hazing is a form of workplace bullying, the cost to organisations and individuals is well known. SafeWork Australia reports that approximately 6 per cent of workers' compensation claims are for workrelated mental health conditions and 27 per cent of those claims are for workplace harassment and bullying. The number of workers' compensation claims for workplace bullying are insignificant in comparison to all other workers' compensation claims. When the costs of claims and duration of time off work are compared, the importance of addressing hazards such as workplace bullying and hazing becomes clear. SafeWork Australia reports that the average compensation payment per claim for a work-related mental health condition is $24,500 compared to $9,000 for all claims, and the average time off work is 15.3 weeks compared to 5.5 weeks for all claims. In a recent court proceeding in Australia, a worker was compensated significantly after being subjected to assaults, sexual harassment, bullying and threats of sexual assault. In 2017, an electrical company was fined after two employees doused an apprentice in flammable liquid and set his shirt on fire. The indirect costs of work-related mental health conditions are far reaching and difficult to estimate. When a worker experiences psychological harm to health from work, it can affect their work performance, team members, family and community.
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SAFETY AND HEALTH ALERTS AND GUIDANCE
Approximately 6% of workers' compensation claims are for work-related mental health conditions Approximately 27% of these claims are for workplace harassment and bullying
WHY DOES HAZING OCCUR?
WHAT CAN I DO?
There are three common theories explaining why hazing occurs.
Workplace bullying is a hazard. Employers should have systems of work in place to prevent and manage workplace bullying such as hazing. This includes supportive supervisory practices, onboarding and/or induction programs for new employees, incident and hazard reporting processes, provision of information and training on acceptable workplace behaviours, and consistent application of performance and disciplinary procedures.
One theory is that hazing allows for the selection of committed group members. That is, hazing is used by the group to weed out the ‘weak’ and uncommitted, forcing the new worker to prove their worth to the hazing group. A second theory suggests that hazing is an expression of dominance by the hazing group over the new worker. In this way, hazing acts as a mechanism to ensure the hazing group maintains their social power and establishes superiority to the new worker. The third theory is that hazing produces group solidarity in the same way that survivors of abuse can develop strong, loyal and positive attachments to the perpetrators of their abuse. This acts as a survival or defence mechanism (which is any behavioural pattern that people use to protect themselves from unpleasant emotions, such as shame, anger and guilt). The existence of hazing practices is a strong indicator of a mentally unhealthy workplace. Instances of bullying behaviours such as hazing should be addressed as a priority.
Workers who think they may be experiencing hazing or other bullying behaviours should report it using their workplace’s procedures, where they exist, and seek support from a medical professional such as a general practitioner or a psychologist. Preventing harm to mental health and wellbeing from bullying practices such as hazing is important because: •• it’s the law – duty holders have an obligation to prevent harm to the health and safety of workers •• it’s the right thing to do – it is a social and corporate responsibility •• it’s the smart thing to do – making mental health a priority makes good business sense.
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SAFETY AND HEALTH ALERTS AND GUIDANCE
QUAD BIKES – CHANGES TO THE RULES Every year, quad bikes are a major cause of death and serious injury in rural workplaces, with many incidents associated with rollovers. ...
The risk of a rollover increases if the quad bike is crossing slopes, travelling at high speed, towing an attachment, travelling over rocky or uneven ground or carrying a heavy or unstable load; for example, chemicals for spraying.
CHANGES TO THE RULES On rural properties quad bikes are involved in more fatalities than motorcycles and more injuries than tractors yet, until now, quad bikes were not subject to an Australian Government product safety standard. Both the Federal and WA Government product safety standards have recently changed to require businesses who supply new quad bikes (also known as all-terrain vehicles [ATVs]) to have improved markings and require the fitting of Operator Protection Devices (OPDs) at the time of supply. The changes to the laws are required to be fully implemented by 11 October 2021.
TOP SAFETY TIPS •• Choose the right vehicle for the job •• Riders must be physically able to control the vehicle, trained and wearing a helmet •• Don’t let children ride adult bikes.
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PREVENTING INJURIES AND DEATHS •• Critically assess whether a quad bike is the right vehicle for the job. Is the rider physically capable of an active riding style and over a potentially long time? Side-by-side vehicles may be more suitable in rural workplaces because the operator stays seated and they generally have rollover protection structures and restraints like seat belts. A motorbike could be good for some tasks given their mobility and light weight. •• Towing attachments or carrying loads on the front or rear racks of a quad bike is convenient, but will it affect stability and handling? Liquid loads such as spray tanks are particularly unstable as contents shift when cornering or crossing slopes. •• What terrain will the bike be used in? Rocky, steep, uneven, sandy or muddy terrain will greatly increase the risk of a quad bike rollover. •• Will you carry a passenger? Most quad bikes are designed for one rider. You should never carry a passenger on a single person quad bike.
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SAFETY AND HEALTH ALERTS AND GUIDANCE
Between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2018 There were 128 quad bike fatalities in Australia 43 fatalities were adults aged 60 years and over 77 fatalities were the result of a rollover At least 76 fatalities were due to unstable or uneven terrain
QUAD BIKE FATALITIES: A SNAPSHOT (Source: SafeWork Australia) Based on current evidence, the single highest cause of fatalities involves general use quad bikes rolling over sideways, to the left or right, pinning the operator and causing crush injuries or asphyxiation. The estimated cost to the Australian economy of quad bike fatalities and injuries is at least $204 million per year. Between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2018, there were 128 quad bike fatalities in Australia. Of these: •• approximately 11 per cent (14 fatalities) were children aged 11 years of age or under and more than one third (43 fatalities) were adults aged 60 years and over •• almost half (62 fatalities) were workers •• over half (77 fatalities) were the result of a rollover and 78 fatalities occurred on a farm or property •• at least 76 were due to unstable or uneven terrain (e.g. incline, ditch, embankment, sand or mud).
SUBSTITUTION IS THE LOGICAL SOLUTION. PLEASE CONSIDER THE RISK.
DUTY OF CARE At workplaces, employers have a duty, as far as is practicable, to provide and maintain a safe working environment for employees including safe systems of work and safe plant and equipment. As the regulator for workplace in Western Australia, our consistent advice over many years is that consideration must be given to the overall suitability of the quad bike product for the work tasks. To assist with this, the Farm vehicle pre-purchase checklist – choosing the right vehicle for the job from WorkCover New South Wales is available on the Department’s website.
QUAD BIKE SAFETY VIDEOS AVAILABLE The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) safety videos show how quad bikes can cause injuries and death. The videos demonstrate a quad bike rollover with and without OPDs. •• Video demonstration of quad bike rollover without OPD fitted •• Video demonstration of quad bike rollover with OPD (quadbar) fitted •• Video demonstration of quad bike rollover with OPD (lifeguard roll bar) fitted
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KNOW YOUR HAZARDS: MOULD IN THE WORKPLACE
Moulds are a natural part of the ecosystem, breaking down and recycling organic matter. They multiply by producing spores. These are carried in the air and, if the spores land in a place which provides moisture and a food source, they may grow. ...
Mould grows in dark areas, including the back of wall linings, the top side of ceiling tiles, the underside of carpets, and on roof materials in ceiling spaces. It can develop on a wide range of surfaces such as wood, paint, walls, fabric, paper and soil. Severe mould growth can cause structural damage to buildings.
MOULD AT WORK CAN BE A WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE Where mould at a workplace presents a hazard to employees, the employer has a duty of care to control this hazard. If an employee reports health effects which may be related to mould, the employer has an obligation to investigate the employee’s concerns and advise them of actions to be taken to address the matter. To prevent mould developing, ensure buildings and fixtures are properly maintained so unwanted water cannot enter (e.g. maintain roofing, gutters and water pipes). Air conditioning and ventilation systems should be regularly checked and maintained. When a tenant of a workplace reports a hazard to the person with control of the workplace, the person has an obligation to identify the hazard, assess the risk of harm to health and consider suitable controls.
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IMPACT ON HEALTH You can be exposed to mould by inhaling, ingesting or touching mould spores or particles. The severity of symptoms depends on: •• •• •• ••
pecies of mould s amount of mould the person is exposed to length of time the person has been exposed individual susceptibility.
Some people may develop an allergic reaction to mould and symptoms could include: •• •• •• •• •• •• ••
difficulty breathing watery, itchy, red eyes chronic cough headaches or migraines rashes (dermatitis) fatigue blocked nose, sinus problems or frequent sneezing.
CAUSES OF MOULD PROBLEMS Moisture is the most important factor influencing mould growth indoors. Common sources of moisture indoors include roof and gutter leaks, flooding, leaking and burst pipes, water vapour (from showers, dryers, unfueled gas heaters or industrial processes) and humidity.
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SAFETY AND HEALTH ALERTS AND GUIDANCE
PREVENTING MOULD PROBLEMS
MOULD REMEDIATION
In most cases, mould problems can be avoided by:
Mould remediation work includes finding the source of the water problem, addressing it, and safely cleaning up the mould. Professional mould remediators should be used for larger jobs.
•• preventing unwanted water entering the building •• limiting the amount of water vapour released inside the building •• using ventilating processes to release water vapour.
INVESTIGATING MOULD PROBLEMS Mould investigations should be conducted when: •• •• •• ••
musty smells are reported visible mould growth is present flooding or water leaks have occurred condensation problems have been identified.
Investigating mould can be difficult and, in some cases, may require an experienced professional and specialised equipment. Investigations should be done with caution to avoid dispersing mould. Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used if significant mould growths are found. Suitable PPE may include disposable overalls, a Class P2 (particulate) respirator, gloves and safety glasses.
FURTHER INFORMATION •• Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 [ss. 19(1), 22 and 23K] •• Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 [r. 3.1] •• Mould at work •• Mould and dampness •• WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: dampness and mould
Laboratory testing may be required if the source of the mould is unclear, or workers express health concerns relating to mould exposure.
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SAFETY AND HEALTH ALERTS AND GUIDANCE
SAFE TRANSPORT OF SMALL CYLINDERS OF LP GAS Hazards of LP gas If LP gas leaks from a cylinder inside a vehicle, it can form an explosive fuel and air mixture.
SUMMER SAFETY TIPS FOR TRANSPORTING DANGEROUS GOODS Summer has arrived and Western Australians are once again enjoying a barbeque and dip in the pool. The Department would like to remind people to stay safe when using or transporting common dangerous goods like pool chemicals or liquid petroleum gas (LP gas) cylinders for home use. As the weather heats up, there is an increase in the amount of these dangerous goods transported by people who are unaware of the risks. That's why it’s important the community is aware of the simple safety tips for transporting common dangerous goods. Even household quantities of dangerous goods present potentially deadly risks that need to be managed appropriately.
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If there is an ignition source, this mixture can explode and injure – even kill – the driver, passengers and other people in the vicinity.
How do I safely transport LP gas cylinders? LP gas cylinders used for domestic purposes (i.e. barbecues) should preferably be transported in an open trailer or the tray of a ute, and be properly restrained. If this is not possible, the following precautions will help to reduce the risks: •• only transport cylinders of nine kilograms or less •• ensure cylinders have a current legible test mark •• do not carry cylinders in the enclosed boot of a vehicle •• wind down vehicle windows for cross-flow ventilation •• position cylinders in an upright position on the vehicle floor and secure so they cannot move •• do not smoke in the vehicle •• remove the cylinder from the vehicle as soon as possible.
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SAFETY AND HEALTH ALERTS AND GUIDANCE
SAFE TRANSPORT OF POOL CHEMICALS Why are common pool chemicals highly hazardous?
How do I safely transport pool chemicals?
Pool chemicals are dangerous goods which are highly hazardous. They can produce toxic chlorine gas, combust or explode; when they come into contact with each other or other chemicals, are subject to temperature increase, or become wet.
The following precautions will help you to reduce the risk of transporting pool chemicals:
Health effects of chlorine gas When pool chemicals react, chlorine gas is a possible by-product. People breathing in chlorine gas may experience: •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ••
ose and throat irritation n coughing and difficulty breathing headaches ringing in the ears dizziness drowsiness nausea and vomiting depression of all the senses unconsciousness – under some circumstances this could be fatal.
Overexposure to chlorine gas can cause lung disorders such as chemical pneumonitis and pulmonary oedema which are potentially fatal. Chlorine gas is denser than air and forms a vapour cloud at ground level. Therefore, it can lead to an oxygen-deficient environment, especially if released in a poorly ventilated area such as the inside of a vehicle or any other enclosed space.
What common pool chemicals are classified as dangerous goods? Pool chemicals such as liquid, dry or granular pool chlorine are classified as dangerous goods and they need to be handled carefully. Always read the label and follow the instructions for use and transport.
•• check the packaging before transporting to ensure it is in good condition and that there are no leaks •• keep the packages secure, upright and protected from anything that may puncture or damage them •• separate incompatible chemicals •• transport chemicals in a ventilated vehicle (e.g. on a ute tray, or in the car with the windows open). There are additional requirements for businesses transporting dangerous goods and people transporting larger volumes.
Examples of pool chemical incompatibility Dry pool chlorine (calcium hypochlorite) should not come into contact with:
•• heat •• moisture •• acids, particularly sodium dichloroisocyanurate and trichloroisocyanuric acid. Liquid pool chlorine (hypochlorite solution) should not come into contact with:
•• acidic solids and solutions (e.g. pH decreaser products, scale removers and pool cell cleaners) and compounds (e.g. aluminium sulphate) •• hydrogen peroxide solutions •• reducing agents, including sodium sulphite and sodium bisulphite.
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SAFETY AND HEALTH ALERTS AND GUIDANCE
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DEALING WITH AMMONIA RELEASES Ammonia (NH3) is naturally produced in small quantities through the decomposition of organic matter and is commonly used in household cleaning products.
Liquid ammonia can create freezing temperatures causing cold burns if in contact with skin. Chemical and cold burns may result in necrosis of impacted body tissue.
Industrial scale production of ammonia is used in manufacture of fertilisers, explosives and sodium cyanide. It is used as a refrigerant gas, in water supply purification, in nickel refinement and in the manufacture of plastics, textiles, pesticides, dyes and other chemicals.
Acute exposure to gaseous or liquid ammonia from any source may lead to serious injury or potential fatality.
The widespread use, production, transport and transfer of ammonia means an increased likelihood of exposure to people and the environment when an uncontrolled release occurs.
HEALTH HAZARDS Ammonia is a pungent, colourless gas which is toxic, corrosive and flammable. On contact with water vapour, ammonia forms visible fumes which are denser than air and will remain at ground level for some time. The gaseous ammonia interacts immediately upon contact with moisture in the skin, eyes, oral cavity and respiratory tract to form ammonium hydroxide, a strong caustic substance which can cause chemical burns. It causes stinging to the eyes and nose, watering of eyes, the generation of excessive mucus (i.e. nose running) and potentially cell damage. The effects on the eyes, nose and lungs could lead to difficulty with vision and breathing.
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Workers who might be exposed to ammonia should be provided with information, instruction and training about its hazards, safe use, potential control measures and emergency procedures. Signs, labels or placards may also be required.
DIRECT EXPOSURE – ACTIONS REQUIRED Following exposure to ammonia, and once the person is brought to a safe place, decontamination is necessary. This requires enough clean water for a sustained period of 20 minutes or more of flushing to minimise serious health effects. medical assistance should be obtained as soon as possible. To minimise the risks of exposure to ammonia, undertake the relevant checks.
Check 1 – Emergency response •• Do any personnel, including emergency responders, wear contact lenses? If so, an exposure may be absorbed by and caught behind the lenses which can trap the ammonia solution, causing eye damage and reducing the effect of decontamination with water.
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SAFETY AND HEALTH ALERTS AND GUIDANCE
•• Are personnel wearing encapsulated protective suits? •• Are personnel adequately trained to use the equipment required? •• Are medical personnel competent to provide first aid and treatment for ammonia-related injuries? •• Are eye wash and emergency shower stations adequate? Consider their availability, proximity and water quality. Is the temperature and pressure able to sustain the minimum of 20 minutes of continuous water flushing?
Check 2 – Personal protective equipment (PPE) •• Is the PPE right for working in toxic, caustic and cryogenic conditions? Some standard PPE may react with ammonia. •• Some PPE, such as self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), makes verbal communication difficult. Has the means of communication been considered with the type of PPE selected? •• Where emergency responders and workers are required to wear full protective suits, are they adequately trained to use the equipment? •• Refer to the safety data sheet (SDS) for the correct PPE. You may also consider using: –– bicep length chemical gloves –– nomex hood –– a K2 Filter in full face respirator –– vapour excluding fog proof mono goggles –– personal ammonia detector –– chemical break open eye wash.
Check 3 – Medical response •• If you haven’t decontaminated the person sufficiently, could absorbed ammonia be released into the confines of the medical transport? Could ammonia come from burns or from the lungs? •• Do the medical services have sufficient information on ammonia burns or inhalation? The SDS should have the correct information, so ensure a current copy is provided to the emergency services personnel.
Check 4 – A release or potential release •• Are the consequences of closing a valve or activating an isolating device of an ammonia system or process unit well understood? •• Are emergency stops well designed, prominently marked, easily accessible and regularly tested? •• Could there be a source of ignition near the release? If it is not a classified hazardous area, could you get a sufficient concentration to ignite the ammonia? Is it possible to isolate the energy sources? •• During maintenance planning, have measures in controlling and containing the release or effects of ammonia been considered? For example: –– water supply for fire protection and prevention of ammonia vapour clouds moving off site –– mechanical or positive pressure ventilation –– using a tarp to deflect or cover life threatening ammonia aerosol or dense gas cloud to facilitate escape or allow safe execution of emergency actions.
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T E F SA
ST E T L A E RT S AL
Y
erts y al er t e f a emb ts, s por 1 Sept e r m nt cide sed fro n i t a ele can nifi letins r g i s ul of 9. List safety b er 201 b and Decem 1 to 3
MINES SAFETY Significant incident reports SIR No. 278 Trailer tarpaulin cover mechanism fracture – fatal accident
Safety bulletins MSB No. 167 Adequate assessment of fitness for work – reissued MSB No. 168 Management of safe drinking water at mine sites
WORKSAFE Safety alert 04/2019 Safe use of medical oxygen cylinders Safety alert 05/2019 Hydrogen embrittlement – a serious risk to lifting chain integrity Safety alert 06/2019 Biological hazards in marine environments
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EVENT NEWS
MINESAFE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020 The Department is proud to be a platinum sponsor for the Minesafe International Conference 2020. Presented by AusIMM, the conference will be returning to Perth 21-22 September. Setting the benchmark for industry practice, the conference will showcase the latest developments in health and safety. Sessions will cover current and emerging health issues, legislation, policies and strategies, risk management and critical controls. It will highlight effective leadership and psychosocial management strategies that promote a zero harm workplace safety culture. The conference will be an essential industry event featuring a strong technical program to provide delegate with an opportunity to network with leading health and safety experts.
CONFERENCE THEMES •• Accident and incident investigation best practice •• Benchmarking and the impact of leading indicators – metrics, case studies and strategies •• Current and emerging health issues – workrelated disease, dust management •• Effective leadership strategies to promote a healthy workplace culture – workers’ health, wellbeing and productivity •• Innovation and human interaction – technology, communications and automation •• Legislation, compliance, policies, legal issues and strategies •• Psychosocial management – mental health research, fatigue management and monitoring •• Theoretical and practical aspects of risk management and critical controls. To find out more about submissions, registration and sponsorship, visit the Minesafe International Conference 2020 website.
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EVENT NEWS
WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING?
DANGEROUS GOODS FIELD DAYS
Dangerous Goods Safety participated in the 2019 Dowerin GWN7 Machinery Field Day in August and the Albany Agricultural Show in November. Information was provided on: •• rural transport requirements for dangerous goods – segregate, ventilate and restrain •• rural storage requirements for dangerous goods and ammunition •• LP gas, aerosols, fuel and farm chemicals.
HZ
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2019 ASBESTOS SAFETY CONFERENCE The Department partnered with the Australian Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency to host the three-day 2019 Asbestos Safety Conference. The conference was held from 11-13 November at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, and welcomed over 250 domestic and international attendees. Among the delegates was WorkSafe Western Australia Commissioner, Darren Kavanagh. Conference highlights included a ministerial address from the Hon Bill Johnston, opportunity to collaborate on Australia’s National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Awareness and Management and the launch of the National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Awareness and Management 2019-23.
Departmental staff with WorkSafe Western Australia Commissioner, Darren Kavanagh (second from left) Photo courtesy Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency
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EVENT NEWS
MINES SAFETY ROADSHOW During the month of October, five of the Department’s inspectors travelled throughout the state spreading safety messages to nearly 900 safety and health representatives, supervisors and others responsible for health and safety. This year’s focus was building healthy and safe workplaces and included a new safety video “How workplace factors influence an incident”. To help industry take learnings from the roadshow to their sites, the Department has released the following toolbox presentations and safety awareness video. •• Safety performance state-of-play in Western Australia mines •• Muffling the myths about noise •• The power of hazard identification •• Mentally healthy workplaces – it’s about safety too •• Investigations – are we learning? •• How workplace factors influence an incident
TYC
(Front) Inspector of Mines, Jessica Gonsalves and Senior Inspector Scientific Officer, Rodney Powell (Back) Inspectors of Mines, Roy Zylstra, Peter Nissen and Akshay Hooda
SAFE WORK MONTH INFORMATION SESSIONS The Department presented a series of information sessions during October as part of Safe Work Month. The sessions provided participants with an opportunity to hear and learn from presenters with a wealth of safety and health experience. It also gave them the opportunity to gain useful tools, techniques and strategies to take back to their workplace. The diverse range of topics and forums included: •• Mediation in the workplace •• Armed hold-ups and violence in the retail sector •• Embracing work-life balance •• Isolation of plant •• Crystalline silica and silicosis •• Plant in the workplace •• Work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) prevention and management framework •• Safety and health representatives forum •• Hazardous waste management.
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EVENT NEWS
2019 WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS
Winners of the 2019 Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards were announced on 2 October at Optus Stadium. ...
The inaugural Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards combined the former Work Safety Awards and the Safety and Health Resources Sector Awards to create one awards ceremony. The awards celebrate outstanding solutions and innovations to specific health and safety problems in Western Australian workplaces. Minister for Mines and Petroleum and Industrial Relations, Hon. Bill Johnston presented the awards in five categories.
Winners of the Work health and safety invention of the year were recognised for development of plant/equipment engineering and/or infrastructure to enhance health and safety.
199 employees or less category Quattro Project Engineering – Quattro fan hanging system Quattro Project Engineering developed a mechanised solution for installing and removing underground mine ventilation fans. This system does not require any working at heights when installing fans, and additional work to attach ducting can be carried out from a mobile elevating work platform.
200 employees or more category Clough – A new perspective on working at height
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Winner for Work Health and Safety Invention of the Year, 199 employees or less category, Quattro Project Engineering
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Clough was able to minimise working at height risks through the development of alternative construction methods. This ground level construction concept, developed by the Water Corporation’s Ultra Filtration Reserve Osmosis Building could be applied to the construction of any steel structured building.
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EVENT NEWS
Certificates of merit •• Komatsu – Komatsu tune safe •• Rio Tinto – Tanks construction working at height elimination Winners of the Best solution to a work health and safety risk were recognised for innovation, implementation and/or design of systems or procedures to improve health and safety.
199 employees or less category Mainline Demolition Pty Ltd – Mandurah bridge 320 down
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Winner for Work Health and Safety Invention of the Year, 200 employees or more category, Clough
Demolition of the Old Mandurah Bridge offered a unique opportunity for Mainline to harness experience and innovation and apply it in a live waterway environment. The aged condition of the structure, variable tidal flows, live traffic and active inner urban shorelines presented many operational challenges. The team focused on implementing best practice to achieve a zero incident, zero harm completion of demolition.
200 employees or more category TENSA Equipment and Multiplex – Remote load control during lifting operations with Roborigger Roborigger is a load controlling device allowing lifting to be performed without workers needing to be nearby during the high risk lifting and lowering phase. No taglines are used and loads can be manoeuvred without touching existing structure or having taglines snag. Roborriger increases the operating window for lifting operations involving loads with large surface areas affected by wind.
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Winner for Best Solution to a Work Health and Safety Risk, 199 employees or less category, Mainline Demolition
Certificates of merit •• Water Corporation – Customised chemical barrier protection •• WesTrac – Elimination of live work TYC
Winner for Best Solution to a Work Health and Safety Risk, 200 employees or more category, TENSA Equipment and Multiplex
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EVENT NEWS
Winners for the Best workplace health and wellbeing initiative were organisations recognised for their commitment to the health and wellbeing of their workforce.
199 employees or less category Galactic Co-operative – Galactic workplace health and wellbeing initiative Galactic Co-operative surveyed all staff to pinpoint issues and areas where improvements had the highest potential to impact on workplace wellbeing. From the survey and workshops, the highest priority issues were confirmed, as well as the root causes, brainstorm solutions and consensus for an action plan. The plan aimed to decrease demands by better standardising work processes and provide training.
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Winner for Best Workplace Health and Wellbeing Initiative, 199 employees or less category, Galactic Cooperative
200 employees or more category ConsMin – Mining minds matter, working away not alone ConsMin developed a mental health framework to safeguard the mental health of workers and to facilitate the provision of a safe workplace for all. Their comprehensive strategy demonstrates the importance of taking a holistic approach to addressing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace – there is no single quick fix and it is important to tackle the issues in a comprehensive way.
Certificates of merit •• Neerigen Brook Primary – Staff and student wellbeing •• Ranger Drilling – Ranger hydration and heat illness program •• BHP – BHP family connection magnets
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Winner for Best Workplace Health and Wellbeing Initiative, 200 employees or more category, ConsMin
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EVENT NEWS
The winner of the Leadership excellence award was an organisation recognised for its excellence in improving health and safety in the workplace.
Rio Tinto – Driving leadership excellence in electrical safety
The project focussed on electrical asset health and employee safety. This approach employed state of the art monitoring and data management techniques to reduce the often unseen and potentially fatal risks with high voltage hardware. The process strengthened knowledge sharing between those at the operational end and those responsible for design and decision making in engineering and management.
The winner of the Safety and health representative of the year was recognised. This is an elected SHRep who has made a significant contribution and demonstrable difference to safety and health in the workplace.
Megan Silvey – St John of God Hospital Murdoch Megan Silvey has brought significant positive change to the Endoscopy department at St John of God Hospital Murdoch by identifying health and safety issues and facilitating improvements in safety culture. Megan is willing to be at the forefront in developing and educating her fellow caregivers about OHS issues.
Certificate of merit
Certificates of merit
•• Programmed – Young workers program
•• Mike Pinkham – City of Cockburn •• Christopher Scott – St Stephen’s School
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Winner for Leadership Excellence Award, 200 employees or more category, Rio Tinto
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Winner for Safety and health representative of the year, Megan Silvey with Minister Bill Johnston
More information on the awards is available at the Department's website.
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EVENT NEWS
MEET THE 2019 SAFETY AND HEALTH REPRESENTATIVE OF THE YEAR – MEGAN SILVEY Megan, a registered nurse at St John of God Murdoch Hospital, has been recognised for her role as an advocate for caregivers within the Endoscopy Department by receiving the Safety and Health Representative of the Year Award at the Department’s Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards. As a nurse working in a procedural area, assisting doctors to ensure operations are performed correctly and looking after patient safety, becoming a safety and health representative was a logical step for Megan. After colleagues were unknowingly exposed to a patient with active tuberculosis in 2017, Megan identified a lack of workplace training had led to some staff not implementing new policy and standard operating procedures designed to lessen the spread of infection.
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Megan, determined to use the incident as an opportunity to make a positive change, set about developing an educational package for fellow caregivers to circulate during shift meetings and within communal areas. Megan’s proactive approach resulted in the addition of two new negative pressure rooms in the Endoscopy Department to protect those outside from the possible spread of infection. “The highlight of being a safety and health representative is seeing the work you do make a huge difference to safety. Changing the culture of a procedure or routine that has been followed for a long time is really hard. But once you see improvements in safety occur from breaking those unsafe long-term habits and routines, it’s all worth it,” Megan said.
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“IF YOU AREN’T GOING TO SPEAK UP, THEN CHANGE WON’T HAPPEN. HAVING AUTHORITY FIGURES YOU CAN TRUST, OR THE ENCOURAGEMENT FROM OTHERS TO SPEAK UP IS REALLY IMPORTANT.” – MEGAN SILVEY
“The main thing is making sure that people feel safe and not pressured. Knowing that people have trust in me to take things on board, listen to their concerns and make a positive change is what motivates me.
“Second to that is being listened to and being able to listen to others. If you are approached by someone who is concerned, it’s really important that you listen and take on board what people are saying.
“Sometimes you don’t think you are doing much but getting recognised for your work makes you realise that you have actually made a difference, which spurs you on to continue.”
“If someone is aware of a safety issue but is unsure about speaking up, I would encourage them to bring it up with someone they feel comfortable with, maybe a friend, sister or brother, and ask them for their opinion. Receiving encouragement from people you trust gives you the confidence to bring it up with your manager or other work colleagues.”
Storm Janczyk is the Health and Safety Manager at St John of God and the person who nominated Megan for the award. “Megan is always trying to improve education and upskill fellow caregivers to prioritise their health and safety at work. She regularly seeks out answers to questions left unanswered on behalf of her peers to create a harmonious and safe working environment,” Storm said. “Megan proactively fulfils her responsibilities and goes above and beyond in identifying occupational health and safety issues within her department. She is a vocal participant in OHS Committee meetings, bringing to light ideas and suggestions. Megan’s consistent communication has ultimately brought about change in processes within the department.” As a result of her efforts, hard work and commitment, Megan was recognised as a safety leader and awarded the St John of God Tony Howarth Award for most outstanding health and safety representative in 2018. Megan has had the courage to speak up when she thought procedures were not being managed in accordance with policy, resulting in changes to infrastructure in the department to better manage patient care. “If you aren’t going to speak up, then change won’t happen. Having authority figures you can trust, or the encouragement from others to speak up is really important,” Megan said.
The 2019 Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards were held at the recently opened Optus Stadium. “The awards were really nice and I loved the setting of Optus Stadium. I wasn’t expecting to be recognised for my work as a safety and health representative, let alone make it into the top six. Winning was such a surprise and the whole thing was such a humbling experience. Seeing everyone else recognised was a reward in itself.” Health and safety is not just an issue for the workplace and people can make changes in their everyday lives to improve safety. To people taking on the task of improving workplace safety, Megan says, “Slow down, breathe. Take it all in. Understand the situation you are taking on board, make an assessment and make a decision about your next actions based on that.” Submissions to the Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards 2020 open shortly. For information about award categories, key dates and how to nominate, visit the Department's website.
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LEGISLATION AND LEGAL NEWS
NEW WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY LAWS MAKING PROGRESS On 12 July 2017, the Premier announced that work would commence to develop modernised work health and safety (WHS) laws for Western Australia. The new laws would: •• b e substantially based on the national model Work Health and Safety Bill to improve consistency with the rest of Australia •• provide the primary legislation for workplace safety and health across all Western Australian industries •• be supported by a number of industry specific regulations to suit the State's unique conditions, enabling the resources sector to continue to use a risk-based approach and support the safety case approach for petroleum and major hazard facilities. The Work Health and Safety Bill 2019 (the WHS Bill) was tabled in Parliament on 27 November 2019 and will be debated this year. Key features of the WHS Bill include: •• two new offences for industrial manslaughter •• a requirement for inspectors to make decisions to resolve WHS issues within two days •• prohibition on insurance for monetary penalties •• inclusion of a new duty of care for WHS service providers.
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Regulations to support the WHS Bill are currently under development following a public consultation period which closed ended on 26 November 2019. There will be separate sets of regulations for mines, petroleum and general workplaces.
BASIS OF THE NEW LAWS The WHS Bill was drafted based on: •• recommendations made by the Ministerial Advisory Panel on Work Health and Safety Reform •• submissions made during public consultation to the recommendations in July and August 2018. Key proposals such as industrial manslaughter have also been included based on recommendations from the recent Review of the model WHS laws – Final report prepared by Marie Boland and the Education and Employment References Committee report They never came home — the framework surrounding the prevention, investigation and prosecution of industrial deaths in Australia. The modernised WHS Bill is available on the Parliament of Western Australia website under ‘current bills’.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
LIST OF WORKSAFE PLAN RECIPIENTS The Department is pleased to announce the latest WorkSafe Plan recipients in the Platinum, Gold and Silver categories. Employers and workers from each of these companies or organisations demonstrated a strong commitment to making occupational safety and health a priority in their workplace.
For more information on the WorkSafe Plan assessment process, email worksafeplan@dmirs.wa.gov. au or visit the Department's WorkSafe Plan webpage.
Platinum recipients are outstanding performers with a rating of 90 per cent or more in all areas of OSH management. At this level, all safe work systems are well established, documented and regularly monitored and reviewed to ensure continuous improvement.
Gold recipients have achieved a rating of 75 per cent or more showing excellent results in the areas of management commitment and planning for improvements. These companies have demonstrated an obligation to consulting with workers and providing resources to prevent injury and disease.
Platinum certificate recipients:
Gold certificate recipients:
•• •• •• ••
•• Civilcon (WA) Pty Ltd •• Diverse Shopfitters Pty Ltd •• North Regional TAFE (Karratha and Kununurra Campuses) •• Perth Airport Pty Ltd
Bethesda Health Care RACWA Holding Pty Ltd SCHÜTZ Australia Pty Ltd State Wide Turf Services
Spotlight: Bethesda Health Care WorkSafe WA Commissioner, Darren Kavanagh, presented a Platinum WorkSafe Plan certificate to Dr Neale Fong, Executive Chairman of Bethesda Health Care on 10 December 2019. This was the fourth time the health provider had achieved Platinum recognition for their safety and health management system.
Silver recipients have achieved 60 per cent or more in all areas of the WorkSafe Plan assessment. Generally these organisations are making significant improvements with the aim of achieving Gold status. Silver certificate recipients: •• •• •• ••
Contract Power Australia Pty Ltd Forest Products Commission Turbo Air Technology Pty Ltd Western Salt Refinery Pty Ltd
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INDUSTRY NEWS
MINING EMERGENCY RESPONSE COMPETITION (MERC) FMG Christmas Creek at the vertical rescue scenario
The green lawns of Langley Park on the Perth foreshore were again host to the annual Mining Emergency Response Competition (MERC). Thirteen emergency response teams came together from across Western Australia to compete and hone their rescue skills on 22-24 November 2019. This year’s event also hosted the first international team, the Tikus Tanah Rescue Squad from McMoRan’s Freeport mine in Indonesia. Now in its ninth year, the MERC allows teams to compete in realistic scenarios to test their proficiency and skills. Lessons learnt from the scenarios allow the teams to develop and improve. Ultimately, this assists with a team’s preparedness for a real-life event to ensure the best possible outcome is achieved. State Mining Engineer Andrew Chaplyn said, “The competition is an excellent opportunity for emergency response teams to test their capabilities in challenging and realistic scenarios. The Department sponsors the overall Team Safety Award each year. This year it was won by Synergy Muja Power Station.” Mr Chaplyn said that recent incidents in the mining sector are a reminder of the importance of a site’s emergency response capacity. Seven scenarios reflecting the essential emergency and rescue disciplines make up the competition.
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Teams are assessed in first aid, firefighting, road crash rescue, hazardous material, confined space rescue, rope rescue and emergency response team readiness. The event saw some innovative scenarios reflecting the diverse situations teams have to work in, which included making situations safe, treating injuries and recovering casualties from explosions, fires, a cave, a road crash and a scissor lift. The metropolitan location of the competition allows family and friends, industry representatives and the local community to come down and support the MERC. This year there was also the opportunity for everyone to be involved in a series of skills sessions and demonstrations, which included Livin’ Mental Health, Zoll CPR Challenge, RFDS casualty packaging and virtual reality exercises. Following feedback from teams in past years, specialised expert training was provided by the Fiona Woods Team on burns management, which was greatly appreciated. “It was great to see everyone at Langley Park supporting the 14 competing teams, 103 volunteers and more than 55 sponsors from across the resources industry,” said Sue Steele, MERC Founder. “These teams put their lives at risk and it is wonderful for them to be acknowledged by the public,” Sue added.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Tikus Tanah Rescue Squad at the confined space rescue scenario
Synergy Muja Power Station
The competition concluded with the awards ceremony. Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Bill Johnston, who opened the awards ceremony, emphasised the importance of teams being able to continue practicing the techniques required to respond appropriately in the face of an emergency. Synergy Muja Power Station was the overall winner and captain Cameron Bourne also took out the award for best captain. Newmont Goldcorp Boddington were second overall and Anglo Gold Ashanti Tropicana third.
Rio Tinto Minerals
The Tikus Tanah Rescue Squad (Indonesia) achieved excellent results across a range of exercises, which was a significant achievement as the only member of the team to speak fluent English was their captain. Chief Adjudicator, Richard Crawford was awarded outstanding volunteer for his hard work in ensuring the three-day event ran smoothly and successfully.
For more information about the competition, visit the MERC website.
Anglo Gold Ashanti
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DEPARTMENT NEWS
ARE YOU OUR NEXT WORKSAFE INSPECTOR?
WorkSafe’s vision is that all workplaces in Western Australia are free of work-related death, injury and disease. WorkSafe inspectors play an important part in realising this vision by enforcing occupational safety and health laws and regulations in Western Australia, and by helping workplaces improve safe work practices and resolve safety and health issues. WorkSafe is looking for people with relevant industry and occupational safety and health experience, and this can be gained from a variety of roles. Previous positions held by our inspectors include: •• Construction tradesperson •• Safety manager •• Safety and health representative or committee member •• Law enforcement/compliance officer.
WHAT DO INSPECTORS DO? Inspectors have a wide range of responsibilities and duties. You’ll have the authority to enter, inspect and examine workplaces to investigate breaches of safety and health laws. You will regularly discuss management of safety issues at work with employees, employers and supervisors. Depending on the circumstances, you will be required to issue written directions, conduct inspections and enquiries, and take possession of materials. “It’s like being a detective. That’s what makes it so interesting and exciting. Everyday I look and say ‘Oh, I’ve got a new investigation.’ I love that. Every day you’re doing something different. You have to be on your toes and stay sharp.” – James, Inspector.
CHALLENGES At times, you will encounter workplaces where there is a resistance to, or lack of understanding and awareness of, safety and health laws. The situation may be confrontational or even hostile and you may need to take enforcement action.
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These cases can challenge your commitment and confidence in doing the job. Your training and experience will provide you with abilities to handle cases professionally and with assurance. There are challenges, yet the rewards are high when your work results in positive, long-lasting changes. “After I took enforcement action, I saw a huge improvement over a six month period. They employed a full-time safety officer and I could see from my return visits that they were making some real improvements. You know that it’s you who made the difference and that feels so good.” – Eve, Inspector.
HOW WE SUPPORT YOU When you start, you’ll be placed into an industrybased team of skilled and experienced inspectors. This team will train, guide and support you through your duties and the process of enforcement and investigations. At the end of this training period, you’ll have all the skills and knowledge to be a successful WorkSafe inspector. If you have worked in industry, or have a background in a relevant field, you can draw on this experience and apply it in a whole new way!
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF WORKSAFE INSPECTORS Typical qualifications held by current inspectors: •• •• •• •• •• ••
Certificate IV in WHS Diploma in OSH Graduate Diploma in OSH University degree in OSH or related field Relevant trade qualifications Relevant industry experience.
If you think you’ve got what it takes, keep an eye out for WorkSafe Inspector roles on the Government of Western Australia’s Jobs Board.
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DEPARTMENT NEWS
SMARTMOVE UPDATE WHAT IS SMARTMOVE? SmartMove is an online work health and safety educational program for young workers between the ages of 15 and 24 who will be entering the workforce for the first time. Developed by WorkSafe WA, SmartMove is aimed at young workers who are: •• senior high school students taking up work experience placements (e.g. apprenticeships, internships) •• students working in their spare time (e.g. before or after school hours, weekends) •• starting their work life.
WHY IS SMARTMOVE AIMED AT YOUNG WORKERS? Many young workers experience challenges in making the transition between school and work. In Western Australia, young workers make up a significant proportion of occupational injuries. They often lack the skills and experience needed for the work, including an understanding of the safety and health hazards and risks associated with their work. Research by Smith and Breslin (2013) found that the risk of harm for young workers in their first months of a job was higher than that of older workers. SmartMove introduces young workers to the general concepts of work health and safety to reduce their risk of injury at work. It offers them industry-specific
knowledge of work health and safety. At present, there is one general, one extension and 14 industry modules available. Industry modules include: •• •• •• •• •• ••
automotive building and construction farming, forestry and fishing manufacturing mining nail and beauty technology.
NEW AND IMPROVED SmartMove has been available online since the early 2000s. However, it is currently going through a revamp based on user feedback. Suggestions from end users included integrating graphic animation, gaming and short video clips to enhance learning. After an analysis of online survey results from 850 active users and extensive consultation with a group of engaged education providers, development of the new SmartMove commenced. The revamped SmartMove will allow young audiences to be more engaged while gaining critical knowledge and tools to keep them safe in the workplace. The updated SmartMove will be formally launched this year. Four additional industry modules will be introduced with the launch.
To explore the new SmartMove and view a full list of available modules, visit the SmartMove website.
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SAFETY REGULATION GROUP Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Postal address: Locked Bag 100 EAST PERTH WA 6892
MINES SAFETY
WORKSAFE
including exploration, mining and mineral processing
for general industries
Telephone: 1800 SAFEMINE (1800 723 364) (general enquiries, mines safety reporting and safety and health representatives) Email: MinesSafety@dmirs.wa.gov.au (general enquiries) mineshreps@dmirs.wa.gov.au (safety and health representatives)
Telephone: 1300 307 877 (general enquiries) 1300 424 091 (licensing) 1800 678 198 (24 hours serious incident and fatality reporting) Email: WorkSafeCallCentre@dmirs.wa.gov.au (general enquiries)
DANGEROUS GOODS SAFETY
Mason Bird Building, Level 1, 303 Sevenoaks Street, Cannington WA 6107
including explosives and fireworks
WORKSAFE LIBRARY
Telephone: +61 8 6251 2300 MINE PLANS Email: dgsb@dmirs.wa.gov.au Telephone: 1800 SAFEMINE (1800 723 364) (dangerous goods safety enquiries) Email: rsdmineplans@dmirs.wa.gov.au cso@dmirs.wa.gov.au (dangerous goods licensing enquiries)
PETROLEUM SAFETY including pipelines and operations, major hazard facilities and geothermal energy Telephone: +61 8 9358 8001
SAFETY REGULATION SYSTEM (SRS)
Telephone: +61 8 9358 8001 (select option 3) Email: SRSManager@dmirs.wa.gov.au
SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS including publications and events Telephone: +61 8 9358 8154 Email: SafetyComms@dmirs.wa.gov.au
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
RSDJan20_1047
@DMIRS_WA
