Workers Memorial Day has a message for us all

Workplace safety standards must be maintained, and improved, in tough economic times or Victoria could face a return to the horrors of dozens of preventable workplace deaths each year.

Marking International Workers Memorial Day tomorrow (28^th) WorkSafe’s Executive Director, John Merritt said improvements made over the past decade could be under threat.

“Since last year’s memorial day – 21 traumatic work-related deaths have been reported to WorkSafe. Eleven of them have been since 1 January and of these, six have been in regional areas.

“The community needs to take ownership of this issue, not accept second best for their employees, themselves or their workmates.

“No matter how many workplaces WorkSafe visits, no matter how many prosecutions we launch or how much support we provide to business, ultimately the responsibility for safety is in every workplace.

“If you need a reason to begin making safety improvements, Workers Memorial Day is it.

“Across the state, traumatic death rates have dropped from a high of 45 in 1998-99 to a low of 16 in 2007-08 (financial years).

“Apart from the fatalities, hundreds of people each year face life-threatening or permanent injuries while tens of thousands suffer lesser problems which limit their productivity and enjoyment of life.”

Around 60% of all injuries reported to WorkSafe are a result of poor manual handling, slips trips and falls.

“Together, it has an enormous impact on individuals, families, businesses and the entire community.” 

Mr Merritt said deaths and injuries could be prevented, because they could be predicted.

“The causes are known, but it takes people to make a clear decision to act and ensure the work is planned and done safely.

“If you’re seeking a short-term benefit by reducing safety activity in tough times, taking shortcuts or allowing them to be taken, you need to remember that lives and commercial viability are at stake.

“Last week a man suffered serious burns while welding a fuel tank and a mobile crane tipped on to its side at Port Melbourne.

While the men in both cases were hurt, these incidents show that there’s not much difference between the incident that kills and the one you live to talk about.

“Your worst nightmare is not that a WorkSafe inspector might knock on your door. It’s dealing with a serious incident, the family of deceased or injured workers and everything that comes with it.”  

WorkSafe provides a range of services to help Victorian employers and workers.

They include a free, three-hour visit to small and medium business by an independent health and safety consultant. Details are available from WorkSafe or major employer groups.

WorkSafe can also help businesses and workers deal with potential safety issues through the telephone advisory service (1800 136 089) or via the internet at www.worksafe.vic.gov.au.

Traumatic WorkSafe fatalities in 2009

• 14 January: A 51-year-old man sustained fatal head injuries when a conveyor system that was being installed fell at Brooklyn.
• 14 January: 58-year-old man died after falling from a horse while as he shifted cattle at Wulgulmerang in East Gippsland.
• 17 February: An ACT fire-fighter was struck by a falling branch and died at                     Cambarville in north-east Victoria
• 17 February: An 18-year-old man was trapped in a machine at a Thomastown factory when his reflective vest was caught in moving parts.
• 21 February: A boy, not yet 2, was run over by a tractor when he fell from the bucket at Creswick.
• 5 March: A truck driver died when his vehicle rolled over on a Metropolitan Ring Roadoff-ramp at Thomastown
• 25 March: A man in his 30s died after falling 18 metres from a tree he was cutting down at Tyabb.
• 27 March: An elderly farmer died in hospital after the ATV he was riding flipped at Mountainview in West Gippsland.
• 29 March: An elderly South Gippsland farmer died when he was run over by his tractor at Dollar. He was found by a neighbour.

Via http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/WorkSafe/Home/