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Manufacturing Magazine
Death trap
Issue 66 June 2012
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Honeywell launches new safety leadcampaign them to safety
Call for strict new safety standards at loading docks Two recent workplace deaths have sparked calls for new safety standards to be urgently implemented at loading docks in Australian workplaces. A 37-year-old man died late last year after he was crushed while undergoing repair works on a dock leveller at Laverton North. And WorkSafe Victoria is investigating the death of a truck driver at Preston in May. WorkSafe believes the 37-year-old Bayswater man was crushed between a scissor lift and forklift while unloading goods from a tray truck. The incident takes Victoria’s workplace death toll for 2012 to five. According to WorkSafe VIC, the seemingly innocent loading dock is one of the leading accident sites in warehouses. “There are many dangers associated with loading docks and injuries do occur,” says WorkSafe manufacturing, logistics and agriculture
director, Ross Pilkington. “Loading docks are busy and fast changing parts of the workplace where time is often at a premium, Mr Pilkington says. “Vehicles that are picking up or delivering goods are often on tight deadlines and the need to get material in or ‘out the door’ can be great, he says. “Together this can create hazards requiring employers, supervisors and workers to ensure safe work practices are in place and consistently applied.” Mr Lee Lorenc, the national sales manager of Arbon Equipment Pty Ltd, is amazed Australia still does not have an industry standard for dock levelers. “There are strict safety standards in the US and Europe for dock levelers, he says. “But despite fatalities and injuries, Australia has no safety standard for equipment of this kind.”
According to the International Labor Organisation (ILO), a worker dies from a work-related accident or disease somewhere in the world every 15 seconds. That equates to 2.3 million worker fatalities each year. And each year 160 million new cases of occupational illness are reported and another 270 million workers suffer non-fatal workplace injuries. continued on page 7 Honeywell can help.
Honeywell Safety Products has the broadest portfolio of leading safety solutions in the marketplace today. Our core mission is to help safety managers build an enduring culture of safety that minimises injuries and maintains a more protective and productive workplace. Partner with Honeywell to discover new ways to lead them to safety. Visit our website today.
www.honeywellsafety.com/culture
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WorkSafe VIC Inspectors regularly visit warehouses and other workplaces to inspect activities occurring at loading docks. According to Mr Pilkington the designers and suppliers of any plant must comply with provisions of health and safety and plant legislation/regulations. “Employers are obligated to provide and maintain a safe workplace, Mr Pilkington says. “And the designers of plant as well as those who manufacture, install and commission it all have responsibilities under Victorian OHS law. “Our expectation is that businesses using dock levellers go back to the manufactures to determine what is best for their particular situation and also control the risk in their workplace once installed.” WorkSafe Victoria has identified the following dangers associated with the operation of loading docks: continued on page 2
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