Gippsland timber mill death, Victoria’s third for 2008

18 January 2008

Less than three weeks into 2008, the state’s work-related death toll has risen to three* with a fatality at a Latrobe Valley timber mill late yesterday. 

A 35-year-old woman was crushed when a two-tonne timber pack hoist fell striking her at the Carter Holt Harvey mill at Morwell. 

A WorkSafe team was on site until late into the night, with safety Inspectors back on scene today.

January is one of the worst times of year for workplace fatalities. There were five deaths in January 2007.

WorkSafe is currently running a statewide campaign targeting safety work around machines undergoing maintenance, repair, installation, servicing and cleaning.

There are nearly 5000 amputations, crushing, serious cuts and other injuries each year involving maintenance work. This type of work also accounts for nearly one-third of deaths.

WorkSafe Victoria inspectors have been to more than 200 businesses since the project began in November.   

Non-implementation of policies and procedures, inadequate guarding, supervision and contractor management have been identified as common problems.

“In many cases the fact that the machinery has stopped means risks are elevated. MRISC tasks require separate procedures and risk mitigation plans,” WorkSafe General Manager, Eric Windholz said.

WorkSafe’s publication ‘Machinery and Equipment Safety – an introduction’, and others, are available online at www.worksafe.vic.gov.au or in printed form by calling the WorkSafe Advisory Service on 1800 136 089.

* A bulldozer driver died in the Snowy River National Park in East Gippsland on 1 January when his machine rolled. An elderly female farmer died near Echuca 6 January when she was crushed by a tractor.