"Now is the time to take action" WorkSafe says after three regional deaths in a week

13 October 2009

Victoria’s work-related regional death toll has risen by three in the past week with a dairy farmer dying at Gorae West in the state’s south-west last yesterday.

The incident on a dairy farm takes to 21 the number of work-related traumatic deaths in Victoria this year. Twelve have happened in regional areas and eight on farms.

The man is thought to have been working under a tractor fitted with an implement when it has rolled forward and on to him.

It was the third death and the second on a farm.

WorkSafe is calling on regional employers and workers, particularly on farms to review safety practices and do everything possible to maximise safety.

The week of tragedy began last Tuesday at Wandin North when a man driving a tractor was caught up in cables supporting poles holding up a sun shade over an orchard and suffered crushing injuries.

At Bannockburn near Geelong, a man died last Wednesday when he was crushed between the roof of a building and an industrial lifting machine on which he was working.

On Thursday, a market garden worker near Werribee was lucky to have survived with serious injuries after a tractor ran over him. 

WorkSafe’s Executive Director, John Merritt, said the fatalities and injuries were poignant symbols of broader safety problems that regional employers, workers and communities could not afford to ignore.

“The recent deaths and injuries would send shockwaves through families and broader communities.

“WorkSafe is active in regional areas, but safety has to be a partnership involving the input of employers and workers, because ultimately they’re affected when something goes wrong.

“Look for the things that can hurt someone, develop or reinforce safe work practices in a consultative manner and make sure they’re applied consistently.  

“The community does not have to accept that being killed or maimed at work is a risk that is just part of the job,” Mr Merritt said.

Of the workplace injuries reported to WorkSafe a quarter of Victoria’s happen in regional areas^ with total treatment and rehabilitation costs exceeding $677-million over the past five years.

“If relying on ‘industry practice’ or ‘the way we’ve always done it’ is your approach to safety, you’re taking a shortcut to potential disaster.

“It is essential that managers, supervisors and workmates speak up if they see something dangerous happening and don’t assume the person will be OK because they’re been doing it that way for years.

“Ensuring people have the right training for the jobs they’re expected to do, that they are adequately supervised, have the right equipment and that work is properly planned will reduce risk.

Work Safe Week events are being held across regional Victoria and Melbourne from 26–30 October. To see events near you or activities touching on your industry go to www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/worksafeweek. 

WorkSafe publications are available online along with information about particular risks, industries and occupations at www.worksafe.vic.gov.au or call WorkSafe’s advisory service on 1800 136 089.

Small businesses can sign up for a WorkSafe-funded free and independent three-hour consultancy. Details at www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/smallbusiness.

* Recent incidents:

 Tuesday 6 October: A Lower Templestowe man, 47, died from crushing injuries after a tractor he was driving became entangled in a steel wire which was acting as a guy rope to support poles for a canopy over a Wandin North orchard.    

Wednesday 7 October: A man aged in his 50s died at Bannockburn near Geelong while operating a boom lift. He was found crushed between the machine’s bucket and the roof of a building in which he was working.  

Thursday 8 October: A farm worker was run over by a tractor on a Werribee South vegetable farm, suffered serious injuries to his pelvis and was flown to hospital.

Monday 12 October: A 45-year-old man died at Gorae West near Portland while working on his tractor which rolled forward and on to him.

^ Does not include Melbourne urban fringe municipalities of the Cities of Wyndham & Hume and the Cardinia, Yarra Ranges, Nillumbik Whittlesea and Mornington Peninsula Shires as regional for reported injuries.

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