Why having anti-static flooring is important
State-of-the-art technology can achieve incredible things – but only if each delicate component and piece of equipment is protected. Continue →
Author Curreen
Company fined $250k after worker fatally injured by steel beam
Structural steelwork company, Pegasus Engineering Limited, was sentenced at the Christchurch District Court after a heavy steel beam fatally injured a worker
The fatal incident took place in June 2017 in Rolleston when a worker was moving steel beams from work trolleys using a crane. Continue →
Construction Sector Accord a long-term commitment
A New Zealand Construction Sector Accord was announced by five ministers, including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, signalling long-term commitment between government and industry to collaborate on key work areas for a healthy construction sector
Government and construction industry leaders have signalled a shared commitment to transform New Zealand’s construction sector. Continue →
Helius appoints world leader in medical cannabis R&D
Dr James Polston has been announced as Scientific Director at Helius Therapeutics, leaving the United States where he was a leader of research and development at the world’s largest medicinal cannabis company, by revenue
Leading both extraction and processing during his tenure at Trulieve Cannabis Corporation, Dr Polston was responsible for major R&D initiatives, extraction, manufacturing, product development, and external scientific research programmes. Continue →
Standardisation for oral fluid drug testing
New standards for oral fluid testing processes and technologies have been welcomed by The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA), who has long believed that oral fluid testing technology and processes required reviewing and to become a joint Australian and New Zealand standard
The AS/NZS 4760:2019 (CH-039 Detection of Drugs in Oral Fluids) Oral Fluid testing standard by Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand dictates consistency around testing methodology, the quality of devices required, and how labs manage test samples. Continue →
The shocking result of working carelessly with live power
WorkSafe is urging employers to mitigate any risks before carrying out electrical work, after a worker was left with serious electrical burns to his hands
In a decision released by the Invercargill District Court this week, Wallace Murray Electrical Limited was fined $150,000 following the incident, which took place while the worker was replacing a switchboard in October 2017. Continue →
Lifesaving Stop the Bleed campaign launched
A campaign to raise public awareness about life threatening severe bleeding after an accident has been launched today by New Zealand healthcare company Pharmaco Emergency Care, and is being supported by the Medical Director for St John
Stop the Bleed New Zealand aims to educate people about how to best manage a major bleed in the critical minutes before emergency services are able to arrive. Continue →
Deadly dangers of organic solvents
In two separate events, two workers fell unconscious and later died as a likely result of acute exposure to organic solvents, highlighting the serious health and safety risks of using organic solvents in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation and lack of personal protective equipment
One incident occurred when a worker was applying a UV treatment to windows. Continue →
Forklift incident reminder for companies to learn from mistakes
PBT Transport Limited was fined $250,000 following an incident in September 2016 where a worker sustained back injuries, after the freight cage he was working in fell three metres from forklift tines
Two similar incidents had occurred at other PBT Transport sites and WorkSafe says PBT Transport should have used these incidents to significantly improve their processes. Continue →
Wellbeing top of mind for younger farmers
Workload, fatigue, relationships, sleep and time off farm, are some of the main challenges facing younger farmers today, so it is no surprise that farmers under 35 want to invest more in their wellbeing, new research has found
The milestone study, commissioned by rural wellbeing initiative Farmstrong, found that 64% of younger farming men and 77% of women reported that at least one wellbeing issue had a large impact on their life. Continue →
Worker fatally crushed by container swinglift
Ten people in the transport, postal and warehousing sector have died at work in the past two years, with transport company Altranz (2008) Ltd being sentenced after an 18 year old worker was fatally injured
In June 2017, the worker was assisting in the unloading of shipping containers from a truck when he was crushed by the swinglift, a machine designed for lifting containers on and off the truck. Continue →
Managing airborne health risks
Confused about how to tackle airborne health risks? WorkSafe New Zealand principal scientist work-related health Philippa Gibson offers a simple management model and notes some common errors
The common refrain is that health risk management is hard – harder than safety risk management. Continue →
Automated guided vehicles on safe paths
The RSL 400 safety laser scanner not only ensures that automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are operated safely by means of protective and warning fields, but it also simultaneously captures the measurement values for the navigation software
When the triangulation principle is used for navigation, AGVs are usually equipped with two different sensors: one for safety and one for navigation. Continue →
Worker severs thumb on inadequately guarded machinery
A food manufacturing company was sentenced at the Christchurch District Court after a worker had their thumb severed while cleaning a machine used to blend products
Wimpex Limited was fined $240,000 following a WorkSafe investigation, which found Wimpex Limited, did not have adequate guarding in place. Continue →
When tools become unguided missiles
Sometimes the biggest threat to people in a head-on crash is all the things that are behind them and cargo barriers are a good way of preventing an already bad situation from getting much worse
A collision in Hamilton in early February between two vans saw Waikato police warning tradies that unsecured tools and cargo can become painful, if not deadly missiles, in an accident. Continue →
Workplace mental health package launched by Mental Health Foundation
The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) is calling for New Zealand to make 2019 the year we take workplace stress seriously, and work together to address it. Continue →
Company with 20 previous health and safety convictions fined again
A North Island wood processing company with 20 previous health and safety convictions over the last two decades has landed in front of the courts yet again, following an incident which saw a worker suffer serious steam burns
In July 2017 a worker was replacing a heat probe inside of an enclosed Triboard manufacturing press, when the press was switched on, engulfing him in hot steam. Continue →
Exposure to pesticides and metals linked to heightened heart disease risk
Workplace exposure to metals and pesticides is linked to a heightened risk of heart disease, reveals research published online in the journal Heart
Researchers based their findings on survey responses and medical test results for 7404 Hispanic/Latino workers aged 18 to 74 from Miami, Chicago, San Diego, and New York City. Continue →
Four simple ways to improve leadership
One of the biggest myths about leadership, that I hate, is that leadership is difficult. Continue →
Worker injured due to substandard machine guarding
Toilet paper manufacturer Cottonsoft Ltd received a sentencing decision in the Manukau District Court after a worker was hurt on inadequately guarded machinery
The sentencing followed a January 2017 incident where the worker sustained crush injuries, degloving and lacerations after his arms were caught in rollers. Continue →