WHSQ notified 22 FATALITIES to Safe Work Australia for the period July to December 2013, involving 16 workers and six bystanders.

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1 Department of Justice and Attorney-General Workplace Health and Safety Queensland July - December 2013 Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) reports monthly to Safe Work Australia about notified fatalities that have occurred at a workplace or resulted from a work activity. This report includes fatalities resulting from work related trauma at the workplace only a full explanation is provided at the end of the report. Main issues WHSQ notified 22 FATALITIES to Safe Work Australia for the period July to December 2013, involving 16 workers and six bystanders. The AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHING sector had the single highest number of fatalities (seven). MALES comprised the majority of fatalities (18 of 22). BRISBANE NORTH AND SUNSHINE COAST had the highest number of fatalities (six), followed by and (five each). The most common nature of injury for fatalities during the period was BRAIN AND INTERCRANIAL INJURIES (eight) followed by MULTIPLE AND UNSPECIFIED INJURIES (five). VEHICLE INCIDENT (eight) and BEING HIT BY MOVING OBJECTS (three) were the two most common mechanism groups. FARMERS and FARM WORKERS and BYSTANDERS were the most common occupation groups (six each). Summary tables The charts and graphs in this summary report provide fatality data for the period July to December Fatalities by gender 18 male 4 female

2 Fatalities by industry Agriculture, forestry and fishing Transport, postal and warehousing Arts and recreation services Electricity, gas, water and waste services Retail trade Construction Rental, hiring and real estate services Other Fatalities by region 5 Central Queensland and Wide Bay 4 Brisbane North and Sunshine Coast 6 South West Queensland 2 Brisbane South and Gold Coast 5 Fatalities by incident mechanism Vehicle incident Being hit by moving objects Falls on the same level Contact with electricity Being hit by an animal Unspecified mechanisms of incident Falls from height Explosion Being trapped by moving machinery or equipment Being hit by falling objects Notified fatalities Report July - December 2013 Workplace Health and Safety Queensland page 2 of 6

3 Fatalities by incident nature Electrocution, shock from electric current 1 Effects of weather, exposure, air pressure and other external causes, not elsewhere classified 1 Internal injury of chest, abdomen and pelvis 2 Injury to nerves and spinal cord 1 Brain and intracranial injuries 8 Fractures 4 Multiple and unspecified injuries 5 Fatalities by occupation 6 Farmers and farm workers 6 Bystander 4 Truck drivers 2 Jockey 1 Fishing hand 1 Other construction and mining labourers 1 Sportspersons (professional race car driver) 1 Welder Narratives Narrative data provides a basic description of what caused the fatal incident. This data can be used to identify common factors that bring about fatal incidents and therefore the types of risks that need to be identified and controlled. The below summaries of fatal incidents indicate circumstances that should be avoided in a workplace. Note: Industry coding of fatalities in this report is based on the incident location, not the industry of the employer. These may be different. Notified fatalities Report July - December 2013 Workplace Health and Safety Queensland page 3 of 6

4 Agriculture, forestry and fishing A fisherman drowned while trout fishing. He was found in the water in full wet weather gear, beside the boat, with his legs tangled in fishing line. A stock hand rode a quad bike into a closed gate after dark. He was not wearing a helmet and died as a result of head injuries. The owner of a cattle property was mustering cattle using a quad bike. He was found unconscious, not wearing a helmet, with head injuries and the quad bike on top of him. He was taken to hospital where he later died of his injuries. Transport A truck driver died when a tyre on his vehicle blew out, causing his truck to crash. A truck driver standing on top of a trailer to load molasses fell from the trailer onto concrete below. A cyclist was crushed by a truck when it overturned as the driver attempted to go under a bridge that was too low. A cyclist was struck by a truck s hydraulic leg, which extended while in transit. A farmer was loading a bull into the rear of a transport vehicle when the bull attacked the farmer, forcing him repeatedly against the metal rails of the yard. The farmer lost consciousness and was unable to be revived. A farmer fell off a quad bike while riding side-saddle. He was not wearing a helmet and was found in a serious condition with head injuries. He later died from his injuries. South West Queensland A dairy farmer was crushed between the hydraulic ram of the tractor and a forklift attachment, which he was preparing to remove from the loader arm. A round hay bale had been placed onto the fork tines to transfer weight from the spring loaded locking pins on the square shaped receiver saddles, and the fork attachment was elevated on the loader arms to place it in a position where the locking pins were more easily accessible. A farmer mustering cattle using a quad bike struck a tree stump hidden in short grass. He was thrown from the quad bike, which landed on top of him. A man was standing outside the driver s side of a truck cabin, doing some repairs, when he leant inside and started the truck with the key. The truck was in gear and the handbrake was not applied. The truck moved forward and dragged the man, crushing him between the truck and a shipping container. Arts and recreation services A motorcyclist failed to negotiate a bend in the road and was thrown from the bike, which landed on top of him. He later died in hospital from the injuries he received. A jockey died when he was thrown from the camel he was riding, landing on his head. The camel also fell on top of him. South West Queensland A professional racing car driver was killed when his vehicle continued straight at a turn, veered off the track and crashed. A jockey fell from the horse she was riding and was taken to hospital where she died. Notified fatalities Report July - December 2013 Workplace Health and Safety Queensland page 4 of 6

5 Construction A road maintenance worker died when he was hit by a reversing truck when he walked behind it. A worker died from an electric shock when he was installing facia and guttering. The power was not turned off and there were exposed wires and live parts. Electricity, gas, water and waste services A member of the public was crushed while he was removing the wheels and tyres of a vehicle at a waste facility. The man was rescued and removed from underneath the vehicle but died a short time later from his injuries. Rental, hiring and real estate services A member of the public fell down a cement stairwell, sustaining head injuries. She died in hospital 10 days later. Retail trade A member of the public attempted to enter a retail store through automatic opening sliding glass doors. The doors malfunctioned and the customer struck the doors and fell backwards, hitting her head on the ground as she fell. She was transported to hospital where she passed away. Other A man was repairing a leaking fuel tank on a boat when the fuel tank exploded. The man died from his injuries. Considerations Vehicle incidents, being hit by moving or falling objects, and falls from a height were the most common mechanisms of injury in this period. Below are important considerations for any business and worker where these hazards may pose a risk to workers health and safety. Vehicle incidents Fatalities and serious injuries as a result of vehicle incidents are too common in Queensland workplaces. These are important considerations when operating vehicles: Maintain vehicles regularly. Handbrake warning devices may be appropriate. Vehicle choice consider if a quad bike is the best vehicle for the task. Wear a properly fitting helmet and look out for rough or uneven ground when operating farm vehicles. Implement a traffic management plan that includes signage, training and well managed safety systems. For more information, download copies of the Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2013 and the How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice For more information about quad bikes, see Quad bikes in the workplace. Being hit by moving or falling objects Workers being hit by moving or falling objects continue to be a common mechanism of serious injury and death in Queensland workplaces. It is necessary to identify hazards in the workplace (things and situations) that could potentially cause harm to people. Hazards generally arise from the following aspects of work and their interaction: physical work environment equipment, materials and substances used work tasks and how they are performed work design and management. Consider and implement ways to eliminate or manage these risks by applying the hierarchy of risk control measures. Controls such as traffic management plans, demarcated exclusion zones, safe work method statements, plant and equipment maintenance and worker training and instruction may be appropriate. Develop safe systems of work to ensure that any person operating mobile plant is competent and holds the appropriate licence. For more information about managing work health and safety risks in your workplace download a copy of the How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice Notified fatalities Report July - December 2013 Workplace Health and Safety Queensland page 5 of 6

6 Falls from height Falls are a major cause of death and serious injury in Australian workplaces. Fall hazards are found in many workplaces where work is carried out at height, for example stacking shelves, working on a roof, unloading a large truck, accessing silos or in high rise construction. Falls can also occur at ground level into holes, for example excavations, trenches or service pits. It is important to identify all locations and tasks that could cause injury due to a fall. This includes access and egress to and from the areas where work is to be carried out. Tasks that need particular attention are those carried out: on any structure or plant being constructed or installed, demolished or dismantled, inspected, tested, repaired or cleaned on a fragile surface (for example, cement sheeting roofs, rusty metal roofs, fibreglass sheeting roofs and skylights) on a potentially unstable surface (for example, areas where there is potential for ground collapse) using equipment to work at an elevated level (for example, when using elevating work platforms or portable ladders) on a sloping or slippery surface where it is difficult for people to maintain their balance (for example, on glazed tiles, a dew-covered roof or an angled roof) near an unprotected open edge (for example, on a commercial or housing construction or near incomplete stairwells) near a hole, shaft or pit into which a worker could fall (for example, trenches, lift shafts or service pits). For more information about how to identify the risk of falls from height, download a copy of the Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice About this report The fatalities data set used in this report includes fatalities resulting from a work related traumatic injury, as defined by legislation. This may involve: employees self-employed workers/contractors fatalities occurring at a private residence where work activity was involved, such as a person working from home or work carried out on a house by a contractor fatalities caused by work where the death occurs in hospital rather than at the workplace homicide where there is a close nexus with work work related road traffic fatalities on public bystanders, such as visitors to a workplace, who die as a consequence of work activity. The categories listed below are not included in the fatalities data set, regardless of whether work related factors can be identified: commuting fatalities (travelling to or from work) injuries where the worker died due to medical intervention natural causes such as heart attacks and strokes (except where a work related injury was the direct cause of the heart attack or stroke) diseases including cancers and mesothelioma self-inflicted injuries (suicide). The fatalities detailed in this report are those that occurred between July and December 2013 that WHSQ reported to Safe Work Australia. Further investigation of any of these incidents could reveal additional information that may deem an incident to be non-work related. WHSQ reports any changes to notified fatalities to Safe Work Australia. Notes The approximate 100 workplace fatalities per year regularly compensated by the Queensland workers compensation scheme includes injuries due to commuting fatalities (travelling to or from work) and diseases in addition to fatalities resulting from work related traumatic injuries. For more information on workplace health and safety, visit or call us on Find us on The State of Queensland (Department of Justice and Attorney-General) 2014 Copyright protects this document. The State of Queensland has no objection to this material being reproduced, but asserts its right to be recognised as author of the original material and the right to have the material unaltered. The material presented in this publication is distributed by the Queensland Government as an information source only. The State of Queensland makes no statements, representations, or warranties about the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this publication, and the reader should not rely on it. The Queensland Government disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including, without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs you might incur as a result of the information being inaccurate or incomplete in any way, and for any reason. AEU 14/5330 Notified fatalities Report July - December 2013 Workplace Health and Safety Queensland page 6 of 6