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Injury Hotspots

By on March 1, 2011

The most common injuries and hazards for people working in the Earth Resources Industry as reported by WORKSAFE VICTORIA.

WORKSAFE Victoria provides details on injury hotspots for most industries. They provide statistics that show at a glance what are the many areas of injury and they also provide what they consider are good solutions to prevent many of the injuries from actually occurring.

The diagram shows the most common injuries and hazards for people working in the Earth Resources Industry, as shown by injury claims.

SAFETY SOLUTIONS

WorkSafe expects employers to have safety solutions in place to protect workers from injury and illness. Below are some common solutions known to reduce the risk of injury; employers should work together with their employees to determine the most effective solutions for their workplace.

Operating vehicles and plant

Hotspots – Back Knee Shoulder Leg/Ankle

  • Construct haulage roads with appropriate material type and size and maintain roads.
  • Service and maintain vehicles to minimise vibration.
  • Equip mobile plant with non-slip steps to prevent slips and falls and ensure appropriate height for first step up to vehicles/plant.
  • Ensure drivers are not fatigued or affected by drugs or alcohol.

Noise

Hotspots – Ears

  • Insulate mobile plant cabins
  • Install silencing controls on equipment.
  • Where exposure cannot be designed or engineered out, provide personal protective equipment (PPE), inform workers of the hazards and conduct health monitoring

Exposure to dust/fumes

Hotspots – Face, respiratory system

  • Ensure that ventilation is adequate in underground environments.
  • Use dust capturing equipment in dust producing processes.
  • Prevent people from entering the mine after blasting until safe.
Most common injury hotspots

Repetitive tasks

Hotspots – Back, knee, shoulder, leg.

  • Mechanise repetitive work such as drilling, hammering or pounding.
  • Select tools and equipment that are adjustable, easy to use and maintain.
  • Ensure plant handles or controls are positioned for easy use/reach.
  • Rotate the tasks requiring similar work over long periods to change postures.
  • Ensure workers take regular breaks.
  • Use mechanical aids (eg automatic in feed) to eliminate bending.

Slips, trips and falls

Hotspots – Knee, face, leg/ankle, arm/wrist.

  • Ensure lighting is adequate for tasks involving walking.
  • Provide sufficient task lighting.
  • Carry out regular ground maintenance and housekeeping.
  • Conduct regular workplace inspections and report/remove any hazards.
  • Ensure the design of handrails, steps and walkways is appropriate.

Using mechanised tools and drills

Hotspots – Arm/wrist, neck

  • Use automated equipment for breaking and shifting rods.
  • Ensure tools have guards.
  • Use the correct hand tools for the task and maintain them.

Heavy lifting & pushing/pulling objects

Hotspots – Back, shoulder, neck, abdomen.

  • Eliminate lifting by using robotics and plant.
  • Locate frequently used or lifted objects at waist height.
  • Minimise lifting by reducing the size and weight of objects without increasing lifting frequency.

An important part of your business is the training of your staff. The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 requires employers to provide such training to employees as is necessary to enable the employees to perform their work in a manner that is safe and without risks to health.

Various regulations made under the Act (eg Hazardous Substances Regulations, Plant Regulations) require employers to provide training to employees on:

  • the nature of hazards
  • the processes used for hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control
  • the need for, and proper use, of measures to control risk
  • safety procedures
  • the use, fit, testing and storage of personal protective equipment.

Having a safe injury free industry is in every ones interest. Making your workplace safer and ensuring that your staff are properly trained will aid your business immensely.

A copy of Injury Hotspots can be downloaded from www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/hotspots

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