Safety Bulletins

Authorised Visitors - Service Providers

FIPS 7957 31/05/16 - Medical Treatment Injury (four stiches): A fuel delivery person was struck on the left of her head when the lid of the fuel cap guard fell. She was not wearing a hard hat.

While the investigation identified most safety processes were followed, it did point to a lack of monitoring and some unsafe acts! For example, the lid (made of steel plate) had not been properly secured from falling. Also, the driver (Service provider) was not wearing a hard hat mistakenly, she didn't think she had to!

The diesel tank, stationed away from the active work area, was not immediately visible to the working harvesting crew. In terms of duties, inductions had been completed and the Service Provider did have a forest entry permit. Both of the inductions discussed PPE and when this should put it on, however, the driver was confused about safe area and nobody was around to ask.

This incident has prompted the Zero Tolerance Committee (ZTC) to look closely at the overlapping duties that exist between the Forest Manager, the Contractor and Authorised Visitors and Service Providers (AVSP).

 Here are the questions the ZTC are working with: Had all of the duties been taken care of and every reasonably practicable step taken?

The HSWA section 37 states "A PCBU who manages or controls a workplace must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the workplace, the means of entering and exiting the workplace, and anything arising from the workplace are without risks to the health and safety of any person."

View this article in Safety Bulletin 101