AN investigation by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland into a locomotive derailment at the Isis Central Sugar Mill on June 24 has failed to identify any breach of safety laws.
The investigation was launched after the loco, towing 28 bins of cane, left the Adies Road tracks just before the bridge under Kevin Livingstone Drive.
Driver Geoffrey Martin, his offsider and a trainee driver jumped to safety, with all sustaining minor injuries.
A spokesperson for WHSQ said while no breach was detected, the department had worked with mill operators to identify strategies to minimise the potential for future similar events.
“WHSQ is also actively working with the Australian Sugar Milling Council and its members to look at ways to continuously improve safety with cane rail and cane transport in the sugar industry,” the spokesperson said.
Isis Central Sugar Mill general manager John Gorringe said the investigation had confirmed the company’s internal investigation, which showed there were no defects with the equipment or rail track involved.
“The mill has worked with employees and introduced a number of measures to reduce the possibility of a similar incident,” Mr Gorringe said.
Mr Martin, who was subsequently sacked from his employment for alleged breaches of company policies, said he still had not heard from WHSQ.
Since the incident, Fair Work Australia has mediated in a complaint Mr Martin made against the mill, the outcome of which must remain confidential.
“We reached a mutual agreement with no discrimination on either part,” Mr Martin said.
News Mail
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Australia ahead on health and productivity management
Australian governments have shown real leadership on workplace health and wellbeing, according to Sean Sullivan, president and chief executive of the US-based Institute for Health and Productivity Management.
In an address to the Australian Health and Productivity Management Congress in Melbourne this week, Mr Sullivan praised governments in Australia for grasping the importance of health and productivity management.
“The idea is no where as sharply focused nor widely adopted than it is right here in Australia,” he said.
“I commend what is happening here.”
Mr Sullivan singled out the Victorian Government and its WorkHealth initiative as a leader in the corporate health and wellness sector. The program was designed by WorkSafe Victoria to improve the health and wellbing of all Victorian workers and includes voluntary and confidential health checks.
“I’m really impressed with what is going on in the state of Victoria,” Mr Sullivan said.
“WorkHealth is an amazing example from the public sector.”
Mr Sullivan said the challenge for employers and occupational health and safety professionals was to look beyond ‘safety’ and instead focus on enhancing and protecting the wellbeing of employees.
“Safety is not the biggest issue anymore,” he told Government News.
“The biggest challenge is getting employers to see that employees are their human capital and the health of the human capital is just as important as the knowledge or technology base.
“They know what they need to have to run a successful enterprise, but health has not yet made it into that category.”
Australia’s efforts in workplace health and wellness were also praised by Dr Toby Ford, president of the Health and Productivity Institute of Australia (HAPIA).
“In Australia we’re doing health and wellness really well,” Dr Ford told congress delegates.
He said health and wellbeing was “the single greatest legacy an employer can give an employee”.
However, he argued for a voluntary, not statutory, approach to health and productivity management. Empowering the individual to take control of their health and wellbeing is the “winning ticket”, he said.
“Ownership of health destiny is really the vital part of what we’re doing here.
“We should motivate people and encourage them to participate.”
If you are looking at improving the health and wellbeing of workers in the workplace, then now is the time to consider a program to assist workers in identifying and addressing health issues. Make this a part of your WHS Plan. Improving the health of workers increases their productivity and effectiveness at the workplace and research has shown a direct correlation to improve safety performance.
Government News
In an address to the Australian Health and Productivity Management Congress in Melbourne this week, Mr Sullivan praised governments in Australia for grasping the importance of health and productivity management.
“The idea is no where as sharply focused nor widely adopted than it is right here in Australia,” he said.
“I commend what is happening here.”
Mr Sullivan singled out the Victorian Government and its WorkHealth initiative as a leader in the corporate health and wellness sector. The program was designed by WorkSafe Victoria to improve the health and wellbing of all Victorian workers and includes voluntary and confidential health checks.
“I’m really impressed with what is going on in the state of Victoria,” Mr Sullivan said.
“WorkHealth is an amazing example from the public sector.”
Mr Sullivan said the challenge for employers and occupational health and safety professionals was to look beyond ‘safety’ and instead focus on enhancing and protecting the wellbeing of employees.
“Safety is not the biggest issue anymore,” he told Government News.
“The biggest challenge is getting employers to see that employees are their human capital and the health of the human capital is just as important as the knowledge or technology base.
“They know what they need to have to run a successful enterprise, but health has not yet made it into that category.”
Australia’s efforts in workplace health and wellness were also praised by Dr Toby Ford, president of the Health and Productivity Institute of Australia (HAPIA).
“In Australia we’re doing health and wellness really well,” Dr Ford told congress delegates.
He said health and wellbeing was “the single greatest legacy an employer can give an employee”.
However, he argued for a voluntary, not statutory, approach to health and productivity management. Empowering the individual to take control of their health and wellbeing is the “winning ticket”, he said.
“Ownership of health destiny is really the vital part of what we’re doing here.
“We should motivate people and encourage them to participate.”
If you are looking at improving the health and wellbeing of workers in the workplace, then now is the time to consider a program to assist workers in identifying and addressing health issues. Make this a part of your WHS Plan. Improving the health of workers increases their productivity and effectiveness at the workplace and research has shown a direct correlation to improve safety performance.
Government News
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