Task force to target glass industry

A WorkCover NSW task force will commence visits to 60 glass manufacturing businesses throughout Sydney, the Hunter and Illawarra in an effort to improve safety in the industry.

The task force has been formed following a number of recent workplace fatalities, including the death of a worker at Condell Park in July 2011 who was loading a stack of glass sheets onto a truck when the glass fell and crushed him against the vehicle, causing fatal injuries; and the death of a worker at Rosehill in August 2012 who was working inside a shipping container when it was crushed by a timber crate containing glass sheets.

General manager of WorkCover’s Work Health and Safety Division John Watson said the spike in incidents could be due to a number of factors, including the high Australian dollar and businesses buying direct from overseas manufacturers.

“There are a number of risks associated with the manufacturing, storage and handling of glass,” Watson said.

“Over the three years to 2011, there were two deaths and 431 injuries and illnesses in the glass and glass product manufacturing industry at a cost of $7 million to the NSW Workers Compensation Scheme.

“Our data indicates that the unloading of shipping containers, particularly closed-top shipping containers, the loading and unloading of glass sheets from vehicles and the removal of glass sheets from timber packaging are high-risk activities that contribute to work health and safety incidents.

“Further contributing to the increased risk is the bypassing of local glass wholesalers to buy direct from overseas manufacturers, with some businesses undertaking activities they may have no experience in, such as the unloading of shipping containers, particularly closed-top shipping containers.

“Under work health and safety laws, businesses must have controls in place to eliminate or minimise the risks of workers being injured.

“During the visits, Task Force inspectors will check that businesses have safe work systems for the manufacture, storage and handling of glass sheets and that workers have received adequate training and supervision.

“One workplace fatality is too many and WorkCover will work with businesses and workers to reduce or prevent future injuries and deaths in the industry.”

The visits will take place over the next three weeks. During the visits, inspectors will also provide advice and assistance on workers compensation, injury management and return-to-work policies and procedures.

Further information on the storage and handling of glass is available on the WorkCover website, including the handling glass safely poster, storage and handling of glass sheets safety alert and the working with sheet materials safety alert, or by calling 13 10 50.