$330k fine over rig deaths, Handwashing Day, more

Stena Clyde Drilling has been sentenced over the deaths of two offshore rig workers. Meanwhile, today has been declared National Handwashing Day, and the importance of ensuring safety at workplaces where vehicles and people interact has been highlighted.

Stena fined $330k over rig deaths

The operator of the Stena Clyde mobile offshore drilling rig, where there was a double fatality three years ago, was convicted and fined $330,000 by the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria yesterday, having pleaded guilty to the incident last week.

Stena Drilling Australia Pty Ltd conceded failing to implement and maintain systems of work that were safe and without risk to health as required under clause 9(2)(d) of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (OPGGS Act).

The incident occurred during drilling operations in Commonwealth waters in the Bass Strait on 27 August 2012. It resulted in the deaths of floorman Peter Meddens and toolpusher Barry Denholm.

The investigation by NOPSEMA – the offshore petroleum safety regulator – identified that senior management failed to carry out a new risk assessment and toolbox talk after altering the original plan of works.

Further, the organisation conceded that senior members of the drilling crew failed to ensure a revised risk assessment had been performed prior to implementing the new plan.

When sentencing the organisation, the magistrate said that while it had systems in place, “their implementation on the day that gives rise to the charge. Scrupulous adherence to systems is essential. The consequence of any negligence is profound”.

In addition, the magistrate said: “General deterrence is required, sending a message to others in the industry”.

Statement from Stena Drilling

Stena Drilling released the following statement regarding the incident and the sentence handed down:

“Stena Drilling Australia very much regrets the tragic deaths of two highly regarded crew members, Barry Denholm and Peter Meddens, on 27 August 2012. This was a tragedy for the two men’s families and for everyone involved and our sympathy is with Barry’s and Peter’s families, friends and colleagues.”We have cooperated fully with the authority investigating this tragic incident and have taken all measures that we can to prevent a similar incident in the future.”Stena Drilling is committed to maintaining safe working practices on our rigs and we are constantly striving to ensure we have a safe work environment.”

NOPSEMA noted that since the accident the penalty amounts under the OPGGS Act had been significantly increased. The maximum penalty for an operator of a facility negligently breaching their duties relating to occupational health and safety under clause 9(2)(d) of the OPGGS Act is now $1,487,500 for a body corporate, an increase of 170 per cent on the previous maximum penalty of $550,000.

Today is National Handwashing Day – useful poster

To raise awareness of the importance of hand hygiene in germ prevention, today (Sept 4) has been declared National Handwashing Day – and workers have been encouraged to participate.

The campaign is an initiative of child rights organisation Plan International Australia, whose CEO, Ian Wishart, warned that Australians who don’t wash their hands properly (after using a toilet, for instance) run the risk of spreading not only common but nasty viruses (e.g. gastroenteritis, flu and common colds) but also potentially deadly diseases (e.g. diarrhoea, pneumonia, Ebola).

He also warned that many Australian believed quickly rinsing their fingers under a tap without the use of soap was sufficient – but they were wrong.

When properly performed, Wishart said handwashing was the “single most cost-effective health intervention”. He identified seven simple steps involved in effective handwashing:

Wet hands, apply soap and rub palms together until soap is bubbly

Rub the back of both your hands

Interlace fingers and rub hands together

Rub fingertips in palm of both hands

Make a fist and rub your knuckles into your palms, and repeat with the other hand

Rub each finger individually

Rub both wrists in a rotating manner and rinse off the soap.

“It might sound complicated but…it’s pretty simple and takes only a few seconds longer than running your hands under the tap,” Wishart said.

“But for that few seconds more, you’re going a long way to guard yourself from a variety of viruses, germs and bacteria.”

He encouraged employees to download and print out Plan’s mini poste r demonstrating the correct handwashing technique and place it near where their co-workers wash their hands.

Reminder about dangers when vehicles and workers interact

SaWorkSafe WA has reminded businesses to ensure safe systems of work at workplaces where vehicles and pedestrians interact.

The reminder was prompted by a string of recent incidents involving people being injured or killed by vehicles or parts of vehicles such as ramps.

WorkSafe WA director Joe Attard said it was evident that insufficient attention was being paid to this issue, which requires strict rules to be in place to ensure a safe work environment.

Some examples of recent serious and fatal incidents involving vehicles and people are:

A bystander was killed when an operator was manoeuvring a truck in a loading dock. While moving forward, the rear of the truck swung out and crushed the bystander against a wall.

Two people – a bystander and a truck driver – were killed in separate incidents when the hydraulic ramps of low loader trailers fell on them.

A person was hit by the rear of a trailer and crushed by the wheels when a truck was moving slowly around a corner at a workplace.

In several incidents, people suffered serious or fatal injuries while forklifts or cranes were being used to unload vehicles. These people were standing too close to the raised load and were crushed when the load, or part of it, fell.

Several serious injuries were suffered when drivers turned on the ignition while not sitting in the driver’s seat. Vehicles that were in gear moved suddenly and caused injuries.

A front end loader at a workplace reversed and crushed a bystander against a parked vehicle, causing serious injuries.

A member of the public was killed when an earthmoving machine reversed over him. The vehicle was landscaping in a garden bed next to a park where there was no spotter or exclusion zones for pedestrians.

Attard said that while these incidents involved a number of contributing factors, the ‘bottom line’ was a lack of management of the movement and speed of vehicles and a lack of segregation of pedestrians and vehicles.

“I urge employers to ensure the movement and speed of vehicles is managed to minimise the risk of injury and that workplaces are designed and maintained to ensure the safety of operators and others,” he said.

“In addition, safe systems of work, communication systems and signage need to be in place, and everyone at the workplace needs to be adequately trained in these safe systems.

“Lastly, operators and others should not be permitted to work in the fall zone of ramps or underneath vehicles or mobile plant that is not adequately supported.

WorkSafe WA has published a guidance note on safe movement of vehicles at workplaces.

By James Harkness

This article was originally posted on Workplace OHS a part of NSW Business Chamber – Australian Business Consulting and Solutions has a dedicated team of WHS/OHS experts who can assist you with your specific WHS/OHS issues and problems.

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