Boral Resources (Vic) Pty Ltd has been fined $30,000 and ordered to pay $142,000 in court costs for illegally accepting and storing 110,000 tonnes of industrial waste without a licence at a disused quarry site following an investigation by Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA).

Boral was fined without conviction after pleading guilty in the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to occupying a scheduled premises and storing waste without a licence. The Court also issued a publication order requiring Boral to publish details of the offence in several major newspapers.

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WorkSafe inspectors have begun a month-long blitz targeting dangerous and sub-standard demolition work.
Inspectors expect to visit more than 800 demolition and construction sites across the state to ensure work is carried out as safely as possible.

(Source: WorkSafe Victoria)

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WA’s Department of Mines and Petroleum has issued a safety alert on angle grinders after receiving 28 injury notifications for workers who were using either a four- or five-inch angle grinders; since 1 January 2016.

(Source: Government of Western Australia, Department of Mines and Petroleum)

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Maintaining dust control equipment is the key to compliance, but these days it’s tough enough to maintain production equipment much less dust controls. Poor maintenance is the largest contributing factor to non-compliance and a major cause of citations and fines.

(Source: Aggregates Manager)

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A plant operator heard an unusual noise coming from the run of mine (ROM) feed hopper. On inspection, the plant operator found the feed hopper had collapsed onto the plant feed conveyor.

(Source: NSW Government, Department of Industry, Resources Regulator)

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CMPA is pleased to announce the release of the Noise Management Guideline on 20 October 2016 which adds to the current collection of CMPA Guidelines (see www.cmpavic.asn.au for further information and purchase).

Almost 50 per cent of Australian employees will experience some form of workplace bullying during their lives and between 5 and 7 per cent will have been bullied in the past six months, according to the latest research from beyondblue. https://www.headsup.org.au/ (Source: Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

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Incident: Death of a worker at an underground opal mine about 4 pm on Friday, 4 November 2016.
Circumstances: While attempting to climb out of a shaft sump, a worker was fatally struck by a large steel bucket. (Source: Department of Industry, Resources and Energy – NSW)

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1. What is Hand Arm Vibration and Whole Body Vibration?
2. What are the health effects of exposure to vibration?
3. What industries are impacted?
4. What can I do to protect my employees and my business?
(Source: JTA: News Views and Reviews)

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27/28.10.16     Construction Materials Industry Conference (CMIC16) conference attended by Dr Elizabeth Gibson

03.11.16          Earth Resources Ministerial Advisory Council meeting, Melbourne, attended by Dr Elizabeth Gibson