Boat manufacturer Subsee Explorer Pty., Ltd., has been fined the maximum amount under federal work health and safety laws of $242,000 for supplying an unseaworthy vessel which sank in the Torres Strait in October 2005 killing five people, according to a report from Australia’s Comcare.

 

 

Proceedings were started by Comcare in December 2009 following the sinking of the Malu Sara on its journey between Badu and Saibai Islands in which two federal workers and three members of the public, including a 5-year-old girl, drowned.(WCxKit)

 

 

The Federal Court  ruled  Subsee breached the statutory duty it owes as a manufacturer and supplier of plant.

 

 

Comcare CEO Paul O’Connor said the sinking of the Malu Sara was tragic because it was preventable.

 

 

“This case demonstrates that Comcare will take strong action in relation to significant breaches of the law, no matter where the breach occurs and that workers in regional and remote areas will be protected under federal law," O’Connor said.

 

 

“This is the second prosecution by Comcare arising out of this tragedy and the first time action has been taken against a manufacturer. It sends a strong message to manufacturers who do not take safety seriously. These prosecutions are also a timely reminder to the community about the importance of getting safety right as we work towards model work health and safety laws in Australia. The court said that this tragedy falls into the worst category of case. It is the maximum fine that could be imposed by the court and I believe it is absolutely appropriate on this occasion,” O’Connor said.

 

 

Subsee, the manufacturer of the Malu Sara, supplied the vessel under contract to the federal government.

 

 

The Comcare investigation found the vessel unseaworthy and not safe for its intended use and that while many reasonable and practicable steps were open to Subsee to ensure the Malu Sara was seaworthy, these steps were not taken.(WCxKit)

 

 

Earlier proceedings against the Department of Immigration and Citizenship for breaches of federal work health and safety laws over this incident were finalized last December. The Federal Court imposed the maximum penalty of $242,000.

 

Posted in Employment Law Issues, Safety and Loss Control, WC in Other Countries (International) |

According to data on labor-force participation from the U.S. Current Population Survey available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics between 2005 and 2010, the number of employees in the U.S. aged 55 to 64 increased 52%. So if an employer has a majority of its workforce in this age range, it is reasonable to say there is an associated risk. But there are positives as well. Below we discuss these issues — positive and negative.

 

 

Many smaller employers and plants can have a great loss run report. Workplaces with a loyal workforce and little turnover in a smaller facility can run well. A smaller plant may have only two to three dozen employees. A majority of these workers likely have been employees for over 15-20 years and remain loyal. They have survived buyouts, layoffs, decreased demand, and economic woes. They took the layoffs and returned back to work when needed. They did whatever tasks  were asked of them. They know how to do multiple jobs, run multiple machines, and handle different orders as needed. (WCxKit)

 

 

These senior-level workers are reliable. They do the safety checks. They can run and maintain their machines in their sleep. They rarely get injured because of years of practicing safety standards. They know not to cut corners.  When one of these workers is injured, they want to get back to work. But often this generation of worker has complicated injuries.

 

 

2. But when older workers are injured it leads to longer, more severe claims
This senior-level workforce often makes high wages.  When they get injured, the wage loss component can account for a big cost associated with lost-time comp claims. Being off work for a month can cost two to three times more than the associated medical costs. By keeping a light duty work program in place, employers can save some expenses.

 

 

Shoulder, knee, and back injuries can be particularly severe and often  require surgery. These body parts withstand decades of work-related wear and tear. The adjuster has to determine if the injury is work related or due to non-occupational factors. Levels of arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and degenerative ligament tearing are factors. What the employee was doing during the injury is also key. Is this a repetitive motion injury or an acute injury? Or is this an injury related to age that happens to occur in the workplace? The golden rule of workers comp is “Just because an injury happens at work does not mean it is actually caused by work duties.”

 

 

If an employee’s back gives out at work, this does not necessarily equate to full granted workers compensation benefits. The adjuster must do a complete, thorough, and often long investigation to maintain ethical accuracy. As long as the adjuster is given all the information needed and questions answered, the correct judgment will be made.

 

 

Older employees may feel an injury is work related. After all they have never had a claim or a surgery until now. Now they are off work and frustrated with the recovery process. They are afraid of surgery. And if the claim is denied, legal costs can mount. This high level of employee will fight, and  will not take a workers compensation denial lightly. Especially if the employee feels entitled to benefits after all the years on the job. These employees will often obtain legal counsel to explore options, so the adjuster must cover all bases.  

 

 

While older workers generally have fewer workplace injuries, they are often more costly to treat. In addition, they tend to be away from work almost twice as long as their younger coworkers. By understanding the aging process and its impact on workers comp claims, adjusters and employers can help better protect employees from injury. Risks and trends should be identified on the work floor. As previously mentioned, tailoring workstations to your workers to encourage safety and production is crucial. Talking to workers to help the employer identify issues before they become a potential hazard is a positive way to use worker feedback.

 

 

New technology can cause frustration and disruption to a daily work routine the worker has done for years. The employee may not be open to this at first. So training and safety are even more crucial. Without it, injuries can and will occur. Follow up with consistent training to reduce the risk and threat of injury.(WCxKit)

 

The most experienced workers can be an employer’s greatest asset. But if they become injured, they can become the greatest insurance cost. By keeping them involved, keeping them trained, and keeping them focused on safety, employers can avoid and prevent injury while and keep older workers on the work floor working.

 

Posted in Claim Management, Employment Law Issues, Risk Management |

 

We often hear about “best practices” for workers compensation claims-handling by the adjuster. Best practices are guidelines used throughout the insurance industry to provide full benefits to the employees while protecting the insurer and the employer from too much being paid on the claim.

 

 

Best practices for the employers work in a similar manner. The following guidelines are designed to assist the employer in controlling the workers comp claims cost while providing the injured employees with all the benefits to which they are entitled.(WCxKit)

 

 

There are three areas where best practices for the employer can make a significant difference. The areas are:
 

Prior to the time an employee reports an injury, there are many things the employer can do to prevent the claim from ever happening. Among these best practices would be:
 

For the employer to control cost and to assist the employee, the following best practices are recommended when an injury does occur:
 

1.       Contact the claims office to confirm receipt of the first report of injury, wage documentation, and any other information that should have been provided to them with the claims report.
2.     Advise the claims adjuster of the employee's prior workers comp claim history, as the approach the adjuster will take on the claim will vary significantly between the employee who has never had an injury and the employee who files his annual summer/hunting season/winter holidays work comp claim.
3.     Make the internal arrangements for the injured employee to return to work on modified duty.
4.     Arrange for the injured employee's supervisor and co-workers to discuss the claim with the adjuster.
5.     Be empathetic with the employee and let the employee know the company cares about the employee.
6.     Maintain regular contact with the employee, either weekly or after each medical visit until the employee is released to return to work.
7.     Coordinate with the employee, the medical provider and the adjuster the employee's return to work.
8.     Monitor the state filings by the adjuster and all claims related paperwork.(WCxKit)  

In summary, the above recommended best practices are not meant to be an all inclusive list of the things the employer can do to control  workers compensation claims. These suggestions and guidelines should be supplemented by other processes the employer has established to handle their workers' compensation claims.

 

 

Posted in Assessment & Diagnostics, Claim Management |

 

A lot of employers strive to be a safer, more productive workplace for their employees. Every business would love to reduce costs and increase profit margins. The cost of claims can account for a big chunk of your monetary losses, especially if you are self-insured or self-administered.

 

 

So how do you get started? Where do you start, or better yet when do you start? The answer is RIGHT NOW, and here is how:
 

Observe your workplace. Go through department statistics and see how they all compare to each other regarding losses. Perhaps 75 percent of your injuries occur in the shipping department. Go down there and talk with the supervisor. Find out what their issues are and why they think injuries are happening. Then, work together to solve the problem.   (WCxKit)

 

 

Another helpful thing to look at is your loss run. Talk to your carrier or adjuster and see if they notice any trends in injuries, or which people are getting injured. Maybe the newer hires account for a lot of the injuries. This may show that a focus needs to be directed towards training and safety right from day one of their employment.

 

 

Look at your business. What do you do? What are the risks involved? You could have risk from several areas, stretching from workers comp to automotive issues with your fleet and the drivers, to liability risk from customers in your store. Break it all down, and start to track your statistics. Identify issues, and work on thinking of ways you can reduce your injuries or occurrences from happening in the first place.

 

If you have identified a few areas in which you could improve by reducing injuries or claims reports, what do you do to fix it?

 

 

The answer lies in the resources you have all around you. The first step is to talk to your carrier. Chances are they have the loss-prevention specialists ready to come help you work with what needs to be fixed, and how to fix it. Ergonomic professionals can be brought in to address your workstations, and suggest possible solutions to reduce exposure.

 

 

Utilize your medical clinic contacts to see if occupational physicians can watch employees doing their work to identify potential issues with certain movements or repetitive motion injuries. Or, maybe it's time to consider having your own in house occupational clinic for a really proactive strategy. You could staff it wiht a paraprofessional. Utilize your local counsel, and have them come in to explain the risks and costs associated with potential serious injuries, automotive accidents, failure to drug test your employees, etc. Any or all of these will help you get to your goal of reducing your exposure.

 

 

Once you have identified what needs to be fixed, and how it should be fixed, now it is time to fix it. Get rid of that old equipment and bring in new equipment that has better safety features. They cost less to maintain and repair, and they are quicker to operate. Most new machines use less energy than the old ones, reducing your utility bills and creating worker ease of operation. Get some padding on the floor for workers to stand on during work at their workstations (also known as “fatigue mats”). This reduces strain on their feet and legs, and reduces body fatigue, potentially making them more productive after long hours at the workplace.

 

 

Whatever the fix may be, get it done — out with the old, in with the new.

 

 

Once new equipment is installed and in place, it is time to measure your reductions. Measure your numbers in a two, four, and six month stretch. Did you see any drop in claim activity? Did claims increase, making your plan backfire? You have to see how you did, and most importantly, you have to give it time. Change is disruptive to employees, but they will get used to it. Give it time, and measure your numbers post-change against the ones you first noticed back when you were figuring out where your risk was coming from.

 

 

After all you have done, you left out the most important thing: To talk to your staff of workers about the changes. How do they feel it impacted their workday? Were the changes helpful, or did they hurt production? How do they feel at the end of the day? Do they feel less sore or are the new workstations worse than the old ones?

 

 

Ask as many questions as you can. This makes your staff feel that their input is important, and taken in to account. After all who better to talk to about the changes that were implemented than those who were directly affected day after day?(WCxKit)

 

 

In summary, it is hard to break old habits, and to accept change. I remember an old supervisor of mine said, “It is hard to fully embrace change. To make things easier, you have to ‘lean’ in to it a bit at a time until you have accepted the entire package of change.” This is true on many levels. Even though it is hard work to find out what your risks are, how to attack them, implementing your changes, measuring your success, and getting worker feedback, in the end it will be worth it. Lean in to the task; don’t try to tackle it all at once.

 

 

 

Posted in Risk Management, Safety and Loss Control |

 

Steve Mason was contracted to replace a flat roof on a double garage at a house in Well Lane, Stock, near Chelmsford, and brought James Waughman with him. While on site,Waughman, 58, of Perry Road, Tiptree, suffered a stroke and multiple injuries after falling to the garage floor through a gap in the rafters. He died three weeks after the incident in July of 2009. (WCxKit)

 

 

 

Posted in Canada Workers Comp |

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.      Children have higher rates of injury and death at work than adults, as shown by a range of research studies.

2.      A substantial number of children experience long working hours that significantly increases the risk of injury.

3.      The largest number of children in hazardous work is in Asia and the Pacific. However, the largest proportion of children in hazardous work relative to the overall number of children in the region is in sub-Saharan Africa.

4.      Most of the decline in the total numbers of children in hazardous work is among girls.

5.      Over 60 percent of children in hazardous work are boys.

6.      Hazardous work is more commonly found in agriculture including fishing, forestry, livestock-herding and aquaculture in addition to subsistence and commercial farming. (WCxKit)

The ILO report concludes that while there is a need to strengthen workplace safety and health for all workers, specific safeguards for adolescents between the minimum age of employment and the age of 18 are needed. ILO says these measures need to be part of a comprehensive approach in which employer and worker organizations and the labor inspectorate have particularly critical parts to play.

 

Posted in WC in Other Countries (International) |

 

When reviewing medical records or looking at medical notes from an injured worker’s doctor, some of the diagnosis wording can be confusing. This is especially true with strain-type injuries. The word “exacerbation” and “aggravation” can mean the same thing in certain scenarios, and they can carry different meanings in other scenarios. Adjusters are always looking for the physicians involved in work comp to differentiate between these two words, and how they apply to the injury of the employee. We explain these words, and their meanings, below; however, keep in mind these definitions are general and can differ in different jurisdictions.  (WCxKit)

 

 

Physicians use this term when they talk about a temporary flaring-up of a pre-existing medical condition, generally some form of arthritis. This could be degenerative disc disease, osteophytes, bone spurring, spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, etc. Everyone has a certain degree of arthritis in their joints and in their spines, and some have it worse than others, regardless of age. In fact, there are many people in the 18-30 age range with spines that look like they should be well over 60 years old. Nobody is really sure what contributes to this, but a lot of it has to do with genetics, activity level, and the demands of just plain day-to-day living.(WCxKit)

 

 

When a doctor states your worker “has an exacerbation of pre-existing degenerative disc disease” it is just a way of saying their arthritis has flared up. The real question when it comes to work comp is, “When is this exacerbation subsided? Disability guidelines state that an exacerbation will resolve within a period of two to eight weeks, depending on the level of exacerbation and the level of the pre-existing conditions. So, if someone has a decent looking X-ray without a lot of arthritic conditions, they would be on the lower end of that scale, whereas someone with a higher degree of arthritis would be on the higher end of that scale.

 

 

Adjusters will always ask doctors if they are continuing to treat the exacerbation, or are they treating the pre-existing arthritis? Doctors often tiptoe around this subject, since they don’t know how bad the worker was hurting prior to the injury. Adjusters question treatment and use tools such as disability guidelines and the IME in their efforts to continually investigate and evaluate or "adjust" the claim. Therefore if there is a question about continuing treatment, the adjuster will request an IME (Independent Medical Evaluation), and the IME doctor will decide. Most times the future coverage of medical treatment will hinge on the result of the IME and the case either moves on or becomes disputed based on that result.

 

 

When we start to talk about aggravation of pre-existing arthritis, this is another level beyond exacerbation. Aggravation, in the minds of most physicians, means you have somehow worsened a pre-existing condition. This does not mean the work injury actually pathologically changed the diagnosis and location of arthritis; it just made it worse somehow. When the patient has had multiple types of treatment and weeks of therapy, and the end result is the worker being no better off six weeks later than they were at the time of the injury, doctors will lean towards using an “aggravation” diagnosis since the worker has failed to improve with conservative treatment.

 

 

In the world of work comp, this is worrisome to the adjuster. The general public has never had an MRI for fun, and once they get an MRI for the first time it will probably show a handful of arthritic problems, usually most of which aren’t traumatic in nature. The worker will tell the adjuster “I never had any back problems prior to my injury at work, so work must have caused all of these issues,” That is not exactly 100 percent true, since most forms of work do not actually cause arthritis in multiple levels of the spine, but a work incident can flare them up so bad that it is hard to get them to calm back down.

 

 

Useful again is our friend the IME. Adjusters will turn to an IME doctor to ask if any ongoing pain or problems stem from said injury, and if the IME doctor does relate it back to the injury, what treatment is needed to calm it back down to where the worker is functional again like they once were? Truthfully, only the injured worker knows what degree of back problems they had prior to this injury. We all get sore and have aches and pains. But, we all do not run out to get MRIs and track the progress of our issues, unless you do have some actual serious medical problems going on that are not occupational in nature.

 

 

This issue is from the adjuster’s standpoint. Some strain-type injuries will be compensable, and carriers will be on the hook to provide some medical care for these injured workers, if the claim is compensable. But as the worker fails to get better, the adjuster will dig deeper and see what issues are present on X-ray or MRI that are not occupational in nature. Then they have to turn to the doctors to ask, “Given the level of pre-existing arthritis in this worker’s spine, is this an exacerbation, or an aggravation, of this present arthritis? Do they need further treatment for their work injury or are the ongoing symptoms not occupational in nature? If there is an exacerbation, what further treatment is needed and for how long? If it is an aggravation, how is the pre-existing condition aggravated and how can you prove that using objective medical evidence?”

 

 

The only way to cleanly get out of a claim like this is to rely on the mechanism of injury. If a person picks up a box, feels a pop in the back; their legs give out and they fall to the ground in pain and have to be rushed to the hospital and need to undergo emergency surgery for a severe disc herniation, then chances are you have little to no defense on that claim.

 

 

But, if a worker picks up a box, feels pain, reports it to their boss a week later, then two weeks later goes to the clinic for treatment, then you have a lot of avenues to travel down to try and fight that claim. This is why prompt reporting to your carrier is important. If the worker tells the adjuster that they told their boss right after the injury, and it took their boss two weeks to call the claim in so the worker could finally go to the clinic, that case will not have a great defense for the adjuster to use. We say this a million times, and it does not hurt to say it once more: call those claims in as soon as you are told of an injury! The defense of the claim may depend on it!  (WCxKit)

 

 

In conclusion, adjusters are constantly reviewing medical records to determine the exacerbation versus aggravation issue, and depending on what that answer is, that will provide the future of the claim. Costs of medical treatment are always rising, and carriers hate to pay for treatment that they should not have paid for. Expert review of medical records is a must, and should be done on all claims by the adjuster and their IME physician. The treating doctors have to be pushed to show what they are treating, why they are treating it, and how it relates back to the original injury. If they can’t or will not answer, then it is time for an IME doctor to step in.

 

 

Posted in Assessment & Diagnostics, Claim Management, Communication with Employees, TPA and Claims Administration, WC 101 |

Every year thousands of employees are injured in the course and scope of their employment. The goal of our blog is to help find ways to reduce those numbers. The majority of these injuries are preventable. There are a lot of resources your carrier can provide to help you reduce your claims dollars spent on workers compensation medical expenses and lost time wages from work due to occupational injuries.

 

 

We discuss some of the more popular mechanisms of injury below:

 

 

 

These types of injuries can result in fractures, dislocations, and head injuries. These types of injuries are also the most expensive to resolve, some of them resulting in the need for future medical expense and permanent occupational restrictions. Slip/fall prevention can span a variety of areas. Anti-slip coatings on floors can help, as well as strips on stairs, proper handrails on staircases, and well-placed carpets or mats by doorways.

 

 

Depending on the climate in which you are located, there are several inexpensive ways to help curb your exposure for slip/fall injuries. Make your staff wear anti-slip footwear or proper boots if they work in an outside environment. Also solicit employee feedback to find out where the problem areas are and ways to fix them. Like we always say, you would be amazed at what your employees can tell you about your workplace hazards, and the cost of obtaining that information is free.

 

 

Back injuries account for more lost work time than any other workplace injury. Often, the source is improper lifting.

 

 

Have your employees take a course in proper lifting mechanics and proper body posturing. Look at your loss runs to see which departments have the highest injury occurrence to see what corrections need to be made. Try to palletize your inventory at floor level or just above floor level. Get workstation ergonomic specialists in to see if they are properly fitted for your employees.

 

 

Get your incoming materials to come in smaller quantities so unloading inventory is not as hazardous to your staff. See if rigid plastic tubs can be used instead of cardboard to reduce the risk of handle breaks while in the course of lifting. Again, ask your employees where the problems are and ask their ideas for making their day to day work easier to perform with less risk involved.

 

 

Musculoskeletal disorders result in over $45 billion in loss wages and productivity costs. Disorganized office workstations and poor ergonomic practices are common contributors.

 

 

You can prevent these hazards by updating your workstations. Get adjustable desks and chairs. Use ergonomic computer stations and proper computer techniques. Remember your workers are utilizing your office stations hour after hour and day after day. What starts out as a small issue can compound into a big problem, for which the only repair is surgical intervention. Your carrier will have resources to provide in how you can get your workplace evaluated for proper ergonomics and workflow.

 

 

Take the time and invest in your own company by seeing where your problem areas are and taking the time to fix them now. If you choose to ignore it, the injuries will come. Reduced productivity and lost time away from work with added medical expense will cost far more than the costs associated with having a proper ergonomic work environment for your employees.

 

 

It is no surprise in the winter months that injury claims increase, especially for those in the Midwest and Northeast portions of the U.S. Snow, ice, and freezing rain contribute to a lot of these injuries, and the results are falls that lead to broken bones, contusions, and potential closed head injuries. When you ask what happened, the common answer is “I couldn’t see any ice there but as soon as I stepped in the area I fell right down to the ground hard.” Black ice is becoming a major contender for the main cause of falls in early winter and early spring.

 

 

Employees coming into the building from the parking lot often drag in snow with them, which melts and becomes water on the floor, which another employee may not see and then falls in. Make sure your parking lots are properly plowed and salted at all times. Check your entrances and make sure the mats are clean and dry and in good working order. Be sure to open communication with your workers so they can report a problem in a stairwell or doorway. This can prevent a serious injury from happening.

 

 

Falls from ladders injure of 20,000 American workers annually. Some injuries result in permanent disability and even fatalities. Safety starts before the ladder is even mounted. Teach your employees what they can do to avoid becoming injured.

 

 

Make sure your ladders are in proper working order, and that employees know how to lock them in place properly and mount them correctly to prevent the ladder from falling over. Be sure your employees know how to operate while using scaffoldings and be sure to have someone inspect them for repair before someone falls.

 

 

Since height is involved with ladders and scaffoldings, the injuries sustained are often more severe than others. Have an outside vendor come in to inspect and maintain your equipment to make sure it is in proper working order. Ask your carrier if they have resources at their disposal to recommend better, more functional ladders for the type of work you do at your facility. Stop these injuries from even happening by being proactive and safety-conscious when working at heights.(WCxKit)

 

 

In conclusion, these are the top five mechanisms of injury often seen in the workplace. Be addressing them properly and following up with ways to correct the problems, you not only make your workplace safer for your employees, but you could stop a potential severe injury from occurring in the first place.

 

For more information, try:  http://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/risk-control/risk-management-resources

 

 

Posted in Claim Management, Risk Management, Safety and Loss Control |

There has reportedly been a good response to the call for submissions to the Asbestos Innovation Fund which was advertised in all major Australian metropolitan and regional newspapers recently.

 

 

According to information from Comcare, the $1.5 million fund was launched in December 2010 by the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs, and Workplace Relations, Sen. Chris Evans.(WCxKit)

 

 

The Asbestos Innovation Fund is seeking research projects, new initiatives, programs that prevent or better manage asbestos exposure or improve treatment for asbestos disease sufferers.

 

 

It provides funding to assist with research, treatment, and education programs or practical initiatives. Applications for the fund are open until Sept 25, 2011.

 

 

Comcare is underwriting this fund as part of its role to improve the management of the Commonwealth’s common law asbestos responsibilities.

 

 

Committee chairman, Comcare’s chief actuary Bruce Watson, said the program is designed to encourage development of practical programs and research that raise awareness of asbestos, improve its management and removal, or improve treatment and support for sufferers and their families.

 

 

He said a wide range of programs may be supported by the fund, including communication and education campaigns, workplace training solutions, skills development programs, and the development of warning and safety systems.

 

 

Watson said the fund could also include safe removal systems, medical research into improved diagnostic, treatment and patient care practices, and approaches to systems of compensation and support.(WCxKit)

 

 

Further information about the Asbestos Innovation Fund, including forms and the application processes, are available on the Comcare Web site at: http://www.comcare.gov.au/.

 

Posted in Risk Management, WC in Other Countries (International) |

 

British satellite TV installation firm Foxtel, Ltd, has been prosecuted following the death of a worker who fell while carrying out work on a roof, according to a report from Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

 

 

Engineer Noel Corbin, 29, from New Addington, Croydon, suffered fatal head injuries after falling 13.5 meters (44.3 ft.) from a four-story house onto a side patio in Belsize Park, London Feb. 3, 2008. (WCxKit)

 

 

The Old Bailey heard safety equipment found in Corbin's van was unsuitable for the type of work he was undertaking.

 

 

An HSE investigation after the incident exposed a number of failings at Foxtel, Ltd., including failure to ensure work at height was properly planned, organized, and monitored.

 

 

The Old Bailey heard Corbin was working on a satellite TV dish on the property's roof apex and had accessed the roof via a dormer window. Before his fall he was also seen working on another satellite dish located on a flat roof. Evidence suggests Corbin fell from the flat roof itself or while walking across the sloping roof.

 

 

The court was told when Corbin was first employed by Foxtel, Ltd., references were not sourced from his previous employer, nor were any training certificates provided. Corbin was also not accompanied on any initial visits so therefore no assessment could be made of his competence.

 

 

As a result, the HSE investigation concluded as soon as Corbin stepped onto the roof, he was at high risk of slipping, tripping or falling. Most of the work on satellite dishes Corbin undertook involved work at height on large properties with more than two stories.

 

 

Foxtel, Ltd., based in Wates Way, Brentwood, Essex, pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Today, the firm is no longer trading and was shown to have no assets. The court fined the company £1 ($1.65).(WCxKit)

 

 

Falls from height remain the most common cause of workplace fatality. In 2008/09 there were 35 fatalities, 4,654 major injuries and a further 7,065 injuries that caused the injured person to be off work for three or more days .

Posted in Safety and Loss Control, WC in Other Countries (International) |