Top tips for keeping your workplace out of danger

FARMING and agriculture are among the most dangerous fields of work in Australia.

But while the wine industry is part of this ‘risky business’, fatalities have remained low with just three deaths reported in 10 years to 2012.

That’s according to independent statutory agency Safe Work Australia which is responsible for improving occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation arrangements across the nation.

While the number of deaths in the wine industry are minor when compared to other industries, there were more than 3000 serious claims accepted for compensation between 2000 and 2012.

Safe Work Australia says the number of claims decreased from a high of 350 in 2005-06 due to greater awareness of health and safety in the workplace.

“Businesses have a legal obligation to health and safety in the workplace to minimise the risk to their workers,” the company tells Grapegrower & Winemaker.

“This includes reducing hazards from plants, machinery, chemicals and manual tasks.

“It’s important that policies are put in place to ensure wine businesses can continue to meet these obligations and operate safely and efficiently.”

RESPONSIBILITIES OF AN EMPLOYER

An employer has the primary duty of care under the Work Health and Safety Act (WHS).

This duty requires the employer to ensure workers are not exposed to health and safety risks arising from the business.

“They must do this by eliminating risks to health or safety or, if this is not practicable, minimising risks as much as possible,” Safe Work Australia says.

In meeting this duty, the employer must ensure the following:

•    The provision and maintenance of a working environment that is safe and without risks to health, including safe access to and from the workplace

•    The provision and maintenance of plant, structure and systems of work that are safe and do not pose health risks (e.g. providing effective guards on machines and regulating the pace and frequency of work)

•    The safe use, handling, storage and transport of plant, structure and substances

•    The provision of adequate facilities for the welfare of workers

•    The provision of information, instruction, training or supervision to workers

•    The health of workers and the conditions of the workplace are monitored to prevent injury or illness.

The WHS laws have been adopted in all jurisdictions except WA and Victoria, though the current laws in these states include similar requirements.

These guidelines apply to crushers or de-stemmer augers, must pumps, bottling equipment and any other plant or chemical used in the workplace.

IDENTIFYING AND PREVENTING A SAFETY HAZARD

Some of the most common hazards faced by workers in vineyards and wineries include operating equipment on hillsides and uneven terrain, pushing and lifting heavy bins, barrels, pumps, hoses or mixers, using pruning shears and picking knives, working with hazardous chemicals and entering confined spaces.

A worker or employer can prevent most workplace injuries and illnesses if they identify workplace hazards and take steps to control them.

This involves eliminating the hazard entirely or minimising the risks as much as possible, which can be done by:

•    Selecting appropriate safety features when purchasing or replacing equipment

•    Modifying work processes or equipment

•    Developing and implementing safe work procedures for hazardous tasks

•    Ensuring workers use appropriate protective equipment and follow safe work procedures

PUTTING REGULATIONS INTO PRACTICE

Most Australian wineries and vineyards have standard operating procedures and policies in place to prevent health and safety hazards.

McLaren Vale’s d’Arenberg says the company is committed to providing a safe system of work for its employees and contractors.

As well as having a range of processes in place, a number of employees across all departments have attended training sessions to attain their WH&S Certificate III.

The company continues to host regular internal and external training courses for its employees to ensure they are kept up-to-date with work health and safety practices.

Among a range of health and safety projects already in place at d’Arenberg, the winery has implemented:

•    Multiple eye wash and shower stations

•    Upgraded stairwells and handrails

•    Catwalks over concrete open fermenters

•    A dedicated winery chemical mixing shed

•    Electric forklifts to reduce emissions in closed areas

•    Thermal and fire sensor alarm systems

One of the bigger players in the market, Treasury Wine Estates (TWE), also takes work health and safety seriously.

Corporate affairs manager Sue Rana says traffic, in particular, is a hazard which is often overlooked.

“We have a wide variety of vehicles operating in all parts of our business – tractors, harvesters, trucks, forklifts and cars driven by sales representatives as they visit customers,” she says.

“These vehicles are all essential to our work but can be hazardous without the right training and site management systems.”

Within TWE’s wine production business, all vineyard and winery sites have traffic management plans (TMP) in place.

These plans define how drivers operate vehicles on site and how pedestrians are required to behave when around those vehicles.

“The TMP sets the pathway for vehicles to traverse the site including loading areas for forklifts, pedestrian exclusion zones and crossings and driver safety zones,” Rana says.

PLANNING PROVIDES THE GROUND RULES

“The plan defines the speed limit and location for stop and give-way signs and sets the requirement for pedestrians and drivers when outside their vehicle to wear hi-visibility clothing and safety boots.”

Rana says it is vital to have a traffic standard that everyone on site is aware of and complies with to ensure a safe and productive operation.

“Having all stakeholders involved in the development of these plans increases understanding of our overall traffic safety requirements and commitment to compliance,” she says.

“In developing these plans we consult with our workforce, external carriers who visit our sites and best practice standards in other comparable industries.”

REPORTING AN ACCIDENT, HAZARD OR INJURY

Safe Work Australia says workers should report accidents and other incidents (including things such as near misses) to their supervisor and report a hazard that may endanger others in the future, a problem with equipment, a violation of the regulations or other legal requirements.

Australian government – both the commonwealth and the states and territories – also retain the responsibility for regulating and enforcing all the work health and safety laws operating in their jurisdiction.

The contact details for each state and territory regulators can be found at the link: www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/who-we-work-with/pages/who-we-work-with.

Contact:

Safe Work Australia

P: 1300 551 832

E: info@swa.gov.au

 

Sue Rana

P: 61 8 8301 5880

E: sue.rana@tweglobal.com

 

Tash Stoodley

P: 61 8 8329 4825

E: tash@darenberg.com.au