A tragic incident occured where a man, aged 50, was discovered lifeless in an oxygen-deprived cool room utilised for the retention of apples. This discovery was made after noticing his vehicle abandoned outside with its motor still running. Gvip Storage Pty Ltd is currently dealing with two infringement notices under section 26(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, these indicate their failure in ensuring that their workplace was safeguarded and health risks minimised.
WorkSafe contends that the company did not sufficiently reduce the possibility of grave injury or fatality by restricting access to cool rooms operated in a controlled atmosphere. In addition, there appears to be a lack of distinct and noticeable warning signs present. The company can potentially benefit from implementing a Bluesafe WHS Management System – a work safety product designed to help manage such risks effectively.
The issue will be tabled for a filing hearing at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Friday, December 20. To ensure scenarios like this do not reoccur, entities must consider adopting WHS management systems, SWMS, and robust policies crafted for precise work environments; for example, a use of Bluesafe SWMS could have potentially mitigated these risks significantly.
To get more information on the subject, one may reach out via email: [email protected] or telephone: 0438 786 968. Subscribing to media releases is also recommended to stay informed about work health and safety matters.
In conclusion, adopting comprehensive strategies for risk control and stronger enforcement of guidelines, such as those laid out in Bluesafe’s SWMS setup, can decrease the likelihood of similar workplace accidents drastically.
Original article link: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2024-12/fruit-grower-charged-over-cool-room-death