THE LAMENT of a FIFO CONSTRUCTION WORKER.

I worked on many construction projects throughout Australia from 1996 to 2010.Gunpowder Copper QLD, Geraldton – SREP, Newman MPDJV, West Angelas,  Gladstone Comalco Alumina Project, Olympic Dam – OEP, Yandi, Area C, Weaber Plains Irrigation…

Innovation – WA Game Changers Awards – 2022

I had the great pleasure to participate as a judge of the WA game changer awards held at Curtin University on 12th November  2022.Around 44 school teams participated - both WA primary and secondary schools including regional schools from…

A letter from my students – Mentors in the classroom

,
The Value of Industry Mentors in the ClassroomWe bemoan the fact that some high school students are not engaged in their lessons and are disruptive.Cecil Andrews College introduced Project Based Learning to engage students and I was…

The Safety Pulpit – Are You the Billy Graham of Safety?

,
   It is time to do a reality check on how we manage Workplace Health and Safety (WHS)Why do we see an eighteen page "Safe Work Method Statement/ JSA" as a helpful tool at the coal face? - Surprise!! surprise!!…

Jumbo Incident – A Failed Permit to Work System

, , , ,
IntroductionThis article discusses the contribution of an underground mining "Permit to Work" (ATE) process and a  jumbo drill rig, drilling into an adjacent bored and uncharged face in a development heading.The IncidentThe jumbo…

Dropped Mancage – Crane Accident – A Design Error

, ,
DescriptionA mancage attached to a 50 tonne crane, free fell about 10 metres until the crane driver applied the winch brake to arrest the fall.Design of the crane free fall control system was inadequate.Two employees in the mancage…

WHS Audits – Are they value for money?

I have referenced an article written by Peter Rogers titled "Is it time to stop internal auditing"Quote"To me, most internal and external audits are very poorly done.  A quality control wonk or supervisor asks closed questions…

Crane Accident – Contact with 11KV power line – Design your laydown Area

, , ,
IntroductionThe crane contractor was requested to come to the Queensland construction site to dismantle and transport  their 4600 and 4100 Manitowoc cranes offsite.Three personnel came to site – A leading hand, crane driver and…

Grid Mesh Clip – Design induced Human Error ? – A Fatality in Hiding

,
 A Grid Mesh Clip is a clip which is used to hold a piece of grid mesh flooring by clamping the mesh to the supporting structure – the mesh is held in place by the clamping force – friction.The style of the clip I am talking…

Another Crane “Dropped Load Incident” – Lifting Flexible loads 

Flexible Load & Over Centre Scissor Clamps A Dangerous Combination  Back at the beginning of my safety career,  I investigated a dropped load incident where a 25 metre length of rail line fell whilst the rail was being lifted…

Crane Accident – Dropped Load

Major Crane Accident - Dropped LoadSeveral hundred three tonne pre-cast concrete reinforced floor panels had been craned and installed into a multi story building without any obvious safety issues, when a panel detached from the basketed…