WorkSafe investigators were recently at the scene of an explosion in the cellar of an Echuca Hotel that left a teenage apprentice with serious burns.
The 19-year-old, second-year refrigeration mechanic apprentice from Kyabram is understood to have been working alone when the explosion occurred and it is not known what caused the blast. However, a damaged acetylene bottle was found after the fire was put out.
Eric Windholz, General Manager at WorkSafe, said the incident raised a number of issues that employers and workers across industry needed to deal with immediately.
“Any form of explosion can have devastating consequences, but when it occurs in a confined space those issues are magnified. In any environment it is essential that employers ensure work is properly planned and appropriate safety measures are in place so that people, particularly the young and inexperienced, are not put at risk.”
The incident in Echuca came days after a crane lost a load of around 1.5 tonnes of plasterboard which fell 30 floors on to City Road in South Melbourne. Eight days earlier, a 62-year-old Doncaster man died after falling about five metres onto a concrete floor while replacing skylights.
“Three serious incidents in less than a fortnight – two with potentially multiple injuries suggests that preventing injuries has to move up priority lists,” Mr Windholz said. “Last financial year, 24 people died in traumatic work-related incidents in Victoria; there were dozens of life-threatening injuries and thousands of lesser incidents where people were exposed to unnecessary pain and suffering.
“All this has an enormous impact on individuals, businesses and the broader community including families, friends and community organisations.”
“Getting safety right first time – not fixing a problem after someone has been hurt - is what makes a difference.”
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