$1.1 million safety spend to follow forklift incident at Royal Australian Mint
After a coin blanking press weighing around three tonnes almost fell on a worker while being moved by a forklift, Comcare has accepted an estimated $1.1 million enforceable undertaking over the next two years by the Royal Australian Mint (RAM).
The incident, which occurred in May 2019, involved external contractors moving the press with a forklift when the press became unbalanced and fell, narrowly missing a worker standing nearby.
Following a Comcare investigation, three charges were filed by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, alleging the RAM failed in its duties under the federal Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
The RAM failed, Comcare alleged, to provide a safe system of work and a safe work environment, and failed to provide the contractor with an adequate Safe Work Method Statement for transporting the coin press.
The enforceable undertaking, which involves a number of legally binding commitments, was accepted as an alternative to prosecution — formally discontinued in the ACT Magistrates Court.
“The RAM has provided assurances to Comcare that it has rectified the training of staff for high-risk activities, created a new contractor-specific induction, and revised the risk management system across the organisation,” said Justin Napier, Comcare’s head of Regulatory Operations.
“The deliverables proposed in the WHS undertaking will result in further measurable improvements to WHS outcomes for the workplace, industry, and community.”
The RAM’s undertakings include:
- Funding the development of guidance and training for mobile plant and contractor management that will be available industry-wide
- Promoting community understanding of the importance of WHS through developing and installing an interactive display in the RAM’s gallery
- Developing and delivering a safety culture program for the RAM
- Partnering with the Australian Institute of Health and Safety to administer a workplace safety improvement program designed to reduce incidents involving pedestrians and forklifts
You can read the reasons for the decision here.
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