Teenager Shot with Nail Gun

As reported by the The Age newspaper today, a teenager attending a trade school in Melbourne was accidentally shot in the back with a nail gun. Paramedics found the 18-year-old youth with a 4.5cm nail lodged into the centre of his back. Apparently, the accident happened as another student was firing the nail gun into a wall in a construction industries class. It was reported by paramedics at the scene that the nail inadvertently went through the wall then all the way into the youths back, at the middle around his spine. The student was taken to The Alfred hospital in a stable condition about 9.30am with the nail still in his back.

This incident raises the question of what Safety Management Systems are appropriate to implement in school venues? There are many precautions and safety procedures required for using powered equipment on construction sites. Given the age and relative inexperience of students, there are arguably even more risks that arise in a school learning venue when using similar equipment. While it is unclear as to the causes of this particular incident, safety procedures of the school should exist for all construction and maintenance equipment, particularly those that are powered. These should address the appropriate level of qualifications and experience of instructing teachers, site awareness, use of personal protective equipment, pre-start checks, instructions on loading and operating the equipment and relevant risks.

Published by Reliance Risk - the Risk Management Consultants

Children at Zoo Taken to Hospital After Chemical Incident

An incident on the 9th June involving school children on excursion to Dubbo’s Western Plains Zoo, highlights the importance of chemical safety and risk assessment for public venues and school excursions. The incident involved over 130 Sydney school children being taken to hospital for treatment after it was alleged rainwater mixed with disinfectants used to clean the students bicycle helmets, washed into their eyes. A spokesperson from the zoo was reported in today’s Sydney Morning Herald website as saying “we’ve used that agent for four years without incident … and we had other groups of children out in the rain this week.” The incident continues to be investigated by the zoo.

All chemicals should be used strictly in accordance with directions provided in the product’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Risk assessments for school excursions should consider all foreseeable safety risks and medical response procedures.

Pigs and Crisis Management II

As reported by Department of Health and Aging on 4th June 2009, the total number of confirmed H1N1 09 (Human Swine Flu) cases in Australia has now increased to 633. The state of Victoria has over three-quarters of these confirmed cases and have subsequently raised its pandemic alert level from “contain” to a “modified sustain” phase.

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon is reported in the media to have stated that “Victoria is moving to a new level of risk”. Technically, this upgraded alert would enable government bans on public gatherings; such as sports events, entertainment venues, and community programs. However, the good news for the Venues and Events Industry is that the minister is also reported to have stated that the “modified sustain phase will not yet impact on public events and gatherings” She defended the decision not to cancel events, including the recent State of Origin game, confirming that she been advised that mass outdoor public events did not pose any particular risk.

Instead of the ban of events and public gatherings, Victorian authorities identified methods to manage risks appropriately. They have demonstrated this by targeting those people at highest risk such as children and elderly. Media have reported that hundreds of children and teachers who attended the recent State of Origin game in Victoria have been requested to stay home in quarantine for a week. Similar restrictions have already been in place for students and teachers returning from South America, North America and Japan.

To the delight of fans, the State of Origin game continued with appropriate controls which identified high risk patrons. This serves as a timely reminder that the events and venues industry is looking into the face of a crisis situation of a pending pandemic, however until then there are operational controls including provision of information, isolation of high risk groups and appropriately resourced medical response teams.

More information can be found at the following linked sites:

Work Cover link:
http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/OHS/WorkCoversRoleinOHS/OHSResponsibilities/Pages/influenza_pandemic.aspx

Office of Industrial Relations link:
http://www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au/Employers/Employer_responsibilities/Swine_flu_be_ready_to_deal_with_workplace_impacts.html

Department of Health link:
http://www.health.wa.gov.au/swine_flu/home/