Launch of information package to reduce industrial accidents

10/12/94

Just the thought of having all the fingers on one hand, or even the whole hand, ripped from a person's arm would turn most people's stomachs.

But it is happening right here in Western Australia, where 102 amputations have occurred in the past five years.

Labour Relations Minister Graham Kierath today launched a new information and training package aimed at reducing the incidents of these accidents.

The package was aimed mainly at the fabricated metal products industry - which includes manufacturers of steel and aluminium products.

Launching the package in Kwinana today, Mr Kierath said the fabricated metal products industry had three times the all-industry average of lost time injuries, a situation the State Government intended to tackle in consultation with the industry.

"The lack of training in the operation and hazards of particular machines has contributed to many of these tragic accidents," Mr Kierath said.

"In three cases involving brake press amputations, the injured person had been employed for less than 10 days.

"In one case, a 26 year old brake operator amputated six fingers on his first day at work.  He had been given 20 minutes instruction before using the machine.

"This lack of training is just not good enough and we trust this package will be adopted across the fabricated metal products industry so this type of accident can be avoided.

"The package has been put together by a group of employer and employee representatives from the fabricated metal products industry and researchers from the Department of Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare (DOHSWA).

"The industry group actually chose the format for the package, so it is presented in a way which will be easy for the industry to adopt.

"The package will be a valuable training resource, something that appears to be desperately needed in this industry.

"Inspectors from DOHSWA will also continue to strongly enforce the safety and health legislation where employers are found to have inadequate guarding on machines.

"More than 100 amputations equates to a huge amount of lost productivity, not to mention the pain and suffering involved."

Most amputations in the industry were to fingers and thumbs and the machines most often associated with amputations were brake presses, power presses, shears and guillotines.

The package was designed to be used at workplace group discussions known as 'toolbox meetings', hence its title - 'Toolbox Topics'.

Toolbox meetings gave employees a chance to talk to employers or supervisors about the plant and equipment they operate, or to raise safety and health matters.

The package contained separate topic sheets on eye injuries, manual handling injuries, overhead travelling cranes, metal cutting guillotines, power presses, brake presses, angle grinders, hand-held hammers and rehabilitation following an injury.

It would go to all workplaces in the fabricated metal products industry and the package could also be obtained free from DOHSWA upon request.

Media contact:  Brian Coulter - (09) 481 2133 or (09) 222 9595