$125,000 Fine After Workers Fall

admin • October 15, 2024

Valmont (Vic) Pty Ltd was sentenced in the Sunshine Magistrates' Court on Thursday 3 October after earlier being found guilty of one charge of failing to provide and maintain a safe system of work and one charge of failing to ensure a workplace under its management or control was safe and without risks to health.

Valmont was fined without a conviction and mandated to pay $42,752 in costs. The company had been assigned to transform level two of a multistorey car park on Clarke Street in Sunshine into office space. The project entailed the removal of a car park ramp between levels one and two, the installation of structural steel and formwork, and the pouring of concrete into the void to finalize the office floor. In July 2019, a segment of the formwork collapsed when a steel beam connecting it to the existing slab detached as the concrete was being poured, resulting in three workers plummeting more than two metres to the level below. Two workers were hospitalized with serious injuries. A WorkSafe inquiry revealed that Valmont had failed to arrange for a building surveyor or engineer to inspect the formwork prior to the concrete pour. The court concluded that it would have been reasonably practicable for Valmont to have organized a pre-pour inspection and to have secured a written inspection report affirming that the formwork was structurally sound to bear the concrete pour.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said working with formwork could be high risk and there was no excuse for omitting important safety processes.

"Having a competent person inspect formwork before a concrete pour begins is a crucial step designed to avoid exactly this kind of disastrous scenario," Mr Jenkin said.

"In this case two workers were injured and it could very easily have been much, much worse."

To prevent falls when working with formwork employers should:

  • Ensure a competent person produces a formwork design capable of supporting the expected dynamic and static loads.
  • Have systems in place to formally sign off a formwork deck as structurally sound, complete and safe for other trade workers to use as a work platform.
  • Provide employees undertaking construction work with site specific training, including the onsite risks associated with formwork decks.
  • Ensure High Risk Construction Work is not performed unless a Safe Work Method Statement is prepared and followed.
  • Use a fall arrest system, such as a catch platform or safety nets.

For more information visit: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2024-10/125000-fine-after-workers-fall-concrete-formwork-collapse

Welding Fumes

By admin • June 15, 2026
Welding fumes are hazardous, and employers must control the risk of harm. Various types of welding are used in the workplace, with varying levels of welding fume production. The amount and type of fumes produced during welding will vary based on various factors including: the metals being welded, the welding process used, the composition of the welding rod/wire, the shielding gases used and any contaminants or coating on the metal, etc. There are a number of health effects which may occur due to exposure to welding fumes. These include both short-term and long-term affects Short term: eye irritation, respiratory irritation, metal fume fever (zinc oxide). Long term: siderosis (iron accumulation in the body), lung and kidney cancer, nervous system disorders, asthma, pneumonia. The likelihood of developing damaging health effects from welding will depend on the type of welding being used (and therefore the type of fumes produced), the duration and frequency of exposure, the worker’s proximity to the fumes, the ventilation of the welding area, and any controls which were utilised during the exposure. Welding fumes are a hazardous substance and must be controlled according to the hierarchy of controls. Controls may include: Eliminating the need for welding if possible, for example by using different fastening methods or prefabricated components. Substituting the welding method, for example by using a method which generates less fumes, or using automation methods. Engineering controls including mechanical ventilation such as on-torch extraction or local exhaust ventilation. PPE should be provided by the workplace and includes the use of air fed ventilators. The use of respirators such as Powered Air Purifying Respirators can be used but only in addition to a higher-order control, or if higher-order controls are not possible. Other types of respirators are available but less effective. Several different controls may need to be used and as with any controls, training must be provided on their implementation. Atmospheric monitoring may also be required to monitor exposure levels in the workplace and health monitoring must also be carried out in accordance with the OHS Regulations 2017 Part 4.1 - Hazardous Substances.  Consultation with the workforce, including any elected health and safety representatives, must take place in accordance with requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004. For more information on welding fumes, take a look at the following links: https://youtu.be/0tvrOw18Vr0?si=oK_v3vkbGebCzuMf Controlling exposure to welding fumes | WorkSafe Victoria Compliance code: Hazardous substances | WorkSafe Victoria - Welding fumes | Safe Work Australia

Why Veterinary Teams Need Psychological Safety Training

By admin • June 9, 2026
The veterinary profession can be one of the most rewarding careers, but it’s also one of the most emotionally and mentally demanding. Behind the compassion, skill, and dedication lies a reality many outside the industry don’t see: long hours, emotionally charged cases, financial pressures, and the emotional toll of euthanasia and client grief. With Victoria’s new psychological health regulations now in effect (as of December 2025), workplaces must manage psychological risks with the same seriousness as physical hazards. For veterinary practices, this is not just a compliance requirement, it’s a lifeline for the wellbeing of their teams. The Hidden Pressures in Veterinary Work Veterinary professionals may face a multitude of psychosocial hazards, including: Exposure to traumatic events Aggression and violence High job demands and time pressure Low job control Remote or isolated work Poor workplace relationships and minimal support Moral and ethical dilemmas are also a feature of the work as well as the exposure to grief and loss. Thinking of Veterinarians as first responders can help to understand the types of psychosocial hazards which they face. These factors can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue, anxiety, depression, and tragically, higher-than-average suicide rates in the profession. Suicide rates are up to four times higher than the general population, making the industry’s psychological hazards the most common fatal risk in the veterinary workplace. Why BeSafe Victoria’s Training Matters BeSafe Victoria’s psychosocial safety training is a new course designed to help participant’s: Understand the Psychological Health Compliance Code Identify psychosocial hazards Follow a risk management process for psychosocial hazards Implement practical controls Ensure consultation is compliant and effective At BeSafe Victoria, we deliver training designed by WorkSafe for Health and Safety Representatives. However, it is also an excellent course for leaders and teams to ensure the psychological safety of their workplace. In turn, this helps us all to work towards improved psychological outcomes for Veterinarians and the industry more broadly. The Benefits for Veterinary Practices Investing in psychological safety training can: Ensure compliance with the OHS legislation Improve staff retention and team morale Improve the psychological health of veterinary teams Enhance team consultation, collaboration and trust Reduce rates of psychological harm Contact us to find out more about our courses and how we can help you. This may include providing advice on designated work groups, electing HSRs, or delivering training. Please reach out on 0467 002 060 or info@besafevictoria.com.au