THE South Australian Ombudsman has recommended the state’s workplace safety regulator adopt new measures after it failed to conduct a “thorough” probe into safety complaints at the Glenburnie Saleyards.
This follows the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Victoria (LRTAV) formally raising safety fears with loading and unloading infrastructure with SafeWork SA in October last year.
In his report, Ombudsman Wayne Lines said an investigation into Grant District Council – which owns and operates the selling centre – was “not necessary.”
The complaint stems from a worker being injured as well as a number near misses at the major regional livestock exchange.
SafeWork closed the improvement notice where the modifications to the ramps was “nowhere complete” despite an “accident waiting to happen.”
“In my view, the file should not had been closed unless and until SafeWork SA was satisfied that the modifications to Ramp C were completed,” Mr Lines said.
“In my view the agency acted in the manner that was wrong.”
Mr Wayne handed down a number of recommendations, including the need for SafeWork SA to provide a written apology to the transporters association for “failures in the conduct of the investigation.”
He has also called on SafeWork SA to create a new agency complaint handling policy that “fully complies” with the Australian standard.
SafeWork has now been directed to provide a report to the Ombudsman about what actions that have “commenced or completed.”
Mr Lines has also sent a copy of the report to the State Treasurer, which is the relevant minister.
In his lengthy report, he said SafeWork SA was the responsible agency for providing work health and safety.
He said the agency “mishandled” concerns about unsafe loading/unloading infrastructure.
The hazards reported included a worker – who is a member of the LRTAV – being injured while unloading cattle using Ramp C at the saleyards.
The driver was unloading cattle at the ramp and as he opened the truck door, a cow “hit him” and he was admitted to hospital with “sore ribs and chest.”
According the report, there were “direct reports” made to SafeWork SA about hazards.
The complainant claimed workplace safety authorities, including Safework SA, had no understanding of hazards associated with the loading and unloading of livestock.
According to the ombudsman report, Grant District Council has made significant steps to improve safety by complying with four work health safety improvement notices.
Council has made engineering improvements to the truck flap at the end of the ramp, modified walkways adjacent the ramp and installed exit gates.
The local government body has also provided copies of administrative controls such as emergency plans, work procedures and photographs of engineering improvements.
The loading ramps in question were more than 40 years old and never had a safety gate.
In a statement this week, SafeWork SA said it had received a report from the SA Ombudsman in relation to aspects of the operation of the saleyards.
“SafeWork SA is carefully considering the report and recommendations and will respond to each of them soon,” a spokesperson said.
