2/02/2008

News Item

Two hurt after glass falls off forklift

Two factory workers are recovering in hospital from injuries received when more than two tonnes of glass fell from a forklift vehicle in Melbourne's southeast.

WorkSafe Victoria said a 40-year-old man and a colleague were unloading a shipping container of glass sheets at the factory in Sarton Road, Clayton South, when the accident happened, shortly after 12.30am (AEDT).

Crews from Melbourne Fire Brigade were scrambled to the site to help lift the glass off one worker before he was taken to The Alfred hospital with arm and lower body injuries.

The second worker suffered a hip injury and was taken to the nearby Monash Medical Centre for treatment.

Both men were said to be in a stable condition, a Metropolitan Ambulance Service spokesman said.

WorkSafe Victoria spokesman Michael Birt said the accident highlighted the need to take all necessary safety precautions in the workplace.

"It's vitally important employers and employees do everything they can to protect themselves, their employees and their workmates," he told AAP.

"People in the workplace need to think about what's really important to them."

The Clayton South accident and two other workplace incidents in Melbourne overnight coincide with the launch of an advertising campaign to raise awareness about workplace safety.

In the other accidents, a Melbourne restaurant worker was hospitalised after being scalded by hot water spilt across her chest on Friday evening, while a construction site worker in St Kilda was injured after falling 2.5 metres on Saturday morning, Mr Birt said.

"This 12-hour period in Melbourne is a pretty typical day in terms of workplace accidents and reflect the message in the new campaign that these issues are largely preventable."

http://news.smh.com.au/two-hurt-after-glass-falls-off-forklift/20080202-1ppg.html