Workplace Health and Safety: Critical Review of Kenoss Contractors Case Study

This critical review analyzes the workplace health and safety in relation to the case study of Canberra where a Kenoss Contractors employee was killed out of accident due to electrical hazards at the construction site. The report highlights the importance of proper installation of danger alerts and makeshift gates at the danger areas to prevent the entry, turning of the electrical lines from open wire and use of proper contractor management.

Running head: CRITICAL REVIEW
Critical Review
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Abstract
Safety and Risk Management are critical aspects of workplace. The following report aims to
analyse the workplace health and safety in relation to the case study of Canberra where a
Kenoss Contractors employee (truck driver) was killed out of accident due to electrical
hazards at the construction site. The analysis of the workplace safety highlighted that main
issues which must be taken into consideration in order to avoid the workplace hazard include
proper installation of danger alerts and makeshift gates at the danger areas to prevent the
entry, turning of the electrical lines from open wire and use of proper contractor management.
The analysis of the report also highlighted the importance of requitement of trained
workplace safety office for proper documentation of the safety framework.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Discussion..................................................................................................................................3
Overview of the event............................................................................................................3
What could have been done...................................................................................................4
Self-reflection.........................................................................................................................7
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................8
References..................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
Safety and Risk Management are critical aspects of a workplace and breaches in the
workplace safety are punishable offense under Work Health and Safety Law. The report aims
to analyse and subsequently conceptualise the responses to safety breaches in relation to the
provided scenario: $1.1 million fine imposed to Canberra Construction Company Kenoss
Contractors for the death of the truck driver. The report will initiate with a brief description
about the event and then will provide a detailed description about how this safety breach
could have been avoided. At the end the report will provide a self reflection regarding action
plans or goals in order to order to manage the scenario effectively.
Discussion
Overview of the event
According to the news published in ABC News (2015), a Canberra construction
company is fined $1.1 for breaching workplace safety which has cost death of a staff (truck
driver). Michael Booth, the victim was electrocuted while he was attempting to deliver a load
of raw materials in his truck to Kenoss Contractors on March 2012. The driver to the truck
(Mr Booth) was mainly carrying a load of gravel-type material to a fenced off compound that
is used to store piles of material and stocking it near the road resurfacing project which is
being run by Kenoss Contractors. The tip of the truck got connected with or came close of the
open-ended power lines and thereby generating electrical arc strong enough to deflate the
truck tyres and leaving charred marks on the floors. Though Mr Booth jumped from the truck
but he collapsed and later died. The court found that the company violated basic workplace
safety ethics however, did not fine maximum allowable penalty that was $1.5 million.

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However, the fine might likely to go unpaid as Kenoss Contractors have gone into liquidation
(Canberra Times, 2015).
What could have been done
Installation of proper safety signs or flag alerts in order to warn about the live power lines
According to Hartmann and Vossebeld (2013), planning and production sequence for
a construction project demands proper combination of transfer of information and knowledge
from diverse areas. Hartmann and Vossebeld (2013) are of the opinion that the proper use to
the visual signs, icons or index or symbols helps to provide the danger alert to the employees
or the commuters of that site and thereby helping to prevent the chances of unwanted
casualties. Tezel et al. (2015) conducted a visual management study in order to elucidate the
importance of the flag alerts at the site of construction. The analysis of the results highlighted
that use of bright colours like the black symbol over bright yellow background helps in the
easy identification of the danger signs or symbols. In relation to the case study, it can be said
that if that zone containing open wires was demarked with proper signs and symbols and it
would have been easier for the truck driver to gauge the threat and to take necessary
precautions beforehand.
Strict management of individual access inside the construction area
According to Zhou, Goh and Li (2015) persistent endeavours must be framed in order
to promote construction safety at the workplace. Overview and analysis of the safety
management of the construction industry as conducted by Zhou, Goh and Li (2015)
highlighted that access of the people at the site of the construction must be limited. This can
be attempted via the appointment of the security guards, specifically appointed at the entry of
the high danger prone area. This will limit the free access of probationary staffs at the
construction site. In relation to the restricted access at the site of construction In relation to

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the strict management of individual inside the construction area, Fulford and Standing (2014)
highlighted that deployment of security guards or the gate keepers is not comprehensive
proper installation of makeshift gates at danger prone sites is helpful in preventing unwanted
casualties. Fulford and Standing (2014) proper argued about the importance of allowing the
entry of only trained personnel in the construction industry will help to avoid the loss of life.
A trained person will be will-ware of the threats at the site of construction and thus will take
prior precautions and might avoid encountering injury.
Proper contractor management
Zhang and Chen (2015) highlighted that safety is the basic requirement of a
construction industry but it is difficult to obtain. Proper contractor management is the key
towards effective control of the unwanted fatal accidents at the site of construction. Zhang
and Chen (2015) stated that proper contractor management mainly emphasize on the proper
management of the construction market and project environment. The use of instinct and the
experiences of the contractors along with the proper application of the safety management
principle will help in prevention of accidental threats to the subordinate staffs. In relation to
the reports news, there are no direct references of the Kenoss Contractors using proper
contactor management and this might have cost the fatal accident. Rui, Ismail and Hussaini
(2015) further highlighted that proper contractor management will ensure that all the safety
regulations is being achieved and this can be done through the application of the safety
management framework as reported by Zhang and Chen (2015). Proper safety management
framework in Kenoss Contractors will help to fix the open electrical wires on time and or
restriction of the entry of vehicles containing maw material which facilitate electrical
conductivity. This will help in the prevention of accident.
Installation of proper lock gates in order to restrict the entry

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According Ning and Lam (2013) cost and safety are two principal equipments while
designing the construction site. Ning and Lam (2013) mainly highlighted the importance of
the multi-objective optimization model over single-objective optimization model. The multi-
objective optimization model mainly emphasizes the installation of proper security gates or
lock gates in front of the danger prone areas. However, Said and El-Rayes (2013) highlighted
before the installation of the locks gates over the make shift boundaries. It is the duty of the
construction site supervisor to perform proper scrutiny of the construction site in order to
identify high risk prone areas. Said and El-Rayes (2013) highlighted that dynamic site layout
planning is important to highlighting the danger prone areas. If the danger prone site
containing the open wires is demarcated with make-shift boundary and lock gate then it
would have been easier for the truck driver to gauge the danger and to take necessary steps
before hand.
Turning off the power lines after work
Hazard recognition and risk perception are important aspect of the construction
industry (Perlman, Sacks & Barak, 2014). Turning off the power lines after work is an
important aspect while handing the electrical appliances and the same principle is required to
be maintained while working under the construction sites. Perlman, Sacks and Barak (2014)
highlighted that the construction staffs or the electrical personnel must be trained in such a
way that they follow the necessary precautions and the guidelines while handling the
electrical wires. Zhao et al. (2014) further argued the training the staffs and follow of the
guidelines of safety and hazard at the workplace is not comprehensive. Proper scrutiny after
the completion of the work by the supervisor will help to ensure the safety. In relation to the
reported news it can be said that, if the live wires were not kept open or the transmission of
the electricity was stalled then the life of that truck driver might have been saved.

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Recruitment of proper workplace safety officer
According to Enhance Solutions (2015), the safety officer of the Kenoss Construction
industry in Canberra had a poor corporate culture and the safety officer was the son of the
general manager of Kenoss Construction. Thus it can be said that lack of professionally
trained safety manager or workplace safety officer resulted in the devastating loss of life.
According to Australia Government (2018), one of the important rules and the regulations of
the Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) is Australia is protecting workers and other persons
from harm and injury via eliminating or minimizing risk done by the workplace health and
safety officer. According to Li, Lu, Hsu, Gray and Huang (2015) recruitment of the proper
health and safety officer will ensure proper documentation and systematic approach towards
safety. This in turn will help to evaluate the safety quotient of each domain of the
construction area and thereby providing comprehensive security. Australian Government
(2018), WHS also ensures providing framework for continuous improvement along with
scrutiny and the actions taken by persons with the required power in order to ensure safety of
the subordinate. Li, Lu, Hsu, Gray and Huang (2015) further opined that it is the duty of the
WHS officer to undertake pro-active approach while ensuring safety for the employees.
Self-reflection
In the personal reflection, I would like to highlight that the scrutiny and safety of the
workplace place must be done via following the guidelines proposed by the Australian
Government Workplace Health and Safety. If I was responsible for the safety system in the
workplace, the first thing which I will execute is removal of the open electrical wires or
closure of the electric supply of that particular domain where the electrical wires are kept
open. Moreover, in order to increase the safety further then I would install proper signs and
symbols of alerts or will use danger signs in order to grab the attraction of the commuters at
that particular location. I would also recruit proper workplace safety officer in order to

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provide proper documentation and implementation of the workplace safety framework in
order to reduce the chances of fatal accidents.
Conclusion
Thus from the above discussion, it can be concluded that simple and affordable
methods might have helped to avoid this casualty. Some of the important safety concerns that
would have proved to be helpful to prevent at fatal accident at Kenoss Contractors on March
2012 include proper installation of safety and danger alerts, installation of makeshift gates at
the danger areas to prevent the entry, turning of the electrical lines from open wire and use of
proper contractor management. The analysis of the report also highlighted the importance of
requitement of trained workplace safety office for proper documentation of the safety
framework as per the policy of the WHS in Australia.

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References
ABC News. (2015). Canberra construction company fined $1.1 million over death of truck
driver. Access date: 5th October 2018. Retrieved from:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-19/construction-company-fined-1-million-over-
workplace-death/6708032
Australia Government. (2018). Workplace health and safety. Access date: 5th October 2018.
Retrieved from:
https://www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/health/workplace-health-and-
safety
Canberra Times. (2015). Kenoss Contractors fined $1.1 million for workplace death. Access
date: 5th October 2018. Retrieved from:
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/kenoss-contractors-fined-11-million-
for-workplace-death-20150819-gj2fra.html
Enhance solutions. (2015). Poor Safety Culture And Lack Of Systems Lead To Fatality.
Access date: 5th October 2018. Retrieved from:
http://www.enhancesolutions.com.au/blog/poor-safety-culture-and-lack-of-systems-
lead-to-fatality?
A=SearchResult&SearchID=3567407&ObjectID=5517094&ObjectType=35
Fulford, R., & Standing, C. (2014). Construction industry productivity and the potential for
collaborative practice. International Journal of Project Management, 32(2), 315-326.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2013.05.007

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Hartmann, T., & Vossebeld, N. (2013). A semiotic framework to understand how signs in
construction process simulations convey information. Advanced engineering
informatics, 27(3), 378-385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aei.2013.04.001
Li, H., Lu, M., Hsu, S. C., Gray, M., & Huang, T. (2015). Proactive behavior-based safety
management for construction safety improvement. Safety science, 75, 107-117.
Ning, X., & Lam, K. C. (2013). Cost–safety trade-off in unequal-area construction site layout
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Rui, L. M., Ismail, S., & Hussaini, M. (2015). Professional development of project
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the_Construction_Project_A_Review/links/569de65108ae950bd7a6d351.pdf
Said, H., & El-Rayes, K. (2013). Performance of global optimization models for dynamic site
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Zhang, W., & Chen, X. (2015). A Construction Safety Management System from
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