Waratah driver incident

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What Happened?

In two separate incidents, farm workers injured their hands while using a waratah driver to place a waratah post for anchoring or fencing.The injuries were so severe that they had to go to hospital for surgery. In both incidents, neither of the farm workers were wearing gloves to protect their hands.

Why did it happen?

• Neither of the farm workers were wearing gloves at the time of the incidents - lack of hand protection resulted in significant hand injuries.
• In both incidents, the farm workers lost control of the waratah driver handle whilst ramming. Loss of control of a waratah driver can be due to not having the right training, not being physically capable of using the tool safely, uneven ground, or having an unbalanced stance.

How should we respond?

Before starting work:

1. Ensure that all team members using the waratah driver understand the safe use of the tool, are trained, competent and physically capable.
2. Ensure anyone using the waratah driver has leather gloves to protect their hands.

While doing the job:

1. Always wear leather gloves and safety glasses.
2. Check the underground conditions before starting (e.g. is the underground surface rocky?).
3. Ensure that the operator takes a well-balancedstance before driving.
4. Tap the waratah in a few centimetres (e.g. 15cm) to stabilise and straighten it before the last few heavy slams.
5. Ensure you always have a way to contact someonefor help when you need it.