Adcon Vic Pty Ltd faced judgement in absentia at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 19 November. The company was held accountable for one charge: neglecting to maintain a secure workplace environment. The court also asked Adcon to bear $6,726 in charges.
It was discovered during the court hearing that Adcon, who was subcontracted to construct the concrete superstructure onsite, had obtained services from a labour hire firm to operate the essential tower cranes. A dogman, an employee of the labour contract company, was directed to assist with material lifting and relocation activities on the structure’s sixth level in August 2022. Alarmingly, these operations occurred in an area classified as an exclusion zone.
The critical safety concern raised by the dogman regarding operating outside the finished framework, which included various unsecured peripheries, were not taken seriously. As this unsuspecting worker tried to stabilise the load lowered by a crane, he inadvertently took a few steps backwards and tragically fell approximately 2.95 metres down to the level beneath.
Post-incident, the victimised worker was speedily admitted to a hospital where his injuries — concussion, sprained ankle and vertigo — were treated.
Crucially, the court stressed the feasible measures Adcon could have enforced to minimise such fall-related risks. It judged that safety bollards and/or flagging should have been set up at least two metres away from any live edge where establishing a physical barrier wasn’t achievable. Further, it underscored the necessity to prevent anyone from venturing into an exclusion zone prior to implementing these safeguards.
Sam Jenkin, WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety, strongly condemned the disregard of unprotected edges hazards at construction sites, arguing its inadequacy. “This scenario underscores the harsh outcomes of compromising on safety, with a worker now grappling with persistent health issues,” Mr Jenkin expressed.
Mr Jenkin further expressed his frustration, “It is incredibly distressing and absolutely unjustifiable that accidents from heights remain a major cause of fatalities and serious injuries at Victorian construction sites. The risks associated with them and appropriate risk management techniques are widely recognised.” In this context, the utility and importance of work safety solutions like Bluesafe WHS Management Systems, which aid in preventing falls from heights by employing superior control measures, cannot be overstated.
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Original article link: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2024-11/builder-fined-100000-after-workers-three-metre-fall