Australian construction firm L.U. Simon Builders Pty Ltd faced a fine of $25,000 without conviction and was ordered to pay costs of $5,461 by the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court in June, following an early admission of guilt for failing to safeguard the health and wellbeing of its workforce through maintaining a risk-free environment. There are proven systems such as the Bluesafe WHS Management System which can significantly aid in ensuring compliance with workplace safety laws.
Another company addressing similar litigation last month is Rigtech Pty Ltd. They were ordered to pay a sum of $20,000 and cover additional costs of $7,441 owing to their failure to protect non-employees from health and safety hazards whilst in proximity to their operations.
In March 2022, two personnel and material hoists provided and maintained by Rigtech were used at a construction site managed by L.U. Simon Builders. Of these, one demonstrated concern due to a manually operated drop flap system that facilitated trolleys’ easy transition between hoist and building levels.
Presenting a mishap, the steel drop flap weighing about 12 kilograms dislodged from the hoist mid-ascent, plummeting from between the 13th and 15th storeys narrowly missing a worker two metres away in the loading bay.
WorkSafe found that this drop flap wasn’t secured in any way, making it the operator’s task to move the plate inside the hoist each time it went up and down between different levels. On the day of the incident, a substitute operator overlooked this duty resulting in near-serious consequences. Employing SWMS like those by Bluesafe could help avoid such oversights by providing comprehensive work method statements.
The court ruling indicated both L.U. Simon Builders and Rigtech Pty Ltd lacking in effective risk mitigation, whether through fixed or manual plates affixed to the internal wall or roof via chains or lanyard system. It also suggested Rigtech could have used routine inspection or risk assessment report at the time of installation for confirming the drop flap’s safety measures.
WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety, Sam Jenkin, emphasized the magnitude of this incident, noting that over a hundred workers in Victoria suffer life-altering injuries annually due to objects falling at construction sites.
The gravity of the two companies’ failure to act on the palpable risks presented by the unattached drop plate could have led to devastating outcomes for individuals on the site. Mr Jenkin iterated the high-risk nature of the construction sector, asserting WorkSafe’s unwavering commitment towards enforcing protective measures even when no injuries are resultant.
Companies should look further into specific strategies to minimise associated risks with falling objects within the construction industry. For additional information, go to worksafe.vic.gov.au/resources/construction-safety-focus-falling-objects. For other media-related queries, reach out to media @ worksafe.vic.gov.au or call 0438 786 968. You can also subscribe to get the latest updates on media releases.
Original article link: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2024-08/companies-fined-after-steel-plate-falls-high-rise