Alerts

Formworkers suffer heat stress

In February 2019, two workers were taken to hospital with one admitted for heat syncope (a mild form of heat illness). The workers had been preparing formwork for a concrete pour at a construction site. Three other workers also reported feeling unwell and were treated onsite by emergency services.

Tower crane hoist rope and brake failures

The purpose of this safety alert is to highlight the risks of hoist rope and brake failure on tower cranes. Employers, builders, workers and crane operators should apply the principles in this alert to any crane with a hoist rope.

Fatal falls on work sites

In December 2018, the owner of an industrial workplace was killed when he fell through a roof on an unapproved structure. The man was attempting to dismantle and remove the structure, which consisted of an open steel awning with tin roof panelling. In January 2019, a man was killed when he fell from height at a construction site. Early investigations indicate he could have fallen from the roof or other equipment set up onsite including a ladder and A-frame trestles with planks. Investigations into these incidents are continuing.

Narrow precast wall panel collapse

The purpose of this safety alert is to inform workers, employers, builders and designers of the risk of sideways collapse of narrow concrete wall panels.

Worker suffers serious crush injuries in concrete pump hopper

In November 2018, a concrete pump operator has sustained serious injuries when his arm was caught in moving parts within the receiving hopper of a concrete pump. Early investigations indicate the worker was in the process of cleaning inside the concrete pump hopper when a moving component activated and seriously injured his arm.

Safe support of overhead services - Insert anchors

The purpose of this health and safety alert is to highlight the risks of falling overhead building services caused by the failure of insert anchors. Overhead building services include air conditioning ducts, cable trays, water pipes and waste pipes.

Tower crane strikes powerlines

In November 2018, lifting equipment attached to a tower crane servicing a construction project contacted live overhead powerlines next to the site. This caused the power supply within the local area to automatically shut off. There were no injuries and it appears the crane unintentionally rotated over the powerlines under its own power. Investigations are continuing.

Scaffold collapses onto neighbouring home

In November 2018, a segment of scaffold approximately 17 metres long and 8 metres high on a housing construction site collapsed onto a neighbouring residential house. The house was occupied at the time of the incident. Early investigations suggest the scaffold may have been free standing at the time and had not been tied back to the building or other structure. No one was injured as a result of the collapse. Investigations are continuing.

Tower crane load dropped after hoist rope failure

In October 2018, a hoist rope on a tower crane at a construction site broke while lowering a load which then fell to the ground. Although no-one was injured, this was a dangerous incident that could have had very serious consequences. Investigations are continuing.

Workers injured when concrete pipe toppled over

In October 2018, two workers in an excavation were injured when a 1350mm diameter concrete stormwater pipe toppled over. They were installing a short 500mm length of the large diameter pipe by abutting the pipe up to the end of a recently laid pipe and using timber and sandbags as chocks to support the pipe in position. It appears one of the workers may have moved a sandbag and the pipe toppled over. One worker was trapped beneath the pipe for several minutes and his leg was broken. Investigations are continuing.