Alerts

Excavated wall collapse

In February 2018, a worker’s foot and ankle were injured when part of a three metre high near vertical excavation face collapsed. The injured worker was part of a group building a boulder retaining wall. Four workers were gathered at the toe of the excavation when they heard a cracking noise and the excavation face collapsed. Three of them managed to jump out of the way but the fourth was buried up to his knees. Investigations are continuing.

Worker impaled by starter bar at construction site

In February 2018, a worker was impaled by a starter bar after falling into a 1.8m deep excavation at a construction site. Early investigations indicate he was walking on a path close to the excavation when the ground slipped. This caused him to fall onto an uncapped starter bar which was protruding from a footing for a retaining wall at the bottom of the excavation. His injuries were not life threatening or permanent and investigations are continuing.

Workers injured by glass sheets

In February 2018, three workers received severe lacerations when one of several large glass sheets in a racking system fell to the ground and shattered. It appears that one of two workers trying to restrain the glass sheets by hand was unable to support the weight of one of them. Another worker came to his assistance but was unable to prevent the sheet from falling. Investigations are continuing.

Young worker injured by nail gun

An apprentice was injured by a nail, fired from a nail gun by another worker, which went through the piece of timber he was holding and into his chest. The worker underwent minor surgery to remove a small piece of bone. Investigations are continuing.

Mobile crane rollover onto four lane road

In January 2018, a 25 tonne articulated crane (a ‘pick and carry’ type mobile crane) overbalanced and fell across four lanes of a major arterial road while it was lifting a sign. Three lanes of traffic were closed at the time and there was no traffic in the open lane. The crane was removing a signage structure 15m in height, 3.9m wide and weighing approximately 4.5 tonnes. While manoeuvring, it appears the load caught on a structure then swung toward the road. Nobody was injured and investigations are continuing.

Worker fatally crushed by elevating work platform

In December 2017, a 22 year old worker was killed while operating a boom elevating work platform (EWP) on a construction site. The EWP basket was approximately 8-10 metres in the air being lowered when it caught on a steel support beam, causing two wheels of the EWP to lift off the ground.

Installation of shoring boxes and other trench support systems

The purpose of this safety alert is to highlight the risk of trench collapse when a shoring box, or any other trench support system, does not extend for the full depth of the trench. Shoring boxes are also known as trench shields or drag boxes.

Multi-cutters and other discs on power tools and air tools

To highlight hazards associated with the use of multi-cutters and grinding or cutting discs fitted on power tools and air tools.