Alerts
Selected filters
All alerts
-
Incident alert
Worker struck by steel post at construction site
In March 2022, a worker suffered a chest laceration and internal injuries when he was struck by a steel post. Early enquiries indicate the worker was part of a team installing a retaining wall at a residential construction site. The steel post had been stood upright, using a sling attached to an excavator in close proximity to the worker. It then appears the steel post has slipped off the sling, striking the worker. Investigations are continuing.
-
Incident alert
Worker injured after asphalt plant hits elevating work platform
In February 2022, a worker suffered serious leg injuries when the basket of a boom-type elevating work platform (EWP) he was using was struck and pulled along by an elevated asphalt bin system, part of an asphalt plant. Initial enquiries indicate the man was in the EWP basket doing maintenance work close to the asphalt bin system, when for reasons yet to be established, the bin and associated components began moving along its tracks without warning. As a result, part of the EWP’s basket was caught by the asphalt bin system and dragged along, injuring the worker. Investigations are continuing.
-
Workplace health and safety alert
Major inspections identify severe corrosion on critical bolts on teacup (cup and saucer) type rides
The purpose of this safety alert is to highlight the risk of a potential catastrophic failure of corroded bolts on amusement rides. During inspection of teacup (cup and saucer) rides the bolts attaching the patron carriage (teacup) were found with severely corroded bolts. The severely corroded mounting bolts cannot be identified without being removed for inspection. The information in this alert applies to bolted joints on any amusement devices that have limited access for inspection.
-
Incident alert
Dangerous falling object incidents in construction
In December 2021, a worker suffered a badly broken arm and puncture wounds to his shoulder after being struck by part of a retractable awning system that fell. Initial enquiries indicate he was a member of a team installing the system, when it appears part of the retractable awning dislodged from the building and fell on him. In January 2022, a piece of aluminium fell from the 17th floor of a high-rise construction site, landing on the roof of a building across the road. It was part of the building’s window system. It appears, the piece of aluminium became jammed and a worker used a pinch bar to release it. As a result, the aluminium piece came out of the end of the window, striking a column and falling out of the building. In a third incident last month, a tile fell from the 50th floor of a high-rise construction site onto the 7th floor pool level. Early investigations indicate a worker had placed the tile against a unit’s balcony balustrade when for reasons yet to be established,
-
Incident alert
Workers injured by stone slabs
In January 2022, two workers (including a young one) suffered serious lower limb and foot injures when several unsecured engineered stone slabs fell from a trolley they were using. A third worker received a laceration when he tried to lift the slabs off the others. The stone slabs weighed approximately 120 kilograms each. Early indications are the trolley appears to have failed. Investigations are continuing.
-
Workplace health and safety alert
Concrete placing boom king post failure
To provide information on the collapse of concrete placing booms and the importance of properly maintaining and inspecting these units in accordance with the Concrete pumping Code of practice 2019.
-
Incident alert
Mobile concrete placing boom overturn incidents
In December 2021, a concreter suffered serious injuries including a cervical spinal fracture and lacerations to his head and body after being struck by a mobile concrete placing boom at a residential construction site. The concreter was part of a team pouring a house slab.
-
Incident alert
Worker struck in abdomen with stun gun
In February 2022, a worker suffered serious injuries after being struck in the abdomen by a loaded captive bolt stun gun (also known as cattle gun, bolt gun, stun gun or stunner). Early investigations revealed the worker was part of a maintenance team and was cleaning the loaded captive bolt gun when it fired.
-
Incident alert
Electrical worker fatality
In February 2022, an electrical worker died in a home ceiling space. It’s believed he was working on the air conditioning system at the time. Investigations are continuing.
-
Incident alert
Worker fatally crushed after car falls off jack
In December 2021, the sole director of a rent-a-car business was crushed to death when the vehicle he was working fell on him. Early investigations revealed the man was repairing the vehicle after it had broken down a few days earlier. It appears the man had removed the front passenger wheel when the car slipped off the bottle jack and crushed him.
-
Incident alert
Apprentice killed by hydraulic hook lift system
A young apprentice was killed after being trapped under part of the hydraulic hook lift system on a heavy rigid truck at a mechanical workshop.
-
Incident alert
Three serious forklift incidents – one fatal
In February 2022, a worker suffered serious leg injuries after being struck by a forklift. Early investigations suggest the man was walking next to the forklift to prevent a load of glass panels from swinging. In March 2022, a worker suffered fatal injuries when he was struck by a forklift, which early investigations indicate was moving and carrying a load. In May 2022, a worker suffered serious injuries to his lower legs when he was struck by a counter-balanced forklift. Early investigations show the worker was walking behind the loading dock area of the warehouse when the forklift reversed out of a truck into the warehouse and struck him. Investigations are continuing.