GB Galvanising Service Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to provide and maintain a working environment that was safe and without risks to health after an employee was fatally crushed when a suspended load fell from a crane.
In March 2022 the employee was operating a gantry crane when the jig and the attached metal product detached from the crane’s spreader bar and fell onto him, causing his death.
Although WorkSafe found that the company’s training materials instructed employees not to stand or work beneath a suspended load, they did not mandate the use of jig stands to support products being lifted by the crane. CCTV footage of the days leading up to the incident showed employees standing or moving beneath loads being suspended by the crane.
WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said, “It’s not enough for employers to have safety procedures in place – they must also enforce them.”
When using cranes, measures to manage the risks include:
- Selecting the proper crane and lifting equipment for the task, size and weight of the load.
- Ensuring cranes are maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and requirements and operated within their design parameters.
- Checking that crane operators and persons connecting loads have the skills, training and licences to operate safely.
- Creating and adhering to safe systems of work and ensuring all workers are properly trained and competent before commencing the task.
The court imposed a $340,000 fine and an adverse publicity order on GB Galvanising, requiring the company to publish the offence, the consequences and the penalty imposed in an industry publication.
Read more: Metal finisher fined $340,000 after worker's death | WorkSafe Victoria