A construction company, Caelli Constructions (Vic) Pty Ltd, has been fined $70,000 and had a conviction recorded after a worker fell through a temporary mezzanine floor during construction at the Paula Fox Melanoma and Cancer Centre in Melbourne. Representatives for Caelli Construction (Vic) Pty Ltd did not attend the hearing.
The injured worker was working alone marking out formwork on a mezzanine floor when the plywood floor broke and he fell through because formwork beams underneath the plywood had been removed earlier by a stripping team. Fortunately he became stuck in the scaffold beneath – had the scaffold not been there he would have fallen two levels to the ground, likely resulting in significantly worse injuries.
Having unsupported formwork present where work was occurring posed a clear risk to workers of serious injury or death. Caelli Construction had a duty to develop Safe Work Method Statements, an OHS Plan and risk assessments for all work undertaken. Had they done so adequately and in consultation with employees it is likely that they would have identified such a hazard and prevented this incident.
Read more: WorkSafe Victoria - Prosecution result summaries enforceable undertakings