A commercial construction company and a hoist supplier have been fined a total of $45,000 after a 12-kilogram steel plate fell about 15 storeys from a South Melbourne high rise project, narrowly missing a worker on the ground below. The incident could have led to the worker being killed.
L.U. Simon Builders Pty Ltd was fined $25,000 without conviction, plus $5,461 in costs for failing to ensure the workplace was safe and without risks to health. Rigtech Pty Ltd was fined $20,000 without conviction, plus $7,441 in costs, for failing to ensure people other than employees were not exposed to health and safety risks. Both companies had earlier pleaded guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court last month.
In March 2022, two personnel and material hoists supplied and maintained by Rigtech were operating at a construction site managed by L.U. Simon Builders.
One hoist had a manual drop flap system, which was used to cover the space between the hoist and the building to allow trolleys to roll smoothly onto each level. As the hoist ascended, the 12kg steel drop flap fell to the ground between 13-15 storeys, landing about two metres from a worker in the loading bay below.
WorkSafe's investigation found the flap was not attached to the hoist in any way. The operator needed to remove it and place it inside the hoist before ascending or descending to other levels. That day the regular hoist operator was not at work; the replacement operator forgot to retrieve the drop plate before ascending to the upper floors.
The court found L.U. Simon Builders should have provided a hoist with either a fixed drawbridge plate or one that was attached to the hoist. Rigtech should also have completed an inspection report or risk assessment. Read more: WorkSafe news