WorkSafe Victoria has issued a safety alert following the injury of a worker who fell 3m onto a concrete slab when the void platform they were working on collapsed. The void platform used was not structurally sound, was not adequately secured and had been cut and modified by the installer.
Void platforms are a passive fall prevention tool that can be used to allow safe work around stair voids during construction by preventing falls. Falls in construction are a leading cause of fatalities and injuries in the industry.
- Void platforms should be designed and installed only by a competent person, such as a manufacturer or engineer.
- A competent person should inspect void platforms to ensure they are safe and have not been tampered with or modified.
- A void platform must not be removed until the permanent stairs or other fall prevention has been installed and all works above the void are completed.
For more on preventing falls in construction, including links to construction Compliance Codes for fall prevention, refer to our OHSReps page Prevention of Falls - OHS Reps.
Read more: Employee falls through stair void on housing construction site | WorkSafe Victoria