Avoidable Fatal Fall Bankrupts Construction Company

In many workplaces, communication can often mean the difference between safety and fatal accidents. When used effectively, communication can be a key enabler in creating a safe workplace. A concrete company in Victoria, Concord Group Pty Ltd, is being fined $650 000 for the death of an employee who fell 12 metres off of a platform on one of their construction sites. The jury’s verdict rendered the concrete company guilty for failing to create and uphold a safe working environment. The judge imposed a fine of $325 000 for each offence under Victoria’s Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The 54 year old labourer was working at an apartment complex in Melbourne drilling whilst on a four-storey-high, wooden platform inside an open shaft. The shaft gave way and resulted in his death. The platform had been composed days prior to the incident, however it was labelled as dangerous when other labourers discovered that tools would be able to fall off of it. The employer on site failed to communicate the danger of the platform, and that employees could not work on it. Following the incident an engineer inspected the platform finding it was completely unsuitable for its purpose, claiming the likelihood of an accident occurring was inevitable. The WorkSafe Victoria Executive Director of Health and Safety, Julie Nielsen commented on the case, “This death could have been easily avoided if other workers has been warned about the unsafe platform.” 

There is never an excuse for avoidable incidents such as this, when the necessary information and guidance needed to prevent fatal incidents is readily accessible.

Contact Safe Industries for more information on workplace safety guidelines.