Crane incident results in $170k improvements to health and safety

A steel fabrication company has agreed to spend almost $170,000 on improving health and safety measures after a frame weighing 30 tonnes toppled at its Corio factory.

The Geelong Magistrates Court heard Thornton Engineering Australia had entered an enforceable undertaking (a legally enforceable agreement that involves a duty holder promising to take agreed actions) while facing charges of allowing an employee to take part in a high-risk activity without the appropriate licence.

Other charges include failing to provide and maintain safe systems of work as well as failing to notify WorkSafe of an incident and failing to preserve an incident site.

The incident took place in August 2022, as a worker was directed to operate two overhead gantry cranes – which were not properly synchronised – to lift and rotate a 30-tonne steel frame 180 degrees to allow fabrication from another angle.

The issue occurred when the frame was being hoisted. It became overbalanced, causing it to fall and hit a wall of the workplace, damaging the crane, working equipment, and placing the worker under high risk.

The worker, who had not performed the task before, failed to proceed with the task inside the proper safety requirements. He also did not hold the required rigging licence, and the company did not have documented procedures, drawings or written plans for undertaking the lift.

WorkSafe alleges it was reasonably practicable for the company to have ensured workers were appropriately licensed for the task, that it had documented plans and procedures in place for doing the task, and that it notified WorkSafe following the incident and preserved the scene until inspectors arrived.

The estimated $168,900 undertaking requires the company to:

• Host two industry forums for students at the Geelong Tech School to help educate the next generation of trade workers.
• Lead creation of a comprehensive guidance manual on the development of lifting plans specifically tailored for steel fabrication.
• Upgrade its existing gantry cranes to enable automated synchronisation and train workers in its use.
• Invest in a technology upgrade to allow factory floor workers and contractors to access online Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) and lifting plans.
• Donate $25,000 to the Geelong Tech School to support specialty programs.

Although there were no fatalities from this incident, the worker and others in the vicinity were put under high risk of either injury or worse. WorkSafe recently issued a $650,000 fine against Saferoads after a 34-year-old worker died on site after an unrestrained barrier fell from the truck onto the delivery driver underneath.

WorkSafe’s executive director for health and safety, Sam Jenkin, spoke about how this incident could have had a tragic outcome.

“Workers must be properly trained and licensed for the work they are asked to do, and employers must have safe systems of work in place, including written plans and procedures for how to do a job safely,” Jenkin said.

“It is pleasing to see that this company has since agreed to commit to important safety improvements in its own workplace, as well as supporting students and others in the industry to operate safely.”