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Incident alert
Formworkers suffer heat stress
In February 2019, two workers were taken to hospital with one admitted for heat syncope (a mild form of heat illness). The workers had been preparing formwork for a concrete pour at a construction site. Three other workers also reported feeling unwell and were treated onsite by emergency services.
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Workplace health and safety alert
Land-borne inflatable devices becoming airborne
The purpose of this safety alert is to highlight the risk of land-borne inflatable devices (such as a jumping castle or slide) becoming airborne if they are not adequately anchored. This alert provides guidance to owners, suppliers, hirers and those supervising the operation of the inflatable about minimising the risk of the device becoming airborne.
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Workplace health and safety alert
Tower crane hoist rope and brake failures
The purpose of this safety alert is to highlight the risks of hoist rope and brake failure on tower cranes. Employers, builders, workers and crane operators should apply the principles in this alert to any crane with a hoist rope.
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Incident alert
Worker fatally crushed by steel pipe
In December 2018, a worker died when he was crushed by a steel pipe which fell off the back of a truck. The worker and two others were unloading two 12m steel pipes, each weighing 1.8 tonnes, one at a time with a forklift. After the ratchet straps were released, it appears one of the pipes rolled, striking the stanchions and causing them to fail. The pipe continued rolling and fell off the truck, landing on and crushing the worker’s chest and head. In January 2019, workers were loading large pipe tees (a T-shaped pipe junction) weighing 500kg onto a trailer. The workers identified that the strapping of the tees onto timber pallets was not adequate for the size and weight of the load. One worker climbed onto the trailer to place additional strapping on one tee. While he was still on the trailer, a high reach forklift operator loaded another pipe tee onto the trailer. The tee slid forward off the forklift tines and struck him, knocking him off the trailer and continuing to fall off
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Incident alert
Fatal falls on work sites
In December 2018, the owner of an industrial workplace was killed when he fell through a roof on an unapproved structure. The man was attempting to dismantle and remove the structure, which consisted of an open steel awning with tin roof panelling. In January 2019, a man was killed when he fell from height at a construction site. Early investigations indicate he could have fallen from the roof or other equipment set up onsite including a ladder and A-frame trestles with planks. Investigations into these incidents are continuing.
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Workplace health and safety alert
Narrow precast wall panel collapse
The purpose of this safety alert is to inform workers, employers, builders and designers of the risk of sideways collapse of narrow concrete wall panels.
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Incident alert
Two people electrocuted on a rural property
In December 2018, a mother and her daughter were electrocuted on a rural property after contacting a length of electric fencing type wire that was energised. The electric fencing wire was run from the bull bar of a truck to a tree stump on the property.
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Incident alert
Worker suffers serious crush injuries in concrete pump hopper
In November 2018, a concrete pump operator has sustained serious injuries when his arm was caught in moving parts within the receiving hopper of a concrete pump. Early investigations indicate the worker was in the process of cleaning inside the concrete pump hopper when a moving component activated and seriously injured his arm.
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Workplace health and safety alert
Safe support of overhead services - Insert anchors
The purpose of this health and safety alert is to highlight the risks of falling overhead building services caused by the failure of insert anchors. Overhead building services include air conditioning ducts, cable trays, water pipes and waste pipes.
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Incident alert
Worker fatally run over by tractor he was operating
In November 2018, a worker on a rural property died when he was crushed by the wheels of the tractor he was operating. Initial findings suggest he was spraying herbicide on a sugar cane crop and got out of the tractor to re-fill the spray tanks which had been retro-fitted underneath the tractor. It appears the tractor rolled forward over him while he was under it re-filling the tanks. Investigations are continuing.
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Incident alert
Fatal fall from boat in marina yard
In November 2018, a man died when he fell from a boat on a hardstand area at a marina. Early investigations indicate he landed on the ground after falling from the rear of the boat near portable stairs used to access the boat while in dry dock. Investigations are continuing.