Two construction site falls spark warnings

Two falls at construction sites in less than 24 hours have prompted warnings about safety within the industry in Victoria.

A man in his 40s suffered life-threatening injuries after he fell about three metres from a ladder at a townhouse under construction at Rosebud.

This incident followed the death of a man in his 30s after he fell about 5 metres into a trench at a housing estate at Wallan.

WorkSafe Victoria is urging employers to be aware of the serious risks when working from height.

WorkSafe’s Acting Executive Director of Health and Safety, Michael Coffey, said the two incidents were a tragic reminder that falls can have catastrophic consequences for workers.

“Falls are an all too common occurrence in the construction industry, and employers must do everything they can to protect their workers,” Coffey said.

“That one worker has died and another has been seriously injured in this way is simply unacceptable.”

Coffey said employers had to ensure that the risk of workers falling on worksites was controlled, and that employees followed safe systems of work at all times.

“The control measures are well known and readily available, so there is no excuse for not having them in place,” he said.

WorkSafe is investigating both incidents.

According to WorkSafe, employers can eliminate the risk by doing all or some of the work on the ground or from a solid construction.

They can also use:

• fall prevention devices such as scaffolds, perimeter screens, guardrails, elevated work platforms or safety mesh;
• travel-restraint systems, industrial rope-access systems, catch platforms and fall arrest harness systems;
• suitable equipment for working at height — eg, a step platform with handrails provides a larger, more stable surface than a ladder.
   

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