Pre-caster’s failed safety kills close friend

The need for multiple subcontractors working on major construction projects to ensure the health and safety of workers not directly employed by them has been highlighted in the NSW Industrial Court recently.

Failure to ensure the safety of a temporary support system on a housing development at Rhodes in 2005 resulted in the death of a supervisor and injuries to three workers.

Subcontractor Girotto Precast was fined $215,000 for the incident and the company’s director, Giuseppe Girotto, was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond.

Girotto’s company was subcontracted to supply, coordinate and erect pre-cast wall panels and hollow floor planks for the Rhodes Bay housing development site.

Girotto Precast had subcontracted erection of the wall panels and floor planks to another company, Hi-Rise Erections.

On 8 February 2005, pre-cast floor panels on level three of the site collapsed, killing the Hi-Rise supervisor and injuring three other workers.

A WorkCover investigation identified a number of factors that could have contributed to the incident, including inadequate support timber and brackets, which failed to prevent 2–3 tonnes of precast concrete floor panels falling to the floor below.

In handing down sentence, Justice Haylen said there was need for deterrence considering Girotto Precast’s previous conviction and that the company continued to operate in a highly specialised, inherently dangerous industry.

At no time were checks made by Girotto Precast or the principal contractor, Baseline, on the temporary supports to ensure they were installed adequately.

WorkCover NSW acting CEO Vicki Telfer said the supervisor who died had been a close friend of Girotto and the tragedy had led to the company significantly investing in upgrading its work processes.

“Girotto Precast has also re-trained its senior managers and the managers of its subcontractors,” said Telfer.