Yesterday's $400,000 fine for Clark Cranes is a slap in the face for the families and construction workers affected after the horrific workplace accident at a Box Hill construction site.
A missing split pin caused a tub of concrete weighing several tonnes to plummet to the ground crushing and killing Shaun Burns 48, and leaving John Babich, then 28, permanently in a wheelchair.
The CraneSafe green sticker program safety check would have avoided this tragic accident. This program is considered an industry standard and critical to the prevention of construction accidents and injuries. The program is endorsed by the Crane Industry Council, WorkSafe and CFMEU.
Victorian State Secretary of the CFMEU, John Setka said, "we are all at a loss as to why Clark Cranes will not adhere to the safety checks in order to receive a green sticker, with incidents in the past, this 'roadworthy' check, which only costs between five and six hundred dollars, is treated as an industry standard, but clearly we need to push for legislation on the green sticker safety inspection program to avoid any future loss of life and injury."
Adam Olsen, CFMEU Organiser who was on site on that tragic day said, "the fine handed out yesterday is disgusting when you consider not only was there a death, another worker became a paraplegic.
"Over 100 workers on the site that day have all been affected in some way, many were too traumatised to return to work when the site reopened following the investigation, and many have suffered ongoing mental health issues as a workplace fatality is extremely confronting and understandably too much for some to handle."
This is an industry where safety should be paramount, Clark Cranes continue to display little or no regard for such protocols. Fortunately for Michael Clark, Director of Clark Cranes, the workplace manslaughter laws weren't introduced until July 1st, 2020.
We hope you go home to your family and sleep very well tonight, Michael Clark.
Yours in safety,
John Setka, State Secretary CFMEU Vic/Tas
