A construction company has been fined $250,000 (and ordered to pay more than $6000 in costs) after the death of a 19-year-old worker in 2021.
A construction company has been fined $250,000 (and ordered to pay more than $6000 in costs) after the death of a 19-year-old worker in 2021.
PAWS Construction and Maintenance Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace and was fined in the Fremantle Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
In November 2021, a PAWS Construction employee died after suffering a traumatic head injury when he was struck by a sea container drawbridge ramp weighing around 250kg. At the time he was assisting his supervisor to lower the ramp.
Construction company M Construction (WA) Pty Ltd had engaged PAWS Construction to complete the works, including the lowering of the sea container ramp. M Construction has also been prosecuted over the incident and will appear in court in September.
The ramp to be lowered was held in place by two pins. The first pin was removed, and before removing the second pin, the supervisor instructed the worker to stand to the left of the ramp out of the drop zone.
When the second pin was removed the ramp fell quickly to the ground, striking the worker who then suffered fatal injuries.
The workers had not been provided with a safe work procedure or instructions for the raising or lowering of the ramp.
A winch was installed to assist with the raising and lowering of the ramp, but it was not maintained and was not operational at the time of the incident.
WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said the incident was a sad reminder of the need to have safe work procedures in place for all hazardous tasks in a workplace.
"This was a tragic incident that resulted in the death of a 19-year-old worker who had only been employed by the company for three weeks." Ms North said.
"There was no documented procedure or instructions for the task, which clearly should have been treated as hazardous.
"After this incident, the ramp was removed from the sea container so there was no longer any need to raise or lower it.
"Being hit by falling objects is a high-risk area for injuries and fatalities in the construction sector and across other sectors, and I encourage workplace leaders to consult workers and review their controls in relation to preventing objects from falling.
"In considering the types of objects that can fall, it is essential not only to consider dynamic work tasks such as the movement of loads, but also other heavy materials that are installed or stored in such a way that they could fall if something goes wrong.
"Some examples are stored stone slabs, large industrial gates, roller doors and motors for roller doors, ramps that are required to be raised and lowered and similar objects."
