OHS Incidents

26/07/2011
US President tribute to workers' fight for safety

US President, Barrack Obama

US President Barack Obama issued a proclamation in observance of Workers Memorial Day on April 28 by recognizing the workplace protections won by

generations of workers throughout the years and recommitting his administration to ensuring the health and welfare of working Americans.

Notably, he drew attention to the importance of organised labour in the struggle for safe workplaces.

01/02/2011
Formworker falls 9.7 metres

A 27 year old formworker fell 9.7 metres on the BS & JH Bailey Pty. Ltd 3-storey apartment site at Caringbah, NSW on January 22.
The worker stood on the hop up to gain access to the formwork on the external face of the lift shaft. As he did so, the metal scaffold plank gave way and he “bumped his way” down a narrow air conditioning duct to the basement car park.
He sustained serious injuries.
Investigation has revealed the scaffold hop-up was not fitted with a spreader bar when erected.

01/02/2011
Dogman injured by falling screens

A 40 year old dogman sustained serious injuries when a load of metal screens he had slung slipped and fell onto him.
The incident occurred on January 19 at the Billbergia site, Olympic Park, Sydney. It involved failure of the 'Z' bolts holding a four leg chain attached to the tower crane hook.
Read the full report with photos from CFMEU NSW Safety Officer Rick Rech.

26/05/2010
Decoupling truck trailer fatality

On 20 May 2010, a 54 years old male person residing at Croyden NSW, sustained massive head injuries while attempting to decouple a truck dog trailer at the site known as Denistone Public school. He was transported to Royal North Shore Hospital by ambulance and died later that day as a result of his injuries. 

The matter was reported to WorkCover, the Police and ambulance who attended the scene of the incident following the 000 call.

07/05/2010
Ladder fatality, NSW

On 7 May 2010, a 52 years old man who suffered head injuries when he fell from an unsecured ladder, died as a result of his injuries. The victim was undertaking some painting touch-up at the TAFE College Kogarah NSW. He was transported to the nearby Hospital by ambulance but died some four days later as a result of the injuries he sustained.

The matter was reported to WorkCover and the police who attended the scene of the incident.

09/11/2009
Quick thinking crane crew averts catastrophe

Untold numbers of workers and passers-by might have been seriously injured in central Sydney on Monday November 9, were it not for the quick thinking of a crane operator and his dogger.

The incident occurred around 8.00am on the Parkview Pty Ltd site at 710 George Street – just as the Haymarket area of the city was starting to buzz with workers and commuters.

The Favco tower crane operator was unloading a 6 tonne site shed on to the back of a semi-trailer, parked in the loading area at the front of the site.

31/08/2009
NSW worker injured in fall

A carpenter sustained head injuries after falling four metres through a hole into an underground car park at the Austar Constructions project, in Auburn in Sydney’s west on 31 August. Twenty-two townhouses are being built on the site.

The worker was taken to Westmead Hospital, and WorkCover has issued two safety notices.

A CFMEU NSW preliminary investigation has revealed the site had numerous safety issues, including: