OHS Incidents

02/02/2012
More safety incidents shut Cotter Dam Extension

WorkSafe ACT has issued another stop work order for part of the Cotter Dam Extension Project in Canberra because of two further safety incidents at the site. Cotter Dam ACT

In one incident, a crane cable was severed while the power was on. In the second, a bolt came off a lower section of a crane, compromising its entire structure.

10/01/2012
Compay fined over Grafton worker death

THE construction company behind the 2008 redevelopment of Grafton Shoppingworld has been fined $35,000 by the Industrial Court of NSW over the death of former Grafton man, Lee Tapping, in a decision handed down on December 16.

Mr Tapping died after a 210kg concrete mould fell on him, striking him to the head and body on April 3, 2008.

Read more: The Northern Star .

02/11/2011
QLD worker killed by Formwork Shutter

The CFMEU announces with great sadness that yet another worker has been killed on site, this time at the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus on Monday, October 31.

The site foreman, 65, was crushed to death when a lifting point on a formwork shutter failed.

Workers on the site scrambled to free the foreman from beneath the shutter and paramedics tried in vain to save his life.

24/10/2011
Fatality from Toyota Plant incident, Altona

It is with much sadness and regret, that the CFMEU informs members of a fatality in Victoria.

A 49 year old asbestos worker (from ATS), who was married with two teenage children, passed away on Saturday, October 22, after an accident on Wednesday October 19. 

He was operating an Elevated Work Platform (knuckle boom - boom length less than 11 meters: JLG 450 model), and was crushed between the basket and a metal roof purlin, while removing asbestos roof sheets at the Toyota Plant at Altona.

06/09/2011
Jailed for nail gun shooting

 A roof tiler has been convicted and sentenced to four months jail after shooting an apprentice with a nail-gun causing him to lose the sight in one eye.

  “Employers and supervisors have clear responsibilities to ensure equipment is well-maintained and that the people using them are trained and have a very clear idea of what can happen through misuse.

25/07/2011
Crane Operator Killed Brisbane

The CFMEU deeply regrets to have to announce  that there was a fatal accident involving a 15 tonne Franna Crane on Friday July 22 at approx 10.30am, on the D’Agliular Highway near Wamuram in Queensland.

The crane driver, aged 53, died at the scene.  The dogger, 48, is in intensive care after many hours of surgery to repair a torn aorta and other serious injuries, including broken ribs.

Qld Police and Workplace Heath & Safety Qld are investigating and haven’t ruled out mechanical failure.

22/06/2011
Never forget: swing stage deaths

June 21 marks the third anniversary of the horrific swing stage scaffold collapse at the Meriton Pegasus Apartments job on the Gold Coast, in which CFMEU members Chris Gear and Steve Sayer plunged tragically to their deaths.

10/06/2011
Worker killed in scaffold collapse WA

The worker tragically killed near Dampier port on Saturday June 4 was working for Celtic Scaffolding.

The task he was performing was dismantling the suspended scaffolding from under the jelly ( this was Layer modular scaffold system).

The CFMEU understands that the scaffolding the worker was working on then fell to the water below taking him with it ( at approx 1pm).

His hard hat was spotted, an attempt was made to retrieve him but this was unsuccessful.

Police rescue retrieved the worker's body around 11:30pm.

31/05/2011
Worked killed in drilling rig collapse

CFMEU Vic Health & Safety Unit Officer Gerry Ayers writes:

Worker killed in drilling rig collapse

24/05/2011
SA work safety regulator under investigation

SA Government finally moves on review of OHS laws to improve compliance. SA Unions say we need union right of entry and a proactive inspectorate if we are going to prevent death and injury in the workplace.

View the ABC Report.