Casa Engineering (Brisbane) Pty Ltd

Incident description:

A worker's foot was run over by a mobile crane whilst guiding the steel purlins that the crane was transporting. As he was guiding the purlins around the columns, his foot was crushed by the crane's front tyre.

WHSQ investigation findings:

The investigation found that there were no safe systems of work in place for the task of guiding the purlins around the site.

Court result:

The defendant was found guilty and fined $35,000. No conviction was recorded.

Considerations for prevention:

Employers should give consideration to the development of a traffic management plan and safe operating procedures when working with cranes and mobile plant. Employers must follow the risk assessment process to identify hazards and associated risks created from the task. Workers should be provided with information, instruction and training in safe operating procedures to follow when working around cranes and mobile plant.

Visit the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland website for more information on:

• Mobile Crane Code of Practice 2006 and Plant Code of Practice 2005
• assessing the risks associated with working with or around moving plant and forklifts
• conducting risk assessments
• implementing controls or evaluating or monitoring them, and
• training staff as a control measure to manage risks associated with workplace hazards.