Builders and hoist supplier fined after steel plate falls from high-rise

The Melbourne Magistrates' Court fined L.U. Simon Builders Pty Ltd $25,000 without conviction in June and ordered it to pay $5,461 in costs. The company had pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the workplace was safe and without risks to health. Rigtech Pty Ltd was fined $20,000 without conviction in the same court last month, with costs of $7,441, after pleading guilty to failing to ensure people other than employees were not exposed to health and safety risks.

The incident occurred in March 2022 at a construction site managed by L.U. Simon Builders. Two personnel and material hoists supplied and maintained by Rigtech were operating at the site. One used a manual steel drop flap to bridge the gap between the hoist and the building so trolleys could move smoothly onto each level.

As the hoist travelled upwards, the approximately 12-kilogram plate fell between 13 and 15 storeys into the loading bay, landing about two metres from a worker. WorkSafe's investigation found the plate was not attached to the hoist. Operators had to remove it and place it inside before moving between levels. The regular operator was absent that day, and the replacement forgot to retrieve the plate before ascending.

The court found L.U. Simon Builders had failed to reduce the falling-object risk by providing a hoist with either a fixed drawbridge plate or a manual plate secured to the hoist's internal wall or roof using chains or a lanyard system.

It was also reasonably practicable for Rigtech to complete an inspection report or risk assessment when installing the hoist. This should have required workers to check whether the drop flap was fixed or attached, and advice on any rectification work needed if it was unsecured.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said more than a hundred Victorian workers were seriously injured each year by objects falling from construction sites. "In this case, both companies failed to take action over the obvious risk posed by the unattached drop plate and it could have had catastrophic consequences for those on the ground," Mr Jenkin said.

"The construction industry is inherently high risk and WorkSafe will continue to take strong action against employers not doing everything they can to protect workers and others, even when an injury has thankfully not occurred."

How Blue Safe can help: Our free SWMS tool can help you document hazards and control measures for high-risk construction work involving hoists and falling objects. Create a free SWMS