Issue Date:  -  Friday, 18 August 2006

Construction company fined $25,000 over toppled crane

A Perth construction company has been fined $25,000 over a crane that toppled over on a Mindarie building site.

Doric Constructions (Australia) Pty Ltd was found guilty of failing to provide a safe workplace and fined in the Perth Magistrates Court this week.

A mobile crane was transporting a concrete panel at the Mindarie Senior School Campus when the right-hand wheels of the crane sank into two unmarked soakwells and the crane rolled onto its side.

The crane operator was not injured, and neither was anyone else in the vicinity of the incident.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Nina Lyhne said today that although no-one was injured in the incident, the potential for disaster was very real.

“This incident would not have happened if the soakwells had been marked and barricaded so the crane operator could avoid them,” Ms Lyhne said.

“The crane’s owner had made it clear that he needed to be informed of the position of any soakwells, specifically to avoid an incident such as this.

“We had a similar incident earlier this year in which a mobile crane tipped over while lifting a fiberglass swimming pool into a back yard.  The operator was not aware he was driving over a water main.

“When operating these large cranes it is crucial that someone has clear responsibility for locating underground services or objects and ensuring they are clearly marked for the crane operator.

“The relevant authorities – such as Dial Before You Dig – should be contacted to locate underground services such as gas, water, sewage and electrical, and other objects such as soakwells should also be located.

“Precautions should be taken to ensure the crane will remain stable if underground services or objects are in the vicinity, and it should also be established what level of weight can be borne by any underground object.

“No injuries resulted from either of these incidents, but the potential for damage to surrounding objects and buildings and serious injury to people in the vicinity of a falling crane is significant.”

Further information on crane safety can be obtained by telephoning WorkSafe on 9327 8777 or on the website at www.worksafe.wa.gov.au.  Information on Dial Before You Dig can be located at www.dialbeforeyoudig.com.au.

Media contact:
Caroline De Vaney
9327 8744
0408 927563 (media enquiries only).