West Gate Bridge collapse anniversary takes fourth life in nine days

16 October 2009

A construction worker died today after being struck on the head by a hose from a concrete pump at the former Pentridge Prison at Coburg.

The 46-year-old Greensborough man was smoothing concrete when a concrete pump slipped sidewards when supports sunk into the ground.

Coming on the 39^th anniversary of the West Gate Bridge collapse which killed 35 and injured many workers, today’s death is the fourth Victoria work related death in nine days.  

A WorkSafe team is investigating today’s incident.

WorkSafe has again called on employers and workers to review their safety practices and ensure they meet contempory standards.  

“The community does not have to accept that being killed or maimed at work is a risk that is just part of the job,” Mr Merritt said.

“Safety has to be a partnership involving employers and workers. If relying on ‘industry practice’ or ‘the way we’ve always done it’ is your approach to safety, you’re taking a shortcut to potential disaster.

“Incidents like today’s, three other fatalities and the three potential fatalities in the past nine days should trigger immediate safety reviews in every workplace in Victoria.”

Twenty-two people have been killed at work this year compared with 16 at the same time last year. In the 2008-09 financial year, more than 28,600 people were hurt at work including 72 with life-threatening injuries.

Work Safe Week events are being held across Victoria from 26–30 October. To see events near you or activities touching on your industry go to www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/worksafeweek. 

A range of WorkSafe publications are available online along with information about particular risks, industries and occupations at www.worksafe.vic.gov.au or call the free and confidential advisory service on 1800 136 089.

Small businesses can sign up for a WorkSafe-funded free and independent three-hour consultancy (details at www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/smallbusiness).

Recent incidents

Tuesday 6 October: 1) A man suffered serious injuries to his head and upper body as he was re-positioning a mobile wood chipper on a steep road when it rolled and pinned him between it and a truck. 

2) A Lower Templestowe man, 47, died from crushing injuries after a tractor he was driving became entangled in a steel wire which was acting as a guy rope to support poles for a canopy over a Wandin North orchard.   

Wednesday 7 October:  A man aged in his 50s died at Bannockburn near Geelong while operating a boom lift. He was found crushed between the machine’s bucket and the roof of a building in which he was working. 

Thursday 8 October: A farm worker was run over by a tractor on a Werribee South vegetable farm, suffered serious injuries to his pelvis and was flown to hospital.

Monday 12 October: A 45-year-old man died at Gorae West near Portland while working on his tractor which rolled forward and on to him.

Thursday 15 October: A 46-year old man died at a Coburg construction site.

To be confirmed: A farmer suffered serious injuries when his tractor rolled or flipped on a farm at Tanjil South in West Gippsland. He is in hospital in Melbourne.