Published: 19 November 2020
The sole director of the firm, Ranjan Fernando, was also convicted and fined $60,000.
Mr Fernando and Ranjan Fernando Consulting Engineers Pty Ltd were found guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court in January of one count each of failing to ensure persons other than employees were not exposed to risks to health and safety.
The court heard that in February 2015 the company certified structural drawings for a mixed commercial and residential development to be built on the Highbury Road site.
The drawings included plans for the construction of a two-level underground carpark, but failed to include an appropriate retention system for the excavation.
Excavation works for the basement had just been completed in July 2015 when a collapse occurred after heavy rain, leaving two adjacent townhouses teetering on the edge of the 10 metre deep hole.
Tenants living in the properties were forced to evacuate and find alternative housing.
The structural engineering firm which drew up the plans for the excavation and its director were separately convicted and fined a total of $240,000 after pleading guilty to workplace safety breaches in 2018.
WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Julie Nielsen said the collapse could have had catastrophic consequences for workers or for members of the public in the immediate vicinity.
"Thankfully no one was on site at the time of the collapse and the homes that had to be evacuated didn't fall into the pit," Ms Nielsen said.
"But it's clear this company and its director should have been aware both of the risk of collapse and the safety measures that would eliminate or reduce that risk."
Those responsible for planning and carrying out bulk excavations should consider:
- The installation of bored piers around the perimeters of the excavation before excavation commences.
- The installation of rock anchors.
- The progressive installation of sprayed concrete infill panels until the required depth of excavation is reached.