Demolition company fined $200,000 after uncontrolled collapse

Mann Group Vic Pty Ltd was sentenced in the Melbourne County Court on Friday after earlier pleading guilty to a single charge of performing high risk construction work without first having prepared a safe work method statement (SWMS) for the work.

The court heard the company was engaged by the site's principal contractor to demolish the existing multi-storey building.

In October 2022, two workers were cutting a steel roof truss from a raised scissor lift when there was unexpected structural movement. The workers paused and watched the truss sag and bend before one of the roof purlins attached to the truss came to rest on the scissor lift, leaving the workers trapped seven metres above ground.

Following an initial rescue attempt by Fire Rescue Victoria, a 60-tonne crane was ultimately used to safely retrieve the uninjured workers several hours after the incident.

A WorkSafe investigation found that while five SWMS and a demolition work plan were provided to the principal contractor, none of these covered the manual demolition of roof trusses.

Mann Group admitted it did not prepare a SWMS that stated the hazards from the demolition of roof trusses and the risk of serious injury or death arising from an uncontrolled collapse, and described the measures required to control the risk and how they were to be implemented.

WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said the close call could have had disastrous consequences.

"The nature of the collapse was unexpected and uncontrolled, meaning it could have easily turned out much, much worse," Mr Jenkin said.

"Safe Work Method Statements are there to ensure everyone on site knows how tasks will be undertaken safely, and WorkSafe will take strong action against employers who fail to prepare and implement them as required."

When undertaking High Risk Construction Work (HRCW), duty holders must:

• Ensure HRCW is not performed unless a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is prepared.
• Ensure that once a SWMS has been developed, all HRCW work is undertaken in accordance with that SWMS.
• Stop work immediately, or as soon as it is safe to do so, once they become aware a SWMS is not being followed.
• Review the SWMS whenever there is a change in the work being undertaken or if there is an indication that control measures are not adequate.
• A copy of the SWMS must be retained for the duration of any HRCW.