Crane operator fined following crane collapse

The 38-year-old was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 8 July after pleading guilty to a single charge of recklessly engaging in conduct that placed another person or persons at a workplace in danger of serious injury.

The man was also ordered to pay $4,000 in costs.

In October 2023, the offender was operating a 200-tonne mobile crane at a residential development site in Williamstown North, where another 70-tonne crane was also in operation.

As the 200-tonne crane was being packed up for the day, its fully extended boom toppled, causing the crane to stand on its end. The boom then struck the counterweight end of the 70-tonne crane, which was positioned approximately 60 metres away.

Neither operator was injured, although the offender needed assistance to safely evacuate his crane's cabin.

Expert evidence obtained during WorkSafe's investigation found that the 200-tonne crane overturned because it was being luffed down outside of its rated capacity due to the load limiter override switch being activated.

The investigation also identified a number of further unsafe practices at the workplace, including the crane being overloaded multiple times during the day and instances where workers were positioned in close proximity to moving loads, exposing them to a risk of being crushed.

WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said there was no excuse for the offender's unsafe actions given the work required a high risk work licence.

"Ensuring heavy machinery is correctly operated at all times is critical to worksite safety as improper configuration can lead to malfunctions and potential serious injury or death," Mr Jenkin said.

"Crane operators must ensure their equipment is suitable for the task, size and weight of the load and that all safety systems are properly used."

When using cranes, measures to manage the risks include:

• Selecting the proper crane and lifting equipment for the task, size and weight of the load.
• Ensuring cranes are maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and requirements, and operated within their design parameters.
• Checking that crane operators and persons connecting loads have the skills, training and licences to operate safely.
• Creating and adhering to safe systems of work and ensuring all workers are properly trained and competent before commencing the task.
• Considering environmental factors such as weather, ground bearing capacity, overhead and underground services such as power lines and pipes/drains, and ensuring non-essential persons are excluded from the area of operation.
• For construction work, ensuring a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is created and adhered to.