A construction worker, who plunged 13 floors down a ventilation shaft on a Perth construction site, was not wearing a safety harness when she fell to her death.
A German national, in Australia on a holiday working visa, fell from the 15th floor to the 2nd floor at an East Perth construction site last week. The site’s building contractor said the worker had been working on site for three months and had worn a safety harness the whole time without any problems.
Unfortunately when the accident occurred the worker had already taken off her safety harness at the end of her shift. Colleagues reported the worker had been packing up when she realised she had missed applying silicon to a panel. She decided to finish the work without putting her safety equipment back on.
Further reports suggest the worker was standing on a plastic bucket at the time when she slipped and plunged down the ventilation shaft.
The CFMEU has reported that their investigations found there were no suitable harness points where the worker was. The closest harness point was a few metres from where they were working, located on the floor, and was unsafe even if it had been used.
This highlights the importance of safety awareness and training, especially in the correct and safe use of equipment. While the worker had previously worn supplied PPE without fail, they weren’t wearing it at the time of the accident. What appears to be a moment’s lack of concentration has ended in a horrific incident.
For more information on fall hazards in the workplace, click here for SafeWork SA’s Code of Practice for Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
