NSCA Foundation

Crane fall crushes car in Brisbane


Thursday, 25 May, 2017

It has been reported that a crane has fallen and crushed a car at a Brisbane building site on 24 May. It was speculated that the crash was most likely caused by soft ground after a high tide overnight. Luckily it appears that no-one was hurt in the incident.

The construction sector continues to have a high number of workplace injuries and fatalities, and a number of these tragic incidents involved working with or around machinery such as cranes, front-end loaders, elevated work platforms, forklifts, skid steer loaders, concrete trucks and other types of powered mobile plant.

“It is critical that employers outline to workers the work that needs to be done and the potential risks involved, and identify how the risks must be controlled. Appropriate training and clear exclusion zones are essential, because pedestrians and powered mobile machinery simply do not mix,” said WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Marnie Williams.

According to WorkSafe Victoria, safety measures that should be considered when working on a powered mobile plant include:

  • Operators must be appropriately trained and competent.
  • Ensure machinery is regularly inspected and maintained.
  • If a traffic management plan is required, ensure it is reviewed and updated as the site changes.
  • Workers and members of the public (such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorists) must be isolated and separated from powered machinery and vehicles.
  • Ensure appropriate signage is in place and erect barriers where appropriate.
  • Identify and control visibility issues, particularly if lighting is poor (eg, fog, rain, night works).
NSCA Foundation is a member based, non-profit organisation working together with members to improve workplace health and safety throughout Australia. For more information and membership details click here
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