Charges laid over fatal failure of swing stage scaffold on Gold Coast

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has laid charges against three companies and an executive officer following an investigation into the deaths of two Gold Coast workers in 2008.

The charges allege various breaches of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 for failing to ensure the health and safety of the workers.

The workers were fatally injured in June 2008 when the swing stage scaffold they were using to carry out concrete patchwork on the Pegasus high-rise, then under construction at Broadbeach, failed and fell 26 levels to the ground.

Allscaff Systems, which erected the swing stage, is charged with failing to ensure the plant was erected in a way that ensured it was safe when used properly.

Ralph Smith, Director of Allscaff Systems, is charged with failing to ensure the company complied with its obligations under the Act.

Karimbla Construction Services, which built the high-rise, is charged with breaching obligations as a person in control of a workplace and as project manager.

Pryme Constructions, which undertook the concrete patching, is charged with breaching its obligations to ensure workplace health and safety.

All the complaints are scheduled for mention in the Southport Industrial Magistrates Court on 26 June 2009.