Fine follows formwork collapse that knocked over scissor lift
In Queensland, a sales consultant for a formwork company has been fined after the formwork he provided collapsed, knocking over a scissor lift with two workers in the scissor lift at the time.
Incident
On 6 April 2023, the formwork sales consultant attended a Darra construction site. The man sold and hired out formwork, attended sites to give tutorials and demonstrate the best way to erect the system, and organised the drawing of plans in-house.
On that day, an initial tutorial to the workers of the construction company working on the project was provided. However, the formwork was neither anchored nor braced according to the plans.
Being around 4.6 m high, 3.4 m wide and 24.7 m in length, when it collapsed it knocked over a 3 m-high scissor lift that had two workers in it at the time.
One of the workers suffered a fractured knee, elbow and lacerations after jumping from the scissor lift, while the other remained in the lift and was crushed by the formwork — suffering traumatic complex facial fractures.
The formwork sales consultant was also injured, suffering lacerations from the fallen formwork.
Sentencing
On the basis that he failed to ensure the formwork was erected in accordance with the plans; that training was provided to workers on the task of erecting the formwork; and that during the erection of the formwork, supervision was provided, the sales consultant was sentenced in the Richlands Magistrates Court on 16 June 2025 for breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld).
Having been found to have failed to comply with his health and safety duty as a worker, to take reasonable care that his acts or omissions do not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons, Magistrate Quinn had regard in imposing a sentence for the need for general and specific deterrence and denunciation.
In mitigation, Quinn accepted that the defendant entered an early plea of guilty, cooperated with the investigation and the administration of justice, had no criminal history, demonstrated remorse, and was of good character. The man was fined $15,000.
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