A $25,000 fine, but no injuries

A Perth construction company has been fined $25,000 after a crane toppled over on a building site, even though no-one was injured.

Doric Constructions was found guilty of failing to provide a safe workplace after a mobile crane transporting a concrete panel at the Mindarie Senior School Campus rolled onto its side when its right-hand wheels sank into two unmarked soakwells.

The operator of the crane was not injured and neither was anyone else in the vicinity of the incident.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner, Nina Lyhne said although no-one was injured the potential for injury to people in the vicinity of a falling crane is significant.

"This incident would not have happened if the soakwells had been marked and barricaded so the crane operator could avoid them," Lyhne said.

"The crane's owner had made it clear that he needed to be informed of the position of any soakwells, specifically to avoid an incident such as this."

Lyhne said that when operating larges cranes, it is crucial that someone on site has a clear responsibility to locate underground services or objects and then ensure they are clearly marked out for the crane operator to see.

"The relevant authorities such as Dial Before You Dig should be contacted to locate underground services such as gas, water, sewage and electrical. Other objects such as soakwells should also be located," Lyhne said.

Information from Dial Before You Dig can be located at: www.dialbeforeyoudig.com.au.