A horrific worksite accident has left one tradie paralysed for life after he fell headfirst into a concrete water tank.
Last week, the Ballarat Magistrates Court heard employees of water tank installation company Watertank Solutions Victoria recount how a worker tragically fell over three metres head first while on the job.
The company had been hired to repair, drain and clean an in-ground tank at a Yendon property, west of Melbourne, in April 2022, with workers tasked with removing and replacing the metal roof.
Standing at 2.1 metres deep and 3.1 metres from the ground, workers were using metal planks balanced across the outer wall to access and remove the roofing panels.
Two workers – one standing on a plank at the roof apex and another on the ground near the edge of the tank – were trying to shake one of the panels free when they fell.
The 43-year-old worker fell headfirst into the concrete base, suffering severe head and neck injuries that had rendered him paraplegic.
The other worker was lucky to land on his side, only suffering a shoulder injury.
A third worker quickly leapt into action, jumping inside the tank to help the worker with the injured shoulder to hold the “semiconscious” 43-year-old’s head above water while paramedics rushed to the scene.
With the worker unable to move, emergency crews had to use a ratchet strap to pull the man from the tank.
WorkSafe Victoria inspectors quickly arrived on the scene to discover that there was no fall protection in place and no safe work method statement (SWMS) as required for high-risk construction work.
A lengthy investigation found it was well within Watertank Solutions’ power to reduce or eliminate the risk of a fall with a prevention system, such as scaffolding or a fixed ladder, to access the roof and a perimeter guardrail or fall arrest harness at the edge of the tank.
The company entered pleas of guilty to two charges of failing to provide and maintain a safe system of work earlier this month and forced to fork out a $45,000 fine.
In addition to the fine, they were ordered to pay $3960 in costs.
WorkSafe executive director health and safety Sam Jenkin said there was no excuse for failing to take the notorious risk of a fall from heights seriously.
“In this case, the employer failed to take even the most basic of precautions for working at heights and, as a result, one man has suffered catastrophic and life-changing injuries,” Mr Jenkin said.
“This is a serious breach of the employer’s duty to take every reasonable step to keep workers safe – particularly when working with well-known hazards such as heights of two metres or more.”
Take fall safety seriously
Falls from heights continue to be the number one leading cause of injury and fatality in Aussie workplaces, with the construction sector and dodgy site safety responsible for the lion’s share.
If you’re taking on work above ground level, make sure you’ve taken all of the precautionary measures possible across the five levels of controls:
Level 1: Eliminate the risk by performing all or some of the work on the ground or from a solid construction.
Level 2: Use a passive fall prevention device like scaffolds, guardrails, perimeter screens, safety mesh or elevating work platforms.
Level 3: Use a positioning system, such as a travel-restraint system, to keep employees locked into a safe working area.
Level 4: Use a fall arrest system, such as a harness, catch platform or safety nets, to limit the risk of injuries in the event of a fall.
Level 5: Use a fixed or portable ladder or implement administrative controls.
For further information, check out SafeWork Australia’s official guide to managing fall risks on the job.
