WorkSafe Urges Construction Workers to Take Care with Heights

WorkSafe Victoria has urged people working at heights to do the job properly – without taking shortcuts – in order to minimise risk.

The announcement follows the death of a construction worker who fell at a domestic construction site in Northcote, Melbourne in early June.

The 59-year old man was balancing on a single plank of wood, loosely attached to homemade scaffolding when he fell three metres to the ground. The man suffered serious injuries, and died later in hospital after being taken off life support.

WorkSafe Victoria’s Construction and Utilities Director Chris Webb said that construction is one of the fasted growing industries in Victoria, with falls from heights constituting one of the biggest workplace killers.

“Construction works is deadline-driven and the temptation to take shortcuts and just get the work done as soon as possible. However, if you’re using make-shift work platforms and working without protection, you’re endangering your life,” Mr Webb said.

The incident marks the eleventh workplace fatality for Victoria for 2010 and the sixth Victorian worker to die after a fall from heights since the start of 2009.

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