Construction Company Invests $1.2 Million in Safety Upgrades Following Worker Incidents

This is an abridgement of an article posted by Work Safe Victoria.

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In response to serious worker injuries, a construction company has committed over $1.2 million to enhance workplace health and safety. This commitment follows two distinct incidents in 2021 and 2022 where workers were severely injured on infrastructure projects. The Melbourne and Dandenong Magistrates' Courts recently heard the company’s Enforceable Undertaking after facing seven charges for failing to ensure a safe work environment.

The company is required to uphold this commitment, otherwise WorkSafe reserves the right to reinstate the charges.

Incidents Prompting Safety Reforms

The first incident occurred in October 2021 during a Level Crossing Removal Project in Dandenong, where a worker was hit by a reversing dump truck moving along railway lines. This accident led to the amputation of several toes and caused multiple fractures and injuries. In January 2022, a second incident took place at a Level Crossing Removal Project site in Laverton. A labour hire worker, while retrieving equipment, was struck by an excavator, resulting in foot fractures and time off work.

WorkSafe alleges that the company failed to implement adequate safety measures that could have prevented these collisions, including appropriate supervision and updates to work method statements. The cases underscore the need for rigorous systems to protect workers from powered mobile plants.

Key Safety Initiatives in the Enforceable Undertaking

The estimated $1.25 million Enforceable Undertaking outlines several targeted safety initiatives designed to minimise future risks:

Advanced AI Technology: Fitting company and subcontractor machinery with Blindsight AI technology to improve separation between workers and plant. The company will also create educational videos for industry awareness.

Virtual Reality Training: Acquiring two VR units to train 300 workers on site safety, including people and plant separation risks. These units will also be made available to Box Hill TAFE and other industry partners.

"Safe Sites" Campaign: Developing 14 videos and additional materials aimed at educating workers about maintaining safe systems of work and encouraging them to speak up on safety concerns.

Digital Safety Tools: Funding SitePilot software to enhance vehicle and pedestrian management. Five supervisors will be trained to use this technology on active sites.

Psychosocial Safety Audits: Creating a tool to help employers identify and manage psychosocial risks, with support for Wellness in Infrastructure to deliver workshops on mental health and safety.

Support for Safety Education and Diversity: A $89,249 scholarship donation to RMIT University’s Master of Applied Science (Built Environment) program, and funding for RMIT’s Safety and Health Innovation Network (SHINe) and Women in Safety for structured mentoring programs.

A Call for Industry Vigilance

Sam Jenkin, WorkSafe’s Executive Director of Health and Safety, emphasised the critical importance of keeping workers separated from mobile plant. “These incidents should serve as a wake-up call to [the company] and other employers—it's unacceptable to allow unprotected interaction between workers and mobile machinery,” Jenkin said. He commended the substantial investment in safety improvements, seeing it as a step toward preventing future accidents.

Safety Reminders for Employers Using Mobile Plant

WorkSafe issued several reminders for employers in construction:

• Implement and routinely update a traffic management plan for pedestrians and mobile plant.
• Ensure pedestrians are separated from moving machinery and that an effective communication system is in place.
• Set up signage and barriers as needed, especially in low-visibility areas.
• Conduct regular inspections and maintenance of machinery and vehicles.
• Verify that equipment operators hold the necessary high-risk work licences.
• Engage employees and health and safety representatives in discussions about safety concerns.