Employers and workers are being reminded that even a small falling object can hit hard, so take steps now to secure work sites
Falling objects remain a leading cause of workplace harm in the building industry and pose a risk to members of the public near work sites, with more than 280 construction workers injured since the start of 2023 and countless near miss incidents in recent years, WorkSafe Victoria has warned.
To highlight the risk, WorkSafe Victoria has published an animated video outlining the circumstances and factors that led to a sprinkler head falling 26 storeys from a Melbourne construction site in March 2020, landing close to workers at street level.
WorkSafe Victoria’s dropped object calculator – which allows users to select the weight of an object to discover how much damage it could cause when falling from a certain height – estimates the sprinkler head would have struck the ground at more than 153 kilometres per hour, with the same force as being hit by a car on the street.
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The video was produced as part of an Enforceable Undertaking worth more than $195,000 entered into with Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd following the incident, which also includes funding the promotion of educational materials and a scholarship.
WorkSafe Victoria executive director health and safety Sam Jenkin urges construction workers and duty holders to watch the video, which uses investigation findings to recreate the incident and explains the steps that duty holders should have taken to reduce the risk.
“Every year hundreds of workers are seriously injured by falling objects,” Jenkin says.
“Alarmingly, WorkSafe inspectors continue to see near misses where objects fall from construction sites – and it’s only luck that prevents someone below being seriously injured.”
To watch the video, visit: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2024-10/catching-risks-falling-objects-they-strike