Worker killed, another critical, in wall collapses as wild winds hit Sydney

A worker has died and another critical in separate structure collapses resulting from dangerous winds in Sydney.

Emergency crews rushed to the suburb of Carlingford in Sydney’s north-west after strong gusts knocked over a brick wall. The wall was under construction at the time.

Police have confirmed a 30-year-old man was killed after he was trapped beneath the rubble. SafeWork investigators will attend the scene and police will prepare a report for the coroner.

In a separate incident; a worker is reported to have suffered critical head injuries after a double-brick wall under construction fell on top of him at Thomas Boulton Circuit, Kellyville NSW. The injured man’s workmates pulled him unconscious from underneath a pile of bricks which had collapsed during highly windy conditions.

CareFlight’s specialist doctor and critical care paramedic treated the man at the scene for critical head injuries, intubating him and placing him an induced coma. The medical team continued treatment as the man was taken by road ambulance to Westmead Hospital in critical condition.

Over the last year there have been numerous cases where employers have been prosecuted following incidents involving collapsing structures across Australia. In particular, a Melbourne sign company which erected an advertising board on a wall that fell and killed three people in Swanston Street back in 2013 was fined $250,000. The company pleaded guilty to one charge under the occupational safety act of failing to keep the public safe. 

The health and safety duties of business owners and head contractors extends beyond their staff to include visitors and the general public. So what can you do today to protect your people, your business and the safety of public?

Ensure freestanding masonry walls are stable and adequately braced at all times to prevent collapse when subjected to lateral forces, such as wind.

Temporary bracing should:
•    be used where the height of the wall exceeds 10 times the thickness of the wall
•    be provided from a lower height where lightweight masonry is used or the wall is in an area where wind speeds are likely to exceed 30 km/h
•    stabilise the entire length of the wall so it does not fall in either direction
•    not exceed two metres between individual braces
•    include wall support bearers (eg battens or strong-backs) of at least 500mm length
•    be retained until the required elements of the final structure are installed and provide adequate lateral support.

Where braces are required, they should be regularly checked by a competent person to ensure they are not removed, modified, or damaged.

If extreme weather is forecast, ensure that work ceases and a suitable large exclusion zone around any incomplete masonry wall is established and maintained.

An incomplete freestanding masonry wall should never be used as shelter during extreme weather, even if the wall has temporary bracing.

Looking for more help? Contact ISOsafe today on 1300 789 132. Our Health and Safety specialists will assess your construction site and provide detailed reports with recommendations to improve safety compliance.