A 50-year-old construct worker was left permanently disabled after a mini-excavator bucket dropped on workers arm. The tragedy happened one week ago at an outdoor worksite in Darwin. The incident took place on Wednesday afternoon at the Civic Centre development site on Harry Chan Avenue in the Central Business District. All paramedics on duty immediately responded to a 4 PM emergency call. From here, they transported the injured worker using their rescue boat to Royal Darwin Hospital for treatment.
The worker was hit after the operator of the excavator abruptly responded to seeing him, by hitting the brakes. The change in direction made the primary bucket shake, which was enough to set off the vibration sensor. Unfortunately, one of the smaller buckets tipped over and hit the worker’s arm. The serious injury has focused attention on the safety practices at the construction site.
Emergency Response
St John Ambulance NT has since acknowledged its response to the Triple Zero call. What they really wanted to talk about was how fast the paramedics got to the injured worker’s aid. They helped arrange for him to be airlifted to the hospital, where he continues to receive medical care. Local and regional authorities have lauded the quick response of the emergency services. These efforts are especially important given that such incidents often escalate into more violent confrontations.
“When the operator suddenly noticed the worker, they stopped quickly. This caused the main bucket to jerk, and one of the smaller buckets fell off and struck the worker.” – Source
Safety Measures Under Review
To date, NT WorkSafe has issued a safety alert as a result of this incident. Yet they neglect to mention the grave importance of adherence to safety measures on construction sites. The organization reminded workers to “never stand under or near a suspended load in case of equipment malfunction or operator error.” Additionally, they cautioned that workers should “never assume machine operators could see them,” underscoring the critical need for proper communication and awareness in potentially hazardous environments.
The City of Darwin has stated that ensuring the safety of workers at all construction sites is an immediate priority. We know our local government is keeping a close eye on this. They have been working closely with DCOH, the construction company, to enhance safety measures and stave off future incidents.
Ongoing Investigation
NT WorkSafe is continuing to investigate the circumstances that led to the incident. Their investigation will investigate adherence to health and safety protocols and whether further steps are needed to protect employees. We hope that the findings of this probe will result in significant operational changes to our industry’s work zone practices.
