Qld deaths a wake-up call for building safety

June Cummings reports

The death of two co-workers after plummeting 26 storeys onto an awning on a Gold Coast high-rise site, when scaffolding collapsed could have far reaching ramifications for the Queensland building industry.

It appears that the men were working from a swing platform similar to that used by window cleaners, patching concrete, when its side gave way and they were left dangling by their safety harnesses attached to the platform, before it collapsed altogether.

In the immediate wake, 70 building sites across Queensland were shut down by building unions while safety checks were carried out. An immediate ban was called by unions on the use of swing scaffolds, and Queensland Workplace Health and Safety put out a safety alert on the use of swing scaffolds and a fact sheet on checking procedures.

Queensland is perhaps the only state that allows safety harnesses to be attached to platforms from which men are working, rather than independent attachment to another structure.

As floral tributes to the men were placed at the accident site and police, government and industry representatives and union officials inspected the building to make their reports, parties to the incident were gathering their legal teams and expert witnesses.

The huge twin-tower development by Meriton at Broadbeach is one block from the beachfront and is exposed to buffeting winds off the sea most days.

The men were working from the small swing platform at the 26th level when the accident occurred.

Five high-rise residential towers have gone up in this Broadbeach beachfront precinct in the last three years, by builders such as Multiplex, Barclay Mowlem and Matrix.

Strong winds have been a deciding factor in both construction methodology and materials handling.

Most have used jump form concrete construction with its self-climbing platforms and `caged' perimeters, retractable loading bays and Alimak hoists. Cranage is kept to a minimum.

On the Verve tower, builders Matrix were so concerned by the wind factor, it introduced new technology climbing platforms from Finland. Called Tower Climb, two climbing tracks are attached to the full height of the building and a caged platform spans between the two tracks. The platform can take 3.5t to 4t and up to nine men. It can be used in winds with two or three platforms working at once.

Building Labourers' Federation (BLF) national secretary David Hanna says this is the first accident in living memory of a double fatality. It is a wake up call to the building industry to get tougher on safety. CFMEU national secretary Dave Noonan says it is too early to lay blame.

Meanwhile almost 1000 friends, construction workers and musos turned out to the funeral of New Zealand born 36 year-old Chris Gear who leaves a wife and young family. He was a part time musician and was given a rousing farewell from Polynesian dancers and bands playing soul and rock and roll. The entourage walked the streets of Broadbeach collecting for the family and charged $10 a head at the wake.

The other victim Steve Sayer 52 years, had worked for 27 years in the Gold Coast construction industry and had qualifications in various fields.