In June 2020, a worker suffered crush injuries to his arms and hands after an excavator bucket collided with waste oil drums while he was preparing to attach lifting equipment.
Investigations are continuing.
Preventing a similar incident
A mobile plant (other than a mobile crane) may be used as a mobile crane to lift or lower freely suspended loads (i.e. the load is not pinned to the boom but is suspended from the boom by means of a chain or rope). A mobile plant that is sometimes used in this way include forklifts and earth-moving machinery such as backhoes, front-end loaders, and excavators. Unlike cranes, these types of mobile plants are not specifically designed to lift or suspend loads. It is important to note that when a mobile plant (other than a mobile crane) is used as a mobile crane, the level of safety provided by the lifting set-up should be at least equal to that when a mobile crane is used.
There are significant risks associated with using plant that lifts or suspends loads, and severe injuries can result from unsafe use. Specific controls are required for this plant including but not limited to s219 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011.
Read more… (“QLD Govt eSafe Incident Alert”)