AW Edwards Pty Ltd
On 4 May 2017 at the Manning Base Hospital in Taree a crane tipped over and came to rest with all four wheels off the ground, resting on scaffolding and two rear outriggers. The crane operator jumped from the crane while it was tipping and as a result suffered serious injuries. A.W.Edwards Pty Ltd was the principal contractor for the work being undertaken.
Alleged breach
A.W.Edwards Pty Ltd contravened section 19(1) and 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
Summary of undertaking
Activities A.W.Edwards Pty Ltd will undertake include:
- the recruitment and placement of a full-time WHS Coordinator based at their Port Macquarie office
- the development and promotion of a Crane Safety Mobile Application for use across the construction and crane industries, and
- the development of a Young Workers Program for trainee WHS Coordinators in the Mid-North Coast region.
This undertaking has a total expenditure of $1,855,000.
Reasons for accepting the undertaking
- The alleged contravention does not appear to be a section 31 Reckless conduct category 1 offence, which if it was the case, would preclude the proposed undertaking from being accepted.
- The nature of the alleged contravention and the actions taken by A.W.Edwards Pty Ltd in response to the incident are assessed as being appropriate for consideration of an undertaking.
- The strategies proposed in the undertaking have been assessed as likely to deliver long term sustainable safety improvements in the workplace, industry and community.
- The undertaking addresses the requirements contained within the “Enforceable Undertakings – Guidelines for Proposing a WHS Undertaking”.
Date accepted
2 June 2020