Bricklayers injured in floor collapse (24 April 2021)

Two bricklayers sustained injuries after the first floor they were working on collapsed at a Marsden Park residential construction site. Approximately four pallets of bricks had been stored on the timber first floor of the house construction when the floor gave way. The floor was supported by timber joists, supported by a timber beam at one end and a steel beam at the other end. The steel beam was supported by the wall frame at one end and a temporary supporting member at the other.

You must implement ‘reasonably practicable’ control measures to manage the risks associated with the collapse of a structure loaded with heavy materials during construction, including:

• only store materials on constructed surfaces with a known safe working load capacity. If the safe working load capacity is unknown, store materials on the ground until the capacity can be determined by a competent person e.g. structural engineer
• where temporary structures are used to support a working surface, make sure the temporary structures are designed to support the expected loads and/or the safe working load capacity is adjusted accordingly, and the temporary supports are secured and protected to prevent unauthorised alterations and accidental dislodgement
• workers are informed and trained on the safe load capacity of constructed surfaces, including point and distributed loads
• work practices involving the storage of materials on constructed surfaces are monitored by competent persons
• the work surface has a safe means for people to enter and exit and move around the work area.

More information

• Managing the risk of falls in housing construction – Code of practice (PDF 2.2MB)
• Construction work – Code of practice (PDF 1MB)
• Formwork – Code of practice