Fall through steel void panel (12 August 2021)
An Incident Information Release detailing an incident where a worker fell through a steel void panel on a bridge construction site.
A 32-year-old worker was injured when he fell approximately 5 metres through a void on a bridge under construction near Gilgandra. The worker was walking along reinforcement bars and across the concrete bridge beams when he stepped on to a steel void panel which dislodged.
Section of steel void panel
Safety information
Falls from heights is the number one killer on construction sites in NSW and every year there are dozens of serious incidents. Many of these incidents are from stepping on an unstable surface.
Consider ‘reasonably practicable’ control measures to manage the risks associated with working at heights.
You must ensure:
- a safe method of construction is incorporated into the design of formwork/ falsework e.g. minimising work at height, incorporating edge protection, using catch decks etc
- formwork/falsework is erected according to the design, and within any tolerances required by the designer
- formwork/falsework is secured from movement due to construction loads, wind loads, concrete pour loads etc
- suppliers/manufacturers limits are not exceeded (e.g. maximum span between supports, minimum bearing area, maximum applied load, number of fixings etc)
- voids, penetrations, and non-trafficable areas are covered, or access is prevented by physical barriers or edge protection
- covers are strong enough to support the load from people, are securely attached to prevent dislodgement and marked (e.g. “Danger - void”)
- lower order control measures such as harness-based restraint or fall arrest systems are used in situations where covers or physical edge protection can’t be used.