The following is a brief report of the fatality that occurred on the Hickory Development site in Dorcas Street, South Melbourne on Friday 15 Jan 2010.

 A glazier was using a Chariot work platform similar to the one pictured in an OHS Alert as attached (The alert is from a different Company but was issued in September 2009,  after a very similar incident almost occurred highlighting the dangers of using this equipment near the edge of a building). 

 It would appear that the glazier on the Dorcas Street site was fixing the track to the underside of the external slab/balcony, ready for the glass to go in.  No one is yet sure if the chariot was secured or propped to prevent it from overturning, but it did overturn, as it was on the very edge of the building and it and the worker fell seven floors to the ground, apparently narrowly missing two pedestrians.    To get to the external underside slab/balcony, the chariot would have had to counter lever outside the line of the building itself.  However,  this particular counter levered platform only had a clearance of approximately 800mm from the ground.   The handrail is approximately 950mm in height.    

 The CFMEU has  obvious concerns about the use of this type of equipment being used so close to the edge (regardless of how they are propped or secured to prevent falling or toppling over).    Obviously external scaffold to the whole building is preferable; or doing this type of work while the external screens are still in place, or a number of other more efficient options…

 The Union has instructed all our organizers and stewards  to ensure no work is carried out with this type of equipment, that is chariots, within 3 metres of any edge of a building until further notice.

 Worksafe Victoria are still investigating but have already issued two prohibition notices and a number of improvement notices.

 The worker was a 38 year old glazier, with 3 dependent children from mid teens down.  He was not a member of the CFMEU Victoria Construction Branch, being a glazier, which are covered by the Furniture Trades Union (FFTS).  He was a subbie to a company known as T & T Glass and Glazing, contracted to the company that originally won the job – Australian Aluminum Shopfitters P/L.   The major contractor, Hickory Developments Pty Ltd, would appear to have a few questions to answer on the awarding of the contract , the scope of works involved, and the safe systems of work that was required to be implemented to perform the work safely.

 For further information, contact Safety Officer, Gerry Ayers at the CFMEU Vic Branch.