11.08.2023

Fatal crush incident

A man has died in a crush incident while using a boom lift at a shopping centre in Melbourne, Australia.

The incident occurred yesterday at the North Blackburn Shopping Centre, east of the city centre. A plumber, 25, was using a telescopic boom lift and working near the roof of a steel frame building he was helping to construct – part of a redevelopment at the site. It seems that as he moved the platform an upward effect was created by the ground conditions, crushing him between the control panel and one of the overhead beams.
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This is a photo from the site, that we have received from a correspondent in Melbourne, we now understand that the machine involved in the incident is not the one in the photo

Emergency services managed to get him down and rushed him to hospital, but he died from his injuries shortly after arrival.

WorkSafe Victoria is investigating the incident. We do know that the machine was not equipped with any form of secondary guarding and was in good working order. When we learn more we will update this item.