16.11.2012

Recall for Italmec lifts

WorkSafe Western Australia has issued a bulletin warning owners of 42 metre Italmec 42N truck mounted lifts to urgently check the jib attachment welds.

The warning comes after a fatal incident in Perth in February in which Daniel Nass, 47, lost his life after falling 20 metres when the jib became detached from the main boom. Click here to see original accident report.
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The scene of the accident

The bulletin says that angled fishplates welded to each external corner of the hollow jib section had failed and that a metallurgical examination indicated fishplate welding was associated with the failure.
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The jib/upper boom suffered a structural failure linked to welding issues

WorkSafe has ordered all Italmec work platforms in Australia to undergo radiographic testing of their boom and jib welds and that any identified as unsafe to be immediately removed from service until the testing has been completed.

Further information can also be obtained from WorkSafe’s web site www.worksafe.wa.gov.au or by contacting customer service on 1300 307 877 or emailing [email protected]. We will also host the bulletin in our safety bulletin section of the online library Click here to go directly to the bulletin

Vertikal Comment

Thankfully structural failures such as this are very rare, and while it is hard to say after such a tragic incident if a harness and short lanyard had been used, a life would most likely have been spared. A second man in the platform suffered minor injuries.

It is also a little dissapointing that this bulletin has taken over eight months to be issued. It was clear on day one that a structural failure was likely to have been the cause and metalurgical tests do not take months to perform.