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.

UPDATE August 2026

Ridge Commercial and Licojo were fined a total of A$630,000 plus costs for a fatal overhead crush incident with a boom lift.

The incident occurred in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia occurred in August 2023, when a man, 25, was crushed against an overhead beam at a shopping centre while installing safety netting under the steelwork for a new roof.

Both companies pleaded guilty of the charges brought under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Ridge was fined A$400,000 plus costs of A$5,525 for two charges of failing to provide or maintain a safe workplace, while Licojo was fined A$200,000 plus $5,525 for failing to ensure persons other than employees were not exposed to health and safety risks.

WorkSafe's investigation found that no spotter was used for the task and an operator protection alarm (OPA) fitted to the boom lift was disconnected. The boom lift was owned by Ridge Commercial and had been serviced by a Licojo technician on the morning of the incident.

The judgement said:”It was reasonably practicable for Ridge Commercial to have a system in place that required employees to conduct and document daily pre-start inspections of the boom lift and remove it from service where a safety malfunction or problem was found, and to have arranged for a licensed safety observer to be on site.”

As to Lijoco it added: “It was reasonably practicable for Licojo to have identified the OPA was not operational during the service and to remove the boom lift from operation until the issue was rectified.”

WorkSafe chief health & safety officer Sam Jenkin said: "As an employer, you must take all necessary steps to ensure your workers and others affected by your actions are safe and without risks to health."

"This tragic death could have been avoided if both companies had adhered to the relevant industry standards and guidance, and WorkSafe will continue to take strong action against workplaces that fail to do so."