15.10.2009

Australand issues bulletin

Australian contractor Australand has issued a safety alert following an RT scissor lift incident in August.

The alert concerns an incident in which a Genie GS4390 which was working at a height of around 11 metres when the oscillating axle appeared to retract on one side, causing the lift to tilt to one corner.
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The man working in the platform was rescued by a boom lift.

The scissor lift was occupied by one man stapling roof safety mesh in place prior to roof sheets being laid. He was unhurt and the machine remained stable. Rather than risk shifting the machines balance by descending, a boom lift was brought in to rescue the operator.

The company says that it has been advised that the cause appears to be due to “oscillation wiring to the directional valves on the oscillate manifold having been reversed.”
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It appears that the oscillating axle retracted on one side

The company believes that the incident is similar to one that occurred on another of its sites in Victoria in 2006.

Genie is checking out the cause of the incident and working with the contractor, to ensure that cause of this failure is understood and that it is not more widespread. In the meantime Australand has advised all of its sites not to travel similar models in the elevated position.

Worksafe is also investigating the incident.