A concrete pumping company has been fined $50,000 after a worker was killed by a broken boom pump.
The 40-year-old worker was using a truck-mounted pumping machine to pour a concrete slab at St Albans in May 2021 when he was killed, the court was told.
The 32-metre boom pump suddenly collapsed, striking him on the back of the head and knocking him into the concrete.
Prisbel Concrete Pumping Pty Ltd was sentenced in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday after pleading guilty to a single charge of failing to provide or maintain a safe plant.
It followed a WorkSafe investigation, which found the metal fatigue crack that caused the boom to collapse was possibly detectable for at least a year before the incident.
Prisbel had arranged regular inspections of the boom pump since 2010, but none had involved disassembling the unit and testing critical components.
WorkSafe executive director Sam Jenkin said the man’s death could have been prevented.
“A worker has lost his life, leaving behind devastated family and friends whose lives will never be the same,” he said.
“Proper safety testing and maintenance is crucial when working with machinery – it’s just part of doing business and there’s no excuse for failing to test regularly and thoroughly.”
The company was convicted and ordered to pay $8179 in costs.
-AAP
