The latest Safety and Health Snapshot has been released by the department.
| Date: | Tuesday, 03 April 2018 |
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The safety and health implications of poor structural integrity are highlighted in the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety's latest Safety and Health Snapshot.
Director Mines Safety Andrew Chaplyn said when the integrity of a structure is compromised, there is the potential for fatal and serious injuries to occur.
"For the period covered in the snapshot, there were a total of 14 injuries which occurred as a result of structural integrity," Mr Chaplyn said.
"Half of those were classified as high-consequence injuries which result in amputations, fractures and crushing."
Mr Chaplyn said the most common types of structural failure include rust and corrosion, cyclones or strong winds, design faults, inadequate alterations of design, poor construction of structures and lack of proper assessment.
"There are three components to consider when addressing the causation factors for failure: design, construction and maintenance," he said.
"Communication between competent people during these three phases is important for the integrity of structures.
"If this does not happen, or is ineffective, it compromises worker safety and can lead to structural failure."
To highlight the serious consequences of compromised structural integrity, the snapshot highlights a significant incident report from August 2016 which was issued after a worker was killed when he was crushed by a corroded gantry in a thickener tank.
