Crane designer fined $16,000

Etschmann Engineering has been fined $16,000 after failing to design a crane to the appropriate Australian Standard 

Etschmann Engineering has been fined $16,000 and $5000 in court costs after failing to design a crane to the appropriate Australian Standard.

Mr W. Etschmann of Etschmann Engineering pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrates Court to breaching 6.33(b) of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations (1995) following the structural collapse of an 80 tonne crane during test loading in April 2013.

Department of Mines and Petroleum Director of Mines Safety and State Mining Engineer, Andrew Chaplyn said the outcome is a watershed for DMP, having never previously prosecuted a designer.

“Safety in Design is one of the major areas of concern identified by the department,” he said.

“We hope this sends a strong message to designers working across the mining industry, but in particular in Western Australia, that negligent or inferior services will be not be accepted.

“I take this opportunity to remind all those involved in servicing the industry of their duties under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act and regulations.”

Mr Chaplyn said the DMP was promoting a risk-based approach which should employ the hierarchy of control.

“Engineering sits above the two lowest levels of control, Administrative and Personal Protective Equipment, these two being relied on far too much in WA mining,” he said.

“We really want to see sites climbing the hierarchy leading to safer work places and we will work with them to achieve this.”