Worker killed by slab

By Paul Dunlop
A MAN was crushed to death at a building site in Pakenham yesterday (Wednesday).
The man, aged in his late 50s, was working at a site in Hogan Court, off Bald Hill Road, when a concrete slab fell on him.
He died at the scene.
Police and Worksafe officers were investigating the incident at the time of going to press.
Pakenham State Emergency Service crews, paramedics and CFA volunteers also attended the scene.
Three other workers managed to get out of the way when the large slab fell.
They were not injured but paramedics said the man’s co-workers were badly shaken by the incident.
It is Victoria’s first work-related death in the construction industry in 14 months.
Michael Birt from Worksafe said the last death in Victoria’s construction industry occurred in January last year and the latest death marks the end of a record period without a fatality.
Investigators were at the scene throughout the day.
A commercial building was under construction at the site.
WorkSafe officials said they believed the concrete panel was poured on-site. The reason it fell is still to be determined.
WorkSafe’s executive director John Merritt said although the investigation was at an early stage, the tragedy was a reminder to the construction industry that high safety standards must always be maintained.
“The fact that there has not been a death in the construction sector since January last year should be a source of great pride to the industry; but (yesterday’s) incident shows the reality is that the risk of death and serious injury is always present,” Mr Merritt said.
“Concrete panels are common in commercial and domestic settings and great care must be exercised when erecting them or when working around them.
“WorkSafe has developed clear guidance on this construction method and it should be used across the industry. Unless proper safety standards are applied, working with concrete panels can be high risk.
“WorkSafe calls on the construction industry – developers, building companies and workers alike – to re-double their efforts to ensure high standards are always applied.”