NT WorkSafe issues warning following worker's serious injury from falling excavator bucket

A safety alert has been issued by NT WorkSafe after a worker suffered severe injuries late Wednesday afternoon from an excavator bucket that fell at a construction site in Darwin.

Preliminary inquiries conducted by NT WorkSafe revealed alarming parallels with a work-related incident that occurred in 2019, which led to the fatality of a 30-year-old employee.

Northern Territory Work Health and Safety Regulator Grant Hastie said it is disheartening that some members of the industry are still failing to prioritise workplace safety, despite NT WorkSafe's issuance of a safety alert and significant media coverage surrounding a court case related to a workplace death in 2019 that culminated in a record fine of $1.14 million.

“Transporting smaller excavator buckets in the main bucket unsecured is dangerous. And it is disappointing to hear some people in industry are calling this standard industry practice.”

“I suggest the industry reconsiders this standard industry practice before another serious incident occurs,” Mr Hastie said.

Originally published here.