A man has died at the University of Canberra public hospital worksite on Thursday night.
According to the Canberra Times, it is understood the man died after a mobile crane tipped over. The man’s age and identity have not been publicly released.
Police were called to the site on Aikman Drive in Belconnen about 6.40pm.
The site was blocked off by police on Thursday night, with a police vehicle guarding the entrance.
Police, ambulance, and worksafe on the UC Hospital Building site where a crane is lying on its side. 4 August 2016 Photo: Rohan Thomson The Canberra Times Photo: Rohan Thomson
Officers, paramedics and WorkSafe staff were seen at the site and several people could be seen inspecting an area near what appeared to be a crane on its side.
The fatality is being investigated by ACT Policing.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the man’s death was a “terrible tragedy” and there would be a full investigation into what occurred.
“I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the worker who lost his life. Our thoughts are with them and all his colleagues at the site,” he said.
Police, ambulance, and worksafe on the UC Hospital Building site where a crane is lying on its side. 4 August 2016 Photo: Rohan Thomson The Canberra Times Photo: Rohan Thomson
“The government will do everything it can to assist the police and Worksafe. They will comment further on the detail of this tragic incident at the appropriate time.”
ACT Policing’s Collison Investigation and Reconstruction Team and WorkSafe ACT are investigating the death and a report will now be prepared for the coroner.
Construction on Canberra’s newest public hospital only began in February. The $139 million development is expected to be finished in 2018.
The new hospital is being designed and constructed by Brookfield Multiplex.
The fatality comes only days after it was confirmed that a large crane was recently temporarily shut down due to safety concerns after WorkSafe issued a prohibition notice to fix a “spooling issue” where a cable was not correctly wrapped or stored onto a drum.
On Tuesday, WorkSafe said it had been fixed and the notice lifted, with the crane again operational. The notice was issued after a WorkSafe audit of cranes in the ACT.
WorkSafe commissioner Greg Jones also said an improvement notice was issued for a cracked windscreen, but it was being addressed as a less urgent matter.
Natasha Boddy
