Builders of new Royal Adelaide Hospital failed to protect worker from death, safety watchdog alleges

THE builders responsible for the new Royal Adelaide Hospital site failed to adequately protect a worker from his death because of shoddy practices, the state’s safety watchdog alleges.

THE builders responsible for the new Royal Adelaide Hospital site failed to adequately protect a worker from his death because of shoddy practices, the state’s safety watchdog alleges.

SafeWork SA has laid charges against the Hansen Yunken Leighton Contractors’ joint venture over the death of Jorge Castillo-Riffo on November 27, 2014.

The workplace prosecution, which also involves subcontractor SRG Building (Southern), was launched after Mr Castillo-Riffo, 54, was crushed and died while working on a scissor lift.

Industrial Court documents detail a series of blunders over the controversial $2 billion project in the CBD’s west, which safety inspectors believe contributed to his death.

In its statement of summons, tendered with the court, SafeWork SA alleges multiple breaches under health and safety laws. These include failing to provide a safe work environment, equipment and sat-isfactory management safety systems.

Former RAH worker Jorge Castillo-Riffo, who died while using a scissor lifter on the new RAH site in November, 2014. Pictured here with partner Pamela Gurner-Hall.

“(The companies), who had a health and safety duty, failed to comply with that duty, and that failure exposed Jorge Castillo-Riffo to a risk of death or serious injury,” it states.

The joint venture subcontracted SRG Building – which employed Mr Castillo-Riffo as a labourer – for post-tensioning and rectification works. Safety investigators claimed the builders failed to “identify the hazards and risks” involved in works to concrete facades by using elevated floor platforms (EWP) and in potentially sustaining crush injuries.

The builders, SafeWorkSA alleges, failed to ensure that Mr Castillo-Riffo’s scissor lift was “free from defects and was fit for use at the site”.

The New Royal Adelaide Hospital. Photo: Kelly Barnes/The Australian.

It also claims the company failed to provided “adequate and safe work space” for Mr Castillo-Riffo, as well as failing to monitor and supervise “plant” use such as equipment, machinery and apparatuses.

SafeWork SA further alleges it failed to “adequately train, instruct and provide information to workers of the risk of overhead crush injuries” from using scissor lifts around the RAH’s concrete structure.

The prosecution comes as the project faces a series of crises as it battles to complete the works.

Father-of-two Steve Wyatt, 63, died last month after he was crushed between a scissor lift and the head of a low doorway while supervising the fitout of the North Tce project. His death was the latest black mark and came 15 months after Mr Castillo-Riffo died.

The Wyatt family has backed calls from the state’s construction union, Mr Castillo-Riffo’s partner, Pam Gurner-Hall, and the Opposition for a coronial inquest into both deaths. Under the Coroners Act, a coronial inquest cannot be conducted while criminal proceedings are under way.

Fears are mounting the new facility will not open until next year as the State Government takes legal action against the consortium in charge over chronic delays.

The Advertiser this week revealed that Health Minister Jack Snelling had issued a “major default” against SA Health Partnerships, after it officially failed to meet a building milestone on Tuesday.

The accused companies have yet to file a defence. The case returns to court next month.