Hallett Concrete and SA’s workplace and safety regulator probe collapse of Australia’s first dome silo

Multiple investigations are examining the sudden deflation of a massive inflatable storage dome on Thursday, but one likely cause has been revealed.

The state’s government workplace and safety regulator has stepped in to investigate the sudden collapse of a 42m-tall dome – with a likely cause revealed.

The dome, at a Hallett Concrete site in Port Adelaide, deflated in a shower of debris around 1pm on Thursday afternoon.

A spokesperson for Hallett Group said no one was injured and while initial reports indicated gusty weather conditions were to blame, Hallett Group president Kane Salisbury confirmed on Friday other causes were at play.

“The investigation is ongoing, so, it would be unfair to be too definitive, but there is clear evidence in our investigation thus far that there has been an incorrect step in the construction process, that’s been the primary contributing factor to the failure,’ he told The Advertiser.

“We’ve brought in external expertise as we see fit … the primary contractor is assisting us as well as the dome skin manufacturer.”

The spokesperson also said the company was legally obligated to report the incident to Safework SA and will cooperate with any investigation, along with the primary contractor constructing the dome silo and the dome skin manufacturer.

Hallet Group confirmed the dome manufacturer has already started the manufacturing a new air form skin and it expecting to restore it in about three to four weeks.

“Whilst this incident is unfortunate, it does not affect our focus and our ambition to deliver our green cement transformation project and build the very best Construction, Mining and Building Materials business in Australia,” Mr Salisbury said.

SafeWork SA will investigate the sudden collapse of the 42m tall “Domesilo” cement storage dome. Picture: Supplied

No workers were injured in the incident on Thursday afternoon. Picture: Brenton Edwards

An independent investigation by SafeWork SA will run parallel to the internal probe.

The regulator said an inspector was attending the site to make inquiries on Friday.

“They will go through all of our information and data and do their checks and they will advise us today or tomorrow of anything they require further,” Mr Salisbury said.

The dome was erected last week as part of an initiative to contain dust and store concrete at the group’s green cement distribution centre.

The inflatable skin of the dome is an outer layer for a soon to be constructed structure made from 17,000 tonnes of concrete and 2000 tonnes of steel.

It is expected to be capable of storing up to 52,000 tonnes of cement.

Mr Salisbury said the set back is “very disappointing” for the company.

The dome was inflated only last week. Picture: Hallett Concrete

“We are immensely proud to be building the first ever dome silo in Australia,” he said.

“So, it’s a blow but we’re a strong and resilient business and we will certainly pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off and that’s already happening.”

The supplier has already begun manufacturing a new dome skin.

“We’re hopeful within three to four weeks we’re ready to resurrect the dome and certainly not have those missteps we’ve had on this occasion … provided we tick all of the boxes we need to ourselves and with SafeWork,” he said.

The construction technique has been successfully performed over 2000 times around the globe.