Apprentice carpenter Clyde Norris, 17, dies after timber frame collapses at Fullarton construction site
THE sibling of an apprentice carpenter who died after a building site accident at Fullarton has posted a heartbreaking tribute to “my best friend and brother”.
A YOUNG apprentice has died from head injuries sustained when a timber frame fell on him at a Fullarton construction site.
Emergency services were called to a building site on Fisher St about 10.45am on Tuesday after reports of a wall collapsing.
Clyde Norris, 17, was revived on the scene by paramedics and taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
He suffered critical head injuries and later died in hospital.
A statement from SafeWork SA offered condolences to Clyde’s family, friends and colleagues but said no further information would be released while the investigation was under way.
In a tribute on social media, Clyde’s brother Oscar said: “Rest in peace Clyde, I love you. You will always be my best friend and brother all in one, forever with me (and) in my heart, fly high.”
Construction has stopped at the site while SafeWork SA investigates the incident.
Construction of three homes on the site by Scott Salisbury Homes started earlier this year.
The apprentice was working for Textbook Carpentry.
It was believed he was struck in the head by the timber wall frame and crushed underneath.
Workers on site performed first aid and rang emergency services.
Scott Salisbury Homes managing director Scott Salisbury said Clyde’s death “was the most distressing experience of my 26-year career in the South Australian construction industry”.
“Our thoughts are with Clyde’s family and the people who tried to save his life,” he said.
“Many of our tradespeople, site managers and staff are very emotional about the accident and we are focused on supporting them at this time.
“I started as a carpenter at a similar age and my son is of a similar age to Clyde. It is difficult not to feel the pain of such a tragic event, and it is pain I feel deeply.
“I have no words that I can say to help Clyde’s family in their toughest time, but I can say that all of us are thinking of them and feeling their pain.”
Mr Salisbury said a review of site safety had already commenced.
“I have already ordered a thorough review of all safety systems throughout the company and I have personally ensured all of our sites will be audited and inspected,” he said.
“Further, my company will be fully co-operating with SafeWork SA and their investigation into this tragic incident.”
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union SA assistant secretary Dave Kirner it was not clear how the wall frame had fallen but said the death was preventable.
“Whether it’s an assembling issue or the wind ... SafeWork SA will look into that,” he said.
“There was no site manager, no first aid facilities, no amenities and no safety officer. And no one was wearing hard hats.
“This is safety 101 — hard hats are a basic necessity to protect you from falling objects which are not uncommon on construction sites.
“The saddest thing about this is that with some basic safety measures, this fatality was utterly preventable.
“In the residential industry, you see people walking on roofs without any protection, you’ll see people walking without hard hats, you see electrical appliances laying on the ground,” he said.
“Those timber frames probably weigh 100, 200kg ... have enough (weight) to cause damage.”
Mr Kirner called on the Housing Industry Association and Master Builders Association to agree on proper regulations for residential building sites and for the State Government to enforce safety rules.
“They need to get on the front foot about this. It’s nothing short of negligence to say that it’s voluntary to wear a hard hat on site,” he said.
Master Builders Association SA chief executive Ian Markos said the tragedy should be investigated thoroughly to prevent fatal workplace accidents from happening.
“We should have a speedy and timely investigation to find out exactly what happened, avoid speculation and let SafeWork SA do what it does to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.
“We don’t want to jump at shadows here.
“The housing industry doesn’t have many fatalities.
“We have enough (regulations) already, we just need to comply with them.”
Textbook Carpentry declined to comment when twice contacted by The Advertiser.
The fatality brings this year’s work-related death toll to 12. There were a total of
14 fatalities recorded in 2015.