Investigation into death of apprentice after scaffolding collapse

Grieving and heartbroken, Patrizia Cassaniti, has paid tribute to her teenage son Christopher, calling him her “guardian angel” as investigators examine if the removal of scaffolding ties caused the collapse that killed the apprentice.

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The grieving mother of a teenage apprentice has paid tribute to her “guardian angel” as investigators examine if the removal of scaffolding ties caused the collapse that killed him.

Christopher Cassaniti was crushed to death on Monday after a 17m high scaffold at a Macquarie Park construction site came apart and crumpled to the ground.

Christopher Cassaniti and mother Patrizia in a picture posted on her Facebook page as a tribute to her son.

Rescue crews rushed his 39-year-old co-worker to hospital but Mr Cassaniti could not be saved.

“Ninety-nine per cent of the time, the reason for this happening is the scaffold’s overloaded or the ties have been removed,” Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union state secretary Darren Greenfield said.

The Daily Telegraph understands SafeWork NSW inspectors were trying establish whether all the appropriate ties were still on the scaffolding when it fell, or whether some had been removed.

Investigators are looking at whether tradesman on a northwest Sydney building site removed ties which were holding scaffolding to a building before the scaffolding collapsed. Picture: Richard Dobson

Australian construction guidelines recommend “regularly inspecting scaffold ties to check they are not modified or altered by unauthorised people e.g. finishing trades who may loosen, relocate or remove ties to gain ­access to walls and openings.”

Union staff were visiting worksites across Sydney yesterday, checking scaffolding ties and maintenance.

Some of Mr Cassaniti’s distraught co-workers returned to the site for counselling yesterday. Union officials said a number were so traumatised they would quit the industry for good.

The site of the scaffolding collapse at Lachlan's Line construction site in Macquarie Park. Picture: Toby Zerna

Mr Cassaniti’s heartbroken mother Patrizia Cassaniti posted a picture on Facebook of her son, who celebrated his 18th birthday only last week, with the words: “My guardian angel … sooo much pain.”

She expressed her thanks to the many wellwishers who have sought to console the Castle Hill family.

“We just want to take the opportunity to thank everyone for the overwhelming outpour of condolences and flowers … we would love to be able to do this individually but there is sooo many,” she wrote. “This has been beautiful and we thank you from our hearts.”

Distraught workers who saw Mr Cassaniti perish below the piles of scaffolding returned to the site for counselling. Picture: Richard Dobson

The accident at the site, where apartment towers are being built by construction company Ganellan for Chinese developer Greenland, raised other concerns about a heavily laden crane to which power was cut the ­moment the scaffold collapsed.

Without power, there were fears the crane’s horizontal arm could move around in strong winds.

SafeWork NSW executive director Tony Williams said “all factors that may have contributed to scaffold safety on site will be considered”.

“SafeWork NSW is currently working with the crane and construction company to ensure the safe release of the crane’s load. Notices have been issued by SafeWork NSW to ensure that safe processes are in place,” he said.

The CFMEU is calling for nationally uniform laws ­introducing a charge of ­industrial manslaughter.