SafeWork NSW investigates partial building collapse at Burwood

As evacuated residents return home after a partial building collapse in Sydney’s inner west, the state’s workplace regulator has warned businesses about putting staff and the public at risk.

SafeWork has issued a warning to businesses about putting staff and the public at risk in the wake of a partial building collapse at Burwood.

The regulator has started an investigation into the incident at the 10-storey commercial building on Railway Pde on Wednesday afternoon., when scaffolding fell at the unoccupied property which was slated for demolition to make way for the Burwood Place development.

Developers Holdmark had employed an independent contractor to carry out demolition works.

The incident forced the evacuation of 50 residents living in a dual-building apartment complex opposite the site.

Trent Curtin, the head of SafeWork NSW, said it had started to investigate the incident with Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Police, Burwood Council and Public Works engineers.

The street remains closed as a precaution. Picture: Gaye Gerard

“While this incident will need to be thoroughly investigated, SafeWork NSW is putting demolition businesses on notice that we will not accept them putting worker and public safety at risk,’’ he said.

“Every worker in the state, regardless of what they do and where they live, should expect to go home to their family at the end of every working day and SafeWork NSW inspectors have the power to and will issue penalty notices or, when necessary, initiate prosecutions when our laws are broken.’’

He said businesses that failed to comply with work health and safety laws could face fines or prosecution.

From March 1, demolition licence holders must ensure demolition workers have completed prescribed training if required to undertake licensed demolition work.

There were no reported injuries to workers or to the public on Wednesday but strong winds and the risk of further collapse forced the closure of the busy Railway Pde as a precaution.

Fire and Rescue NSW Acting Commissioner Mat Sigmund said early reports that strong winds caused the collapse were not necessarily accurate.

“After the collapse the wind did create issues so the wind did hamper issues to some extent but that’s not necessarily the cause of the collapse,’’ he said.

Demolition is under way to host Burwood Place at Railway Pde.

Two excavator operators are working to remove and support the scaffolding at the site, which will host a six-year project to construct the $658m Burwood Place residential, commercial and retail complex.

About a dozen of the 50 residents evacuated from the units at 3 Railway Pde across the road were displaced overnight.

Mr Sigmund said the risk of debris falling meant the residents could enter their buildings via the side entrance with most expected to return on Thursday morning.

Mariana Leung, who lives in the complex with her husband, five-year-old daughter and three-year-old son, was permitted to return home last night because their unit faces the rail line and not the demolition site.

It was still an anxious return.

One of the excavators on the site. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Mariana Leung was allowed to return to her apartment on Wednesday night.

An investigation into the cause of the incident is under way. Picture: Gaye Gerard

“If our building was going to be damaged there was a potential of being buried alive so we did weigh up the pros and cons of going back,’’ she said.

Constant work overnight disrupted her sleep but she said she would like the demolition to be wrapped up swiftly.

“I imagine the aim was to get it demolished and reduce the risk of falling on somebody,” she said.

A Holdmark spokesman said it covered the costs of alternate accommodation for those unable to re-enter their homes on Wednesday.

“We apologise to surrounding residents and workers who were evacuated as a matter of caution for the inconvenience they suffered,’’ he said.