Falcon Cranes investigated after multiple worksite incidents including seven tonne container falling in Chevron Island

Workplace Health and Safety is investigating a Gold Coast crane company after another cable snapped yesterday sending a seven-tonne container crashing 20 metres to the ground

WORKPLACE Health and Safety is investigating a Gold Coast crane company after another cable snapped yesterday sending a seven-tonne container crashing 20 metres to the ground.

Authorities said they would inspect two sites involving Falcon Cranes after separate incidents in 12 days.

The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU) is demanding the cranes stop work at the sites until they are fully checked.

Falcon Cranes accused the media of hurting a family business and said the union allegations were “completely false”.

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A yellow hook also crashed to the ground. Picture: Brianna Morris-Grant

In yesterday’s incident at Weemala Street, Chevron Island, workers were moving the container, full of steel, when a crane cable snapped.

The Bulletin has been told the container dropped slightly and went into a spin before finally falling several storeys to the ground. No one was on the street at the time.

Rawcorp Property Limited is building nine-storey residential development on the site.

On March 7, a 500kg yellow hook — similar to the one that fell yesterday — fell 10 storeys on Bondi Avenue, Mermaid Beach, narrowly missing an elderly woman walking by.

The union at the time alleged the hoist-up limit on the crane was “not set” on the operator checklist.

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The worksite was closed for the day. Pic Tim Marsden

Luke Gibson, from the CFMMEU, claimed at the time: “The crane’s rope strap broke due to double blocking. The load limiter hadn’t been working.

“They (Falcon Cranes) continued to operate it anyway.”

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Yesterday, CFMMEU Gold Coast official Scott Vink claimed the union had already attended “numerous” incidents at the Rawcorp site at Chevron Island.

“This crane is nearing its 10-year expiry and should never have been erected in the first place as this job is going to be ongoing for at least another year.

“I believe other Falcon cranes to be operating with faults and that they should not operate until such time as an independent technician or engineer inspects their ageing fleet.”

Investigations are still ongoing. Pic Tim Marsden

A spokesman for Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) said the Chevron Island site would be closed and would remain so on a “day by day” basis as the investigation continued.

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“The crane is prohibited from being used until it has been inspected and deemed fit for purpose by a competent person,” the spokesman said.

“WHSQ can confirm that the investigation into the Mermaid Beach crane failure on 7 March is ongoing.

“As both matters are now under investigation WHSQ is unable to provide any further comment at this time.”

A woman claiming to be from Falcon Cranes contacted the Bulletin yesterday and said the media reports were hurting a “family business”.

“I know CFMMEU just blurts out whatever little bits of information they want and dramatises it … but it’s completely false,” she said.

She declined to answer questions but said an investigation was continuing with WHSQ.

The site manager was unavailable for comment. A Rawcorp representative hung up on reporters.