Man crushed by 1.5 tonne switch board at Palmerston Police Station

UPDATED: Worksafe is investigating a horrific incident at the Palmerston Police Station construction site after a 31-year-old electrician was crushed by 1.5 tonne switch board >>

A HORRIFIC incident at the Palmerston Police Station construction site saw a 31-year-old electrician crushed by a 1.5- tonne switchboard and another temporarily trapped.

A Top End Health Service spokeswoman said the 31-year-old man remained in a critical condition at Royal Darwin Hospital last night.

NT WorkSafe, who is investigating the incident, said the man received “serious crush injuries” after he was pinned by the electrical switchboard about 9am Wednesday.

“The injured worker and two other workers were manoeuvring the switchboard into position for installation when the incident occurred,” it said in a statement.

“A non-disturbance notice has been issued preventing access to the switchboard room while the investigation continues.” It’s understood a second worker was temporarily trapped but did not require medical attention.

Union NT work health and safety project officer Adam Giuliani said it was a tragic incident and there needed to be a review on the safe work systems at the site.

“There’s been a tragedy on site, and those workers are going to be thinking about it – we don’t want to see another tragedy,” he said.

“In 2017, workers in the NT were three times more likely to be killed on an NT worksite or anywhere else in Australia.”

Mr Giuliani said WorkSafe had assured him they would conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

Sitzler operations manager Michael Zampa confirmed the incident happened on site.

He said it was co-operating with WorkSafe and NT Police as they investigated the incident, but was unable to provide further details.

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St John Ambulance NT Territory duty manager Craig Garraway said the man was badly injured when they arrived on site.

“I believe he was unconscious on our arrival, and he was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital in a very serious condition,” he said.