Darwin worker suffered ‘serious injuries’ after falling five metres from sloped roof

Two NT builders were issued infringement notices for risky work practices in one week as the regulator says safety concerns are not being taken seriously.

THE Territory building industry appears to be ignoring the risk of falls at local job sites, NT WorkSafe says, with two workers injured over the past three months due to inadequate fall prevention infrastructure.

A Territory worker suffered serious injuries – including multiple fractures – after he fell approximately five metres from the sloped roof of a work shed in rural Darwin.

The matter is currently being investigated.

It comes as NT WorkSafe confirmed it had issued 39 infringement notices in 2021 – a huge increase from a total of 11 over the previous three years – under a tougher crackdown on breaches.

Of the 47 notices handed out since 2018, more than half were issued to the construction industry, NT WorkSafe also said.

The worker fell approximately five metres from a sloped roof. Picture: NT WorkSafe.

A worker at a Darwin construction site also fractured his ankle recently after falling three metres when perimeter guardrails he lent on – later found to be not fit for purpose – gave way.

“Industry seems to be ignoring the risks of falls,” the authority said in a statement.

It also issued prohibition notices to an additional two work sites in the first week of February for a lack of adequate fall prevention equipment.

A worker on the seventh floor of the building site. Picture: NT WorkSafe.

On one occasion, a worker lent on a “live edge” while standing on the seventh floor of an Alice Spring construction site.

Then, two days later, two workers did not use fall prevention equipment while working at a Darwin home, nearly three months off the ground.

TERRITORIANS are being urged to properly store powered devices after a lithium-ion battery exploded in a work car.

NT Worksafe said in Darwin on January 23, a lithium-iron battery attached to a cordless impact wrench exploded in the back seat of a work car.

The explosion set fire to other items on the seat and damaged the car’s interior.

The outside temperature at the time was 31 C.

NT Worksafe’s technical services director Anthony Waite said the tool and battery were made by reputable companies, with the heat resulting in the explosion.

“Lithium-ion batteries are classified as a dangerous good, under the Australia Dangerous Goods Code,” he said.

“This means there are specific requirements to package, store and transport these types of batteries and the devices and equipment they are found in due to the potential dangers the batteries pose.

“The main message we have is not to leave or store lithium-ion batteries in hot areas or in direct sunlight, as they can explode and cause a fire risk in your business or home.”

“Fortunately in this incident, the vehicle was unoccupied and no one was injured.”

NT Worksafe encouraged Territorians to provide appropriate training to staff and follow the manufacture’s advice, and not to store or leave lithium-ion power tool batteries in vehicles or areas that can become hot.