Standardise scissor lift controls nationwide, says SA coroner after death of Jorge Castillo-Riffo at Royal Adelaide Hospital

Scissor lift controls should be standardised nationwide, a South Australian coroner has recommended, following the death of a worker.

Pam Gurner-Hall, partner of RAH construction worker Jorge Castillo-Riffo. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

All states and territories should move towards standardising scissor lift controls, a South Australian coroner has recommended following the death of a worker during construction of the $2.4 billion new Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Until standardisation had been achieved, scissor lifts should not be operated on worksites without a spotter on the ground below, coroner Mark Johns said today.

Jorge Castillo-Riffo, 54, was working alone when he suffered catastrophic brain injuries after being crushed between a scissor lift and the slab of the floor above at the site of the new RAH in November 2014.

Fifteen months later, 63-year-old Steven Wyatt was killed while working at the same site after his body became trapped between the ¬scissor lift on which he was ¬riding and the top of a doorway.

The scissor lift that killed Jorge Castillo-Riffo. Picture: AAP

Following his investigation into Mr Castillo-Riffo’s death, Mr Johns raised concern about the two major brands of scissor lifts in Australia having different controls.

The inquest heard that it was not uncommon for the different models to be used on the same construction site, with operators switching between the two on a daily basis.

“I therefore recommend that until the implementation of a system of effective standardisation of scissor lift control configuration across the country, that scissor lifts not be operated unless there is a person on the ground operating as a spotter and who is available at all times to take steps to activate the emergency-lowering mechanism, should that be necessary,” Mr Johns said.

Mr Johns said there was no safe work statement in place for the task being undertaken by Mr Castillo-Riffo and, if procedure had been followed, unacceptable risks would have been identified.

Mr Castillo-Riffo’s partner, Pam Gurner-Hall, welcomed the recommendations, which also included the state government providing funding for families to be legally represented in coronial inquests.

Ms Gurner-Hall said she was “extremely relieved” that Mr Johns established the cause of Mr Castillo-Riffo’s death as being crushed by the scissor lift.

“(Developers) Leighton Hansen Yuncken inferred in their evidence that he died of a heart attack,” she said.

“It was another attempt to evade accountability.

“Leighton Hansen Yuncken need to now do what they have never done before, and say sorry.

“If even one more construction worker’s life is saved, that will be Jorge’s legacy.”

Mr Johns was critical of workplace regulator SafeWork SA, after the inquest was told investigators were unavailable to attend the site on the day Mr Castillo-Riffo died.

“Without analysing the evidence of each of the inspectors in detail, I am content to merely record that I was not impressed by the SafeWork SA investigation as a whole,” he said.

CFMEU national construction secretary Dave Noonan said LHY had failed to provide a safe workplace.

“The findings of the coroner’s inquest are a damning indictment on the company, the regulator, and the culture of corporations over people,” he said.

LHY has been contacted for comment.

— with AAP