A devastating incident has occurred in Mandurah, south of Perth, where a painter in his 60s has lost his life after falling from a ladder at a worksite last Thursday.
The man suffered critical injuries while using an A-frame ladder and was rushed to hospital, where he sadly passed away on Monday.
A Second Workplace Incident Rocks Perth
In a separate incident, a young tradie, just 18 years old, fell nine meters from a community center in Brentwood, Perth, while doing roofing work.
He fell through the roof and onto the sports court below, sustaining serious injuries.
Fortunately, he is still receiving treatment in hospital.
Investigations Underway
WorkSafe has launched investigations into both incidents, with Commissioner Sally North expressing her condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
The Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) has renewed calls for the state government and building authorities to improve safety guidelines, citing the alarming number of fatal incidents related to workers falling through fragile roof materials or roof openings.
A Dire Situation: Calls for Improved Safety
Last year, three fatal incidents were recorded in WA, and the CFMEU is urging authorities to take action to prevent such tragedies.
“We have campaigned tirelessly to create awareness around the inherent dangers of working at heights, and to prevent needless deaths resulting from inaction and the abuse of basic safety guidelines,” said Mike Buchan, CFMEU WA state secretary.
“How many more lives and families need to be destroyed before somebody gets the message?” The union is demanding better safety guidelines to put an end to these preventable incidents.
A Growing Concern
The recent incidents have sparked concerns about workplace safety, and the need for improved guidelines and regulations to protect workers.
With the number of incidents continuing to climb, it’s clear that something needs to be done to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. Share your thoughts on this issue in the comments below.