A construction company has been convicted and fined after an incident in which a 17-year-old apprentice plumber suffered life-threatening injuries. An excavation collapsed and he was partly engulfed.

WorkSafe Acting Executive Director of Health and Safety, Paul Fowler, said the incident was a traumatic example of the dangers of working in and around excavations.

Employers overseeing work in and around excavations should:

• Be aware and assess the impact of weather events on ground conditions
• Assess ground conditions around the site and in the excavation
• Ensure appropriate ground support or retention systems are in place
• Appoint a competent person to supervise works
• Ensure a safe system of work is developed and followed for excavations.

See WorkSafe’s new Compliance code: Excavation