Quarry Operator Fined $65,000+ for Worker’s Catwalk Fall

A worker making repairs to rubber skirts of a screen in the lower feed hopper fell 15 feet into quarry material below when the catwalk he was standing on gave way. Thankfully, he survived. But MOL inspectors found deterioration in the catwalk’s steel floor grating, toe board and handrails even though the catwalks had been previously flagged as requiring maintenance. The employer pled guilty to an OHS violation for failing to maintain the catwalks in a safe condition and was fined $65,000 plus a 25% victim surcharge [James Dick Construction Limited, Govt. Press Release, April 8, 2021].