Worker’s leg amputated after Lot 14 accident
A 22-year-old construction worker’s leg has been partly amputated following crush injuries involving large demolition machinery at Lot Fourteen, the former Royal Adelaide Hospital site.
Works at the Lot Fourteen, the former Royal Adelaide Hospital site. Photo: Tony Lewis/InDaily
The worker is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery, during which his leg was amputated below the knee.
He sustained severe injuries to his leg on January 24, the Friday before the Australia Day long weekend.
Lot Fourteen contractor McMahon Services and SafeWork SA confirmed the incident this morning.
The contractor and construction union the CFMEU said the worker was in a stable condition.
A spokesperson for McMahon Services said the man sustained the severe injuries while performing routine maintenance on an excavator on the afternoon of January 24.
“At the Lot Fourteen site on 24 January one of our employees was injured while performing routine maintenance on an excavator which was powered down at the completion of daily works,” the spokesperson said.
“The worker sustained some fractures and a severe injury to his leg as a result of the incident.
“He later underwent surgery in hospital where his leg was amputated below the knee.”
A spokesperson for construction industry watchdog SafeWork SA said “inspectors attended the scene soon afterwards to investigate the cause and identify any breaches of the legislation”.
“Statutory notices have been issued, including prohibiting the use of the excavator while our investigation continues.
“We are unable to provide further information at this time.”
CFMEU Assistant National Secretary Andrew Sutherland said the construction union attended the scene on the day, and that the cause of the incident was not yet clear.
“This is a devastating incident and our hearts go out to this young man and his family, and the union will offer them whatever support we can,” said Sutherland.
“No one should go to work and face the prospect of injury and death.
“South Australian construction workers deserve better.”
Sutherland said there was a “shockingly lax attitude to safety in the SA construction industry”.
The McMahon Services spokesperson added: “We remain in close personal contact with our employee and are providing all the support we possibly can to his family at this distressing time.”
“Ensuring all our workers get home safely from work every day is of critical importance to McMahon Services.
“As well as undertaking our own exhaustive review into how this happened, we are fully cooperating with SafeWork SA to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident and, until this investigation is completed, we are unable to comment further.”
A spokesperson for Renewal SA, the government agency that oversees Lot Fourteen, said: “We extend our thoughts to the injured man and his family, and wish him the best for his recovery.”
“McMahon Services advise the company is providing support and counselling to its on-site personnel, and is assisting SafeWork SA with its investigation.”
