Government of Western Australia | A construction company has been fined $350,000 (and ordered to pay more than $6,600 in costs) over the death of a 19-year-old worker in 2021.
M Construction (WA) Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment and was fined in the Perth Magistrates Court.
In November 2021, an employee of PAWS Construction and Maintenance Pty Ltd died after suffering a traumatic head injury when he was struck by a sea container drawbridge ramp weighing around 250kg. At the time he was assisting his supervisor to lower the ramp.
M Construction had engaged PAWS Construction to complete the works, including the lowering of the sea container ramp. PAWS Construction was also prosecuted over the incident and was fined $250,000 in August 2025.
The ramp to be lowered was held in place by two pins. The first pin was removed, and before removing the second pin, the supervisor instructed the worker to stand to the left of the ramp out of the drop zone.
When the second pin was removed the ramp fell quickly to the ground, striking the worker who suffered fatal injuries.
The workers had not been provided with a safe work procedure or instructions for the raising or lowering of the ramp.
A winch was installed to assist with the raising and lowering of the ramp, but it was not maintained and was not operational at the time of the incident.
