Roof death ‘completely avoidable’

A CORONER has called for better training in Tasmania’s construction industry in regard to working at heights after the death of a builder who fell from the roof of King Island Airport.

Simon Cooper said Kurt Gorrie’s death was “completely avoidable” and would have not happened if simple and obvious safety precautions had been taken.

The 28-year-old father, from Penguin, died at the King Island Hospital from multiple traumatic head injuries after falling on December 8, 2014.

Mr Gorrie was working as a roofing contractor for De Jong and Sons. His brother Luke and apprentice Jacob Brown were also on the roof at the time of the fatal fall.

Mr Cooper also questioned why workplace breaches with- in the industry were not being prosecuted. He said not doing so, without adequate explanation or justification, could rob Tasmania’s workplace safety legislative regimen of its deterrent effect.

Mr Cooper said evidence given during the inquest showed those on site regarded Safe Work Methods Statements as “a piece of paperwork or a box to be ticked.”

“It is difficult to escape the conclusion that poor safety awareness and culture was a significant factor in Kurt Gorrie’s death,” Mr Cooper said.

“As this case so tragically demonstrates, failures to adhere to basic safety precautions means workers die. It seems unlikely that the attitude articulated by several of the workers who gave evidence at the inquest toward safety is an isolated example.

“The matter needs to be addressed by the appropriate authorities. I recommend a review be undertaken in relation to the adequacy of training and instruction delivered within the construction industry apprenticeships schemes for SWMS [Safe Work Methods Statements], particularly for working at heights.”

Mr Cooper said workers on site seemed either not to understand the purpose and importance of the safe work statements or were largely indifferent to them.

“I am satisfied on the evidence in this case that both De Jong and the Gorrie brothers’ SWMS relating to work at height all contemplated a need to use harnesses in work at heights,” Mr Cooper said.

“Had a harness been worn by Kurt Gorrie then he almost certainly would not have died.”