Safety audit order for Alphacool firms

SISTER companies of a Portsmith-based airconditioning firm whose worker fell to his death in August have been ordered to undergo safety audits.

MC Holdings Pty Ltd, trading as Alphacool, had its licences suspended after Sol Fagan suffered a fatal 7m fall while installing air ducts at James Cook University in Smithfield.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission served legal papers to Alphacool Townsville and Alphacool Port Douglas earlier this month, giving them an opportunity to show why they should not be required to provide safety audits of their operations.

The three companies all have the same directors and nominees.

A QBCC spokesman said the sister companies now had 45 days to provide the audit findings or the commission could impose licence suspensions.

“The conditions do not prevent these companies from undertaking building work that they are licensed to perform,” he said.

“The condition imposed on each licence will require each company to provide an audit report of their safety management systems, for the purpose of demonstrating compliance with Work Health and Safety Act requirements.

“The QBCC has not received any reports of work being undertaken by MC Holdings Pty Ltd, whose licence remains suspended at this time.”