Geotech consultancy (amongst others) fined after tunnel collapse

[Dave Whitefield]

In 2005, during the construction of the Lane Cove Tunnel in Sydney, a section of the tunnel collapsed.  No workers were injured. The collapse also caused subsidence that destabilised a block of units to the point where residents had to be evacuated.  In short, there was a major screw up, and it centred on the roof support process that involved rock anchors and shotcrete.

In the weeks before the collapse, workers were expressing concerns about the roof support, and increased rock falls were being reported. The plan for supporting the roof had been upgraded, but TJH adopted a different approach that compromised the safety of the roof.

The court heard that it was known (to the geotechnical engineers) that the roof support system had deviated form the original tunnel design, and that the geotechnical engineers were not conducting daily inspections, which it is felt would have alerted them to the impending risk form the failure to follow the upgraded plan. 

After the collapse, Worley Parsons, the tunnel designers were fined $105,000. Thiess and John Holland, as the constructor joint venture partners, were fined $156,000.

Then, the geotechnical engineers (Pells Sullivan Meynink) were fined $140,000 for "failing to warn the crews of the risks of bypassing a construction plan" (I'm quoting from my source article, not the judge). This fine was also for two breaches of the OHS Act. One for exposing others to risk, and one for exposing their own workers.

http://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/action/PJUDG?s=1000,jgmtid=161100

Cheers

Safety Dave

0412 782 191