A worker suffered a serious laceration to his ear when he was hit by a crowbar he was using to push out a securing pin while moving a 9.8 tonne dozer counterweight.
At the time, the counterweight was held by a vertical two-leg chain assembly slung from a Franna crane. No other support device was used to prevent movement of the counterweight during the task.
The securing pin was pushed by the crowbar horizontally, which released the counterweight.
The counterweight rotated back about 50 mm until the chain assembly prevented the counterweight moving further.
The crowbar flicked sideways due to the movement of the counterweight and hit the worker’s ear.
The Regulator has commenced an investigation to determine the cause and circumstances of the incident.
