Crane company fined after powerlines were hit, workers injured

Published:
Wednesday 29 January 2025 at 1:01 pm

A crane company has been fined $3000 after one of its cranes hit powerlines in inner Melbourne, sending two workers to hospital and putting bystanders’ safety at risk.

Martin Cicerale Group Pty Ltd, trading as MCG Cranes, pleaded guilty to one charge brought by Energy Safe Victoria over the company’s failure to maintain the minimum distance between machinery and overhead powerlines at Abbotsford in July 2023.

The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard MCG Cranes provided a 60-tonne mobile crane to lift a 3-tonne crawler from an apartment building to an adjacent courtyard.

During the lift the crane’s steel wire rope made contact with a powerline. Witnesses saw a bright flash and smoke coming from the cabin of the crane and heard what sounded like an explosion.

The crane operator suffered shock and the worker, who was guiding the load, received an electric shock. Both were taken to hospital.

Video footage of the incident was viewed in court and showed members of the public close by the accident site, including a woman with a baby.

The court heard there was no ‘spotter’ present to monitor the distance between the crane and powerlines during the operation. It also heard the company failed to obtain a work permit from the powerline owner, CitiPower, that would have permitted crane lifts at the site under strict conditions.

Energy Safe CEO Leanne Hughson said the incident could have resulted in serious injury or even death to bystanders and anyone touching the crane or its load.

“Electricity can be unpredictable and unforgiving. If the electrical current had taken a different path to the ground, this incident could have ended in tragedy,” Ms Hughson said.

“Essentially lives were put at risk because a fundamental safety law wasn’t followed.”

In sentencing, Magistrate O’Shea noted that since the incident, MCG Cranes had made significant efforts regarding safety at significant cost to the business.

Her Honour hoped the prosecution would send a signal to industry about the importance of compliance (with safety laws).

A photograph of a crane and powerlines, with text overlayed to explain issues.

Energy Safe. Always.

Media contact: 0477 572 378 I media@energysafe.vic.gov.au

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