Construction giant Lendlease has been fined $100,000 over "persistent and serious" safety failures that led to a bricklayer losing his toe in a crushing incident.
The tradie was injured in June 2017 while working on the redevelopment of the Campbell Barracks Defence base in Perth, where Lendlease Building Contractors was the principal contractor.
Federal health and safety regulator Comcare said workers for subcontractor Kuredale Pty Ltd were using a crane to lift a steel truss when it hit a section of frame attached to a concrete slab.
"The truss frame, weighing close to 200kg, detached and fell - narrowly missing several workers - and landed on a worker's foot, causing injuries that resulted in the amputation of a toe," Comcare said in a statement on Tuesday.
After a Comcare investigation, Lendlease and Kuredale were charged with contravening federal health and safety laws.
It was alleged they failed to implement an exclusion zone and provide adequate training and supervision to workers.
Lendlease contested a single charge, but was found guilty and fined last week following a trial in the Perth Magistrates Court.
Kuredale, trading as Metro Lintels, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts and been fined $75,000.
The injured bricklayer was employed by another subcontractor.
Comcare chief executive Greg Vines said Lendlease had been aware of "ongoing issues related to exclusion zones" at the site.
"There were persistent and serious failures in the maintenance and enforcement of exclusion zones, including incidents involving Kuredale," Mr Vines said.
"The risks to workers were significant and foreseeable.
"The incident would have been prevented by implementing the simple control of having an effective exclusion zone in place."
