Company admits fault in fatal Curtin University roof collapse

A steel fabrication company has admitted responsibility for a fatal roof collapse at Curtin University in Perth, six years after the incident. The company, Elsdon, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety of someone who was not an employee and causing death and injury.

Confronting CCTV footage

Perth Magistrates Court was shown two sets of CCTV footage of the incident, from different angles, with two workers standing on the roof and then falling as it gave way. The confronting video showed men running to the scene after the collapse.

Apprentice carpenter Jonathan Hartshorn, 23, died in the 2020 roof collapse while Rikki Issitt suffered serious injuries which have prevented him from working. Several workers were injured in the collapse, including two others who were under the canopy.

Emotional testimony

The court heard that the welding for trusses was not done to specification, nor was it overseen by a qualified supervisor. Limping to the witness box, Mr Issitt told the court how he fell more than 20 metres, thinking he was going to die. He suffered multiple injuries, including to his spine and pelvis.

Rikki Issitt told the court he had suffered both physically and psychologically.

In an emotional statement, Mr Issitt said the accident had taken away his career and subjected him to years of almost constant pain and psychological distress.

&The accident has taken away my career and subjected me to years of almost constant pain and psychological distress.&

Tributes to victim

Mr Hartshorn's mother Susan Chappell also read out a statement, saying her son &had a right to go home at the end of that day&. She said he was a hardworking apprentice whose &future was torn from underneath him&.

&He made me feel safe,& her statement said. &And then in one moment he was gone.&

Prosecutor's statement

Prosecutor Eric Heenan said the majority of the welds inspected after the incident had defects. He told the court that Elsdon, in its defence, said it did not know it was sending inadequate welds to the site, but there had been &no procedures, no qualified welder, no supervisor, no test&.

&The majority of the welds inspected after the incident had defects.&

Sentencing

The maximum penalty under the legislation in force at the time is a $2 million fine. Elsdon's lawyer Alex Mossop said the company accepted the welds at the trusses were meant to be &full penetration& and were not, and it did not know that its workshop &was not achieving&. Elsdon is due to be sentenced in October.