Defence Charged Over 60-Tonne Crane Tip at HMAS Stirling

The following is an abridgement of an article originally published by Safety Solutions.

Incident Overview

The Department of Defence has been charged with breaching federal work health and safety laws after a 60-tonne mobile crane overturned at HMAS Stirling naval base, south of Perth, on 16 September 2024.

The crane operator leaped from the cabin and nearby workers fled when the machine overturned. No injuries were sustained.

Investigation Findings

An investigation by Comcare determined the crane's configuration was allegedly inadequate during pack-up, pointing to retracted outrigger stabilisers, an extended boom, and a counterweight too heavy for the setup.

Comcare noted that a similar mobile crane overturn occurred a year prior at HMAS Creswell naval base, south of Sydney.

Legal Action

Comcare stated it will allege Defence failed to minimise health and safety risks by omitting operator instruction on tipping instability, failing to perform formal pre-planning including a site-specific safety analysis, and neglecting to establish an adequate exclusion zone.

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions filed a single Category 2 charge under the Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Act 2011 in Perth Magistrates Court, alleging failure to comply with a health and safety duty that exposed workers to risk of death or serious injury. The matter is scheduled for mention on 27 November 2026.