Concrete Pouring conducted at culverts without Traffic Management in place
Date of Incident: 6 March 2025
Time of Incident: 10:30am
EQSafe Event Type: Procedure Breach
Potential Consequence: Major
What Happened
A subcontracting concreting crew were observed installing formwork and pouring concrete at a culvert in an open road area posted at 110km/h. The concrete truck was parked on the gravel shoulder of the bitumen seal.
The Advanced Worksite Traffic Management (AWTM) accredited on site advised crew to stop as there was no traffic control in place. The crew suggested they had permission to conduct the works and continued.
Later in the day the AWTM was asked to look at a separate location further west and confirmed the concrete had been laid in the culvert there. This location was also uncontrolled and posted at 110km/h.
At the second location, the concrete truck had also attempted to empty the remaining concrete in a V drain running at right angles away from the culvert which was a breach in disposal practices.
On the following day, the subcontracting concrete personnel were stood down for a breach of site procedure for work working in or near live lanes, and incorrect disposal of concrete waste.
Contributing Factors:
- Planning of the site activities was not discussed, and the contractor was not aware of the subcontractor undertaking concreting activities outside of the initial work location, with no planning for traffic control.
- There was a failure to assess the risks associated with the lack of traffic management in an uncontrolled 110km/h zone at both concrete pouring sites.
- The subcontractor showed a disregard for the environment and correct disposal practices by emptying the concrete waste into the V drain
Corrective Actions:
- Project Managers to meet with contractors to discuss adhering to site requirements, forward planning and communication protocols.
- Contractor performance management to be reviewed by Contract/Project Managers.
- Review the Mandatory Site Rules within the induction.
- Critical Risk Assessment workshop to be reviewed, with focus on site rick mitigation (traffic management procedures)
The subcontractors knowingly and wilfully broke the rules that are critical to the safety of all workers.
This incident serves as a serious reminder of the consequences that come with disregarding established safety procedures — especially when working in high-speed traffic environments.
Traffic management isn’t optional — it’s critical.
From proper planning and communication to environmental compliance and risk assessment, every aspect of site safety must be followed to protect workers, road users, and the integrity of the project.
Let’s work together to make every worksite safer.
At AusQ Training, we help teams understand and apply safe work practices through industry-recognised training in traffic management, risk control, and environmental compliance.
👉 Need support or refresher training? At AusQ Training, we deliver accredited, industry-recognised traffic management training across WA — equipping your team with the knowledge and confidence to work safely and stay compliant. To view our range of public training courses [click here] or view our calendar here.
Make a time to chat to one of our Customer Support Team members [here] to discuss your traffic management training needs.
