Near death experiences

Crane crash, Port Chalmers, New Zealand

Waterside workers on both sides of the Tasman lucky to be alive after a spate of accidents on the wharves again highlights job safety

MUA member Matthew Varian, 22, narrowly escaped death after the straddle he was operating overturned at Patrick, Port Botany on the evening shift, at around 5 pm on Saturday, October 18.

"It happened very quickly," said Varian. "Falling was scary. You loose your breath. I just remember concentrating on holding on to something as it went down. The machine hit the ground and from there it was pure pain. It was so intense I couldn't think properly, couldn't talk. I was just holding on in a bleeding mess."

But Varian had lost all feeling in his lower body. The impact had broken his back.

Four co-workers were quick to the rescue, risking their own lives and the possibility of the straddle bursting into flames to give first aid to their workmate until paramedics and the rescue squad arrived.

"I was wedged inside the cabin with my lower body just hanging," said Varian. "Two very strong guys held onto me."

It took the rescue team more than an hour to stabilise the injured man and free him from the crushed metal cabin.

MUA first aider Allan Green got an emergency call that a straddle was down. Three drivers were already inside the cabin giving aid when he got to the scene.

"First I heard he'd been impaled," said Green. "The cabin was on its side with the doors and windows blown out. Matthew was conscious and in a lot of pain. He was screaming for us to get him out."

Green provided Varian the pain killing gas Penphrane and oxygen to inhale. But nothing could stop the pain.

"He had gashes down his back and hands, from the 12 metre fall, but the bleeding was pretty well under control," said Green. "The ambulance got there pretty quick and took him to the Prince Henry spinal unit. At first I heard they didn't hold much hope of him ever walking again. "

Varian was hospitalised for eight weeks. The morphine kept him unconscious most of the time. Each time he came to the pain was unbearable.

After extensive surgery and bone grafts Varian was discharged in December. Now he is home and having daily physiotherapy.

Matt Varian can walk, the bone will rejuvenate, but his spinal chord is badly damaged; he is still without most feeling in his lower abdomen and it will be some time before he knows the extent of his injury.

A full investigation into the accident is under way.

"While we await the outcome I'd just like to warn all members of the dangers on the job and call for extra vigilance and care," said Deputy Branch Secretary Glen Wood. "This is the second serious accident on the Sydney wharves in as many months. The straddle was a complete write off. And a young man in his twenties very nearly lost his life."

Glen Wood thanked Green and the four MUA members Ken Stapleton, Gary Pemrose, David Nothelfer and Mark Tomachio whose quick thinking and bravery saved a man's life. Varian too has asked that his thanks be recorded.

Wood also said he appreciated the compassion showed by Patrick Operations Manager Ray Lee and Human Resources Manager John Fletcher for Varian and the workers who witnessed the accident. Management closed the terminal, allowing everyone on shift to go home, even providing taxi fares for those suffering shock and unable to drive. Members were also offered counselling by management.

First Aider Allan Green has been on the wharf 39 years and says it's a full time job treating injured workers.

"There's been a few straddle crashes and collisions over the years," he said. "But this is the first to kick over.

"The next night one of the ship's crew got electrocuted and I had to tend to him; five days later one of our own electricians copped 415 volts from a crane. It's amazing he survived. It went through his heart and left a hole in his finger and a burn. A few days later a forklift caught alight. The driver just got out in time before the machine was engulfed in flames. And in December Patrick workers were gassed when a container on board the P&O NedLloyd Los Angeles leaked toxic toluene diisocyanate vapours.

Crane Crash

Meanwhile in Port Chalmers, New Zealand in November waterside workers on the Hong Kong flagged Maritime Friendship counted themselves lucky to be alive after a ships crane snapped while loading logs onboard. It missed men working on deck on the night shift by inches.

A local wharfie operating the crane had to dive for cover in the back of the cab. The boom then crashed onto a digger onboard the ship. Another waterside worker driving the digger had to accelerate forward as the boom landed on top of the engine, narrowly missing the cab.

Several workers on the wharf had to run for cover as a pile of logs rolled off the ship.

Port Chalmers based Maritime Union National President Phil Adams says the collapse of the crane is a shocking indication of how Flag of Convenience ships have introduced Third World conditions into New Zealand ports.