CONSTRUCTION methods a union says are used to cut costs have been blamed for the death of a Vista man in an accident at the desalination plant.
The 35-year-old northern suburbs man died while working at the site of Adelaide's Lonsdale desalination plant about 3pm, reportedly after a large steel beam a crane was lifting slipped and fell, crushing him.
Another man was injured.
Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union state secretary Martin O'Malley said too many companies used "soft slings" connected to cranes which, wrapped around steel beams, broke too easily, putting workers at risk.
"We've been arguing that the slings are not only inappropriate, but downright dangerous, for the past 25 years," he said.
Mr O'Malley believed workers were instructed to use the slings "because they stop the steel from getting scratched".
By failing to get a painter in to paint the steel, Mr O'Malley said companies were putting people at risk.
Mr O'Malley accused these cost-cutting measures as being the reason "one of our members lost his life".
Mr O'Malley said the union would now instruct workers on sites where the slings were used to stop work until they were removed.
"There has never been a consistent ban, we've had recommendations not to use them, or people saying `make sure you use them with the right materials' and that's not steel, but we need something more," he said.
He called on the State Government to make the use of soft slings illegal.
"I really do think that's probably the only thing that will make a difference," he said.
Police are preparing a report for the State Coroner and Safework SA is also investigating the incident.
AdelaideAqua project director Duncan Whitfield, whose company is one of several contracted to help design, construct and maintain the plant, said the main concern was the welfare of the injured employee and "any other personnel involved".
Earlier this month, Mr Whitfield told The Advertiser said there were about 1200 working on the southern suburbs site and he expected this to peak at about 130.
The first desalinated drinking water is scheduled to be produced by December.
