An experienced quantity surveyor who died in a horrific workplace accident has been remembered by his heartbroken colleagues as someone who had a “heart of gold” and was a “nice Spanish guy”.
Adrian Fariña Pacheco, 59, was struck by a load of steel while working near a crane at a Glask construction site in Malaga, north of Perth, on Tuesday afternoon.
He died at the scene, despite desperate efforts by his colleagues and emergency services to revive him.
The trader, who worked for AR Construction, was standing near a crane that another worker was operating to erect steelwork for a warehouse.
Mr Fariña Pacheco was from the Canary Islands and had moved to Australia almost a decade ago with his Italian wife to start a new life together.
His friends and colleagues have rallied around his wife, whom Fariña Pacheco referred to on construction sites as his “number one.”
“It’s surreal. We never thought we would lose a good co-worker and personal friend so suddenly,” said friend Adam Briggs. Western Australia.
“I grew up without a father. Every day he would pick me and my little brother up. Every Friday we would go out to dinner and he was like a mentor to me.”
Adrian Fariña Pacheco, 59, (left), was hit by a load of steel while working near a crane in Perth. His friend Adam Briggs (right) has described the experienced rigger as someone with a “heart of gold”.
Mr Briggs said colleagues who frantically tried to save the 59-year-old man were “devastated” by his death.
He added that Mr Fariña Pacheco took workplace safety very seriously and always wore his protective equipment at the workplace, including his hard hat and harness.
Glask chief executive Kieran Glaser told The West Australian the company was “cooperating fully with the investigating authority”.
“This tragic accident has left us in shock. Glask Construction is, and has always been, fully committed to ensuring a high level of occupational health and safety on all our construction projects,” he said.
The site where the 59-year-old quantity surveyor (pictured) was killed remains closed as Worksafe investigates the workplace tragedy.
Mr Glaser also added that the company was focusing on providing “psychological support to our project staff”.
A total of five deaths involving mobile plant and occurring across a range of industries have been reported to Worksafe so far in 2024, with two involving a crane.
Mobile plant includes machinery such as forklifts, elevating work platforms, delivery vehicles, order pickers, earthmoving equipment and tractor machines, as well as cranes.
Worksafe investigators are now investigating the incident and a report into Mr Fariña Pacheco’s death will be prepared for the coroner.
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