Coronial
VIChospital

Finding into death of Stephen John Caruana

Deceased

Stephen John Caruana

Demographics

48y, male

Date of death

2017-11-28

Finding date

2019-02-11

Cause of death

Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy complicating upper cervical spine and cord injury

AI-generated summary

A 48-year-old construction worker died from hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy following a traumatic cervical spine injury sustained while cutting down a gum tree from a cherry picker. Tree branches struck him, causing loss of consciousness and a C2-C3 vertebral fracture with C1-3 spinal cord injury leading to asystolic cardiac arrest. He was airlifted intubated to Royal Melbourne Hospital ED but sustained fatal hypoxic brain injury. The coroner highlighted that tree trimming and removal is hazardous work requiring appropriate risk control measures, adequate worker training, and emergency procedures. WorkSafe Victoria's guidance lacked specific information on falling trees and limbs hazards. The coroner recommended updated safety guidance and industry-specific checklists.

AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.

Specialties

emergency medicineintensive careneurosurgery

Drugs involved

midazolamlevetiracetammetoclopramide

Clinical conditions

cervical spine fracturespinal cord injuryhypoxic ischaemic encephalopathyasystolic cardiac arrest

Procedures

intubationaeromedical retrieval

Contributing factors

  • Inadequate safety precautions during tree felling
  • Working alone while undertaking hazardous tree work
  • Lack of arborist qualification despite undertaking tree felling
  • Insufficient guidance on managing risks of falling trees and limbs from WorkSafe Victoria

Coroner's recommendations

  1. WorkSafe Victoria review its guidance note on Working Safely with Trees to make specific note of the risks of injury from falling objects such as branches and provide recommendations on suggested control measures to reduce the risk of injury or death
  2. WorkSafe Victoria consider developing safety checklists for persons engaged in tree lopping and gardening services to assist workers and employers with identifying risks and hazards of tree trimming and removal work and implementing appropriate risk control measures
  3. WorkSafe Victoria consider implementing a safety action plan for tree work such as that initiated in New South Wales to promote safe work practices
Full text
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