Concrete slab kills man

By Paul Dunlop
A MAN crushed to death at a building site in Pakenham last week was only months from retirement.
Christos Binos, 58, of Reservoir died instantly when a 14tonne prefabricated slab of concrete fell on him.
Other workers were able to get out of the way when the concrete slab, about six metres high, crashed down in the Hogan Court construction site about 10.50am on Wednesday.
Mr Binos was described as a devoted family man who had intended to retire in November and move to the beach.
Police and Worksafe are investigating the incident.
It is believed the incident happened when bars holding the slab in place were unlocked.
Two men scrambled to safety but Mr Binos could not get out of the way.
Pakenham State Emergency Service crews, paramedics and Country Fire Authority volunteers joined police and Worksafe officials at the scene.
Paramedics said the man’s coworkers were badly shaken by the incident.
Worksafe officials said it was the first death in Victoria’s construction industry in 14 months, which was a record period without a fatality.
A commercial building was under construction at the site which is part of a developing industrial area off Bald Hill Road.
Wednesday was a busy day for emergency services, who had been at a truck crash on the Princes Highway when they received the call to Hogan Court.
Worksafe executive director John Merritt said although the investigation was at an early stage, the tragedy was a reminder to the construction industry that high safety standards must always be maintained.
“The fact that there has not been a death in the construction sector since January last year should be a source of great pride to the industry but (last week’s) incident shows the reality is that the risk of death and serious injury is always present,” Mr Merritt said.