Issues That Need To Be Looked At - Incident At Westfield Mount Druitt Falling Ceiling!

Whilst we thank everyone that helped the people within our community, restore their lives, houses, clear streets and electrical power, it is in these times that we have to reflect as to whether there was anything that could have been done better, in any way possible.
 
In respect to the response from Emergency Services - no issues all perfectly controlled and responded too.

In relation to incident at Westfield Mount Druitt, there are four issues I have noticed about this, which I think should have been done at the time  by Westfield Management.

1. The Emergency Exit was locked at the Woolworths Entrance,

   

   Locked Emergency Exit Door

   as the automatic doors were not opening and a customer was trying to open the door. This door should have allowed access to outside the  Westfield Mount Druitt Shopping complex. ( I hope other Emergency Exists were not the same)
2. As soon as the ceiling collapsed above the Tele Choice store, the whole of Westfield Mount Druitt Shopping complex should have been closed as it was slippery and potential accidents to workers and contractors was at risk under the Work Health and Safety Act and Regulations. Only Woolworths closed their shop as they considered there were potential risks for their workers and customers.
3.  Although the area was cordoned of immediate danger to shoppers, this blocked shoppers access and this left shoppers lost - no one was instructing shoppers what to do? Shoppers should have been evacuated, especially as Woolworths had closed their business it was a potential accident risk to shoppers. 
4. There was no PA announcement across the Westfield Mount Druitt  informing of potential spill/fall accidents where this incident was or an announcement to close the shopping complex. 

I do hope that stake holders report this incident to Safework NSW and receive a report from Westfield Management on why these procedures had not taken place. In previous blogs I have advised Westfield Mount Druitt of leaking ceilings in the past that needed proper investigation. It appears that this issue has not been looked at and/or prevented so far. If these issues are neglected, further incidents still occur and may result to a most higher risk towards Work Health and Safety to occur. What now needs to be done is engineer inspections on the roofs and ceilings locating the reason why the roofs and ceilings are leaking and putting physical resolutions into practice - rather than possibly ignoring these important blogs copies they receive!

I'm sure our State Member for Mount Druitt, Councillor Edmond Atalla would be able to follow this up, as his electoral office is in the Westfield Shopping complex - I wouldn't want his office to leak or ceilings to fall there ... and I'm sure he has mutual feelings!





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Click here on Previous blog on Westfield's leaking ceilings