Jorge Castillo-Riffo, 54, was fatally crushed while working on a scissor lift at the site in November, 2014.

In her opening statement on Monday, assisting counsel Kathryn Waite said Castillo-Riffo was found trapped between the lift and a wall while he was “patching” the third-floor slab.

She said Castillo-Riffo’s partner will give evidence that he had been nervous and did not feel safe undertaking the work.

Castillo-Riffo, a worker described by Waite as experienced and capable, was working alone and was not found for up to 15 minutes following the incident.

He suffered a serious brain injury due to lack of blood flow and died in hospital the following day.

Waite said she hoped Castillo-Riffo had not died because work to complete the behind-schedule project had been rushed and corners had been cut.

“How is it, in this day and age, with all we know about risk analysis and safety in the workplace, that we still have people like Mr Castillo-Riffo who never get to go home from work?” she asked.

– AAP