Builder Fined $850,000 After Worker Fall
A Builder has been fined $850,000 after a worker fell to their death on a residential site where no SWMS was prepared or adhered to.
According to WorkSafe Victoria, the company pleaded guilty to a single charge of “failing to ensure that persons other than employees were not exposed to risks to their health and safety by failing to prepare and conduct work in accordance with a safe work method statement (SWMS).”
The worker was a subcontractor hired for carpentry work at the residential site, where he fell over 3 meters from an unprotected edge to his death.
The court heard that workers were not provided with a SWMS before commencing high-risk work, and no safety procedures or safe work methods were discussed while conducting the work.
WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Julie Nielsen has stated:
“Falls from height are a well-recognised safety hazard and are among the biggest killers of Victorian workers. This death is a tragic reminder that WorkSafe will not hesitate to prosecute any employer who fails to do all they can to protect their workers’ health and safety.”
