SA business fined $120k after employee injury
A South Australian formwork business has been fined $120,000 after a worker fell from a height of more than four meters, resulting in a fractured leg.
The formwork company pleaded guilty to breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012, and was convicted for the “failure to comply with health and safety duty”, which carries a maximum individual penalty of $300,000.
According to SafeWork SA, In December of 2016 the formwork company was subcontracted to a Windsor Gardens worksite to provide formworks including the construction and installation of a metal deck.
It was during this time that a worker fell from the formwork’s exposed edge, falling 4.4 meters. An investigation found that it was the business who failed to ensure a safe working environment by not providing a static line, a fall restrain system, or worker harnesses.
SafeWork SA’s Executive Director Martyn Campbell said the judgement should send a clear reminder to businesses and employers that the health and safety of workers is critical.
“We cannot put a price on a worker’s life – and we can ensure their wellbeing by having safe systems of work in place and by strictly adhering to them.”
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