The South Australian Business Chamber Today

Is your backyard in order? Employer fined $100,000 after fatal fall at work

Monday, September 5th 2022

With National Safe Work Month starting soon, it is timely to consider if you have your WHS audits, risk assessments and strategies in place.

A South Australian manufacturer of garages and carports has been convicted and fined $100,000 for the death of a worker who fell from a roof in late 2019. Three charges were laid including failure to:

  • provide and maintain a safe working environment
  • perform adequate hazard identification and risk assessment
  • provide adequate training and supervision.

In separate investigations, SafeWork SA found that 75% of solar panel installation companies do not have adequate controls in place to minimise the risk of falls for workers working on first or second storey pitched roofs. 

Work Health Safety legislation is proactive, meaning that it is an offence under the Act and Regulations to fail to have adequate systems in place to prevent workplace injuries. Such failures can result in conviction, whether or not an injury has occurred.

Many workplaces do not have the expertise in-house’ to carry out audits, identify hazards, conduct risk assessments, and/​or assist employers to develop and implement adequate WHS management systems. 

The South Australian Business Chamber have specialist WHS Consultants who can assist employers to protect their workers and avoid heavy fines by carrying out WHS audits, risk assessments and recommending strategies to ensure legislative compliance.

Failing to adequately control fall risks can have very serious consequences for workers and business operators.

Watch our webinar on working at heights > 

To secure your audit and report, risk assessment, or systems advice and implementation, please contact the South Australian Business Chamber on 8300 0000.

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