BKH Contractors Group Pty Ltd has been convicted and fined $150,000 in the District Court of NSW as a result of a prosecution by SafeWork NSW.
The proceedings arose from an incident on 7 June 2022, when a worker fell about five metres from a temporary platform in a lift shaft onto two colleagues below while using a rattle gun to undo bolts and hook up vertical columns to be removed by a crane.
The worker, who was not using a fall protection system, sustained multiple rib fractures, a laceration to his left kidney, a left shoulder injury and a left wrist fracture.
His two colleagues suffered a soft tissue injury to his left shoulder and minor injuries, respectively.
BKH Contractors plead guilty to an offence pursuant to section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) for failing to comply with its duty under section 19(1) of the Act.
The full judgement against BKH Contractors Group can be read on the NSW Caselaw website.
BKH Contractors Group Pty Ltd has the right to appeal against its sentence.
Workers who have concerns about workplace health and safety can anonymously contact SafeWork on 13 10 50 or through the Speak Up Save Lives website.
Business owners and workers can access a range of resources to help manage the risks of working from heights on the SafeWork NSW website.
SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer said:
"Falls from heights are a primary cause of traumatic injuries and fatalities at NSW workplaces.
"SafeWork NSW reminds all businesses of their duty to ensure their workers are protected when working at heights."
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