A construction company has been fined $750,000 and a company director fined $45,000 over an incident in which a worker from another business was seriously injured in a fall.
A construction company has been fined $750,000 and a company director fined $45,000 over an incident in which a worker from another business was seriously injured in a fall.
CASM Construction Pty Ltd (administrators appointed) pleaded guilty to failing to ensure workers were not exposed to hazards and, by that failure, causing serious harm to a worker, and was fined in Northam Magistrates Court on Monday.
A company director also pleaded guilty to neglect as a director and was fined during the same court appearance. He was granted a spent conviction.
In December 2021, a worker at a private property in Wootatting, 69km east of Perth, fell 2.2 metres into an unfinished concrete swimming pool inside an undercover alfresco area that was under construction.
The worker suffered multiple injuries including a severe head injury requiring emergency surgery and has ongoing health issues as a result of his injuries.
The pool had previously been protected by scaffolding, but this had been removed to allow access for further work, leaving a serious fall risk for workers working around the pool.
WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said today the incident should serve as a reminder of the importance of guarding against fall risks in workplaces.
"A fall from height was identified as a moderate risk in CASM's Site Specific Safety Management Plan, with special consideration required for swimming pools, however the pool was left uncovered for a substantial period of time which created the risk that led to this serious incident," Ms North said.
"Western Australia has had a Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls at Workplaces since 2004, reissued in 2022. The code provides practical guidance to effectively manage fall risks and should be followed in all workplaces where a risk of falls exists.
"The incident is a timely reminder that it is the duty of anyone in charge of a workplace to conduct a thorough risk assessment before work begins and to put controls in place to reduce the risk of injury to workers and others.
"It's also a reminder of the sizeable penalties that can be faced by a person conducting a business or undertaking who fails to protect workers or other people at a workplace from risks to their health or safety."
AMB Consolidated - the company that engaged CASM Construction to supervise and manage the building works - has also been prosecuted over the incident and will next appear in court on September 22.
