A Ballarat construction company has been convicted and fined $25,000 for ignoring WorkSafe directions to fix unsafe scaffolding at a Mount Clear worksite.

The company was found guilty in the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court of two offences relating to a failure to provide a safe workplace and a failure to comply with a WorkSafe prohibition notice.

It was also ordered to pay $2897 in costs.

The court heard that WorkSafe issued the company with a prohibition notice in May 2016 after an inspector observed incomplete scaffolding, with missing planks and gaps in the handrails, at a site in the Ballarat suburb of Mount Clear. 

The notice required that the scaffolding not be used until the safety issues were addressed.

When a WorkSafe inspector returned to check that the notice has been complied with, he observed a person working from the same incomplete scaffolding.

The court heard that two subcontractors said they were directed by a company representative to work on the roof of the construction, and were not aware there was a prohibition notice in respect to the scaffolding.

WorkSafe Head of Operations and Emergency Management Adam Watson said the idea that a construction company would ignore a directive to fix a safety issue as critical as scaffolding was abhorrent.

“Falls are one of the most common causes of death and serious injury among construction workers. You don’t have to fall from a great height to be killed or suffer permanent injuries at a worksite,” Mr Watson said.

“Given the risks it’s quite disturbing to think that anyone would ignore a specific WorkSafe directive to make scaffolding safer.”

Employers should control the risk of injury through falls from height by ensuring:

• The installation of passive fall prevention measures such as railings and scaffolding.

• Workers perform their tasks within a safe area.

• Safety equipment is used to minimise the risk of injury if there is a fall.

• That workplace layout, access requirements, training and experience levels and on-site conditions are taken into account when the risk of falls is assessed.

For peace of mind, contact ISOsafe. Our specialists provide training, support and Safety Policies tailored for businesses Australia-wide.