Contractor fined $20k for no fall protection
The owner of a Victorian solar installation business has been fined $20,000 after inspectors found workers not using edge protection.
The solar company was installing a residential solar system on a single storey house in Herne Hill where a WorkSafe inspector noted two employees were on the roof but had no fall protection in place.
The workers told the inspector that a perimeter guard rail was available at the workplace, however it consisted of only one 4.5 metres set, which would not adequately guard the roof area.
The workers provided a Safe Work Method Statement was provided to the inspector, which stipulated that edge protection was to be used for work performed at heights above two metres.
An improvement notice was issued to the company requiring it to provide a safe system of work for solar installation by controlling the risk of an employee falling more than two metres.
The inspector re-attended the workplace and observed that a perimeter guard rail system had been installed to the immediate work area and deemed the improvement notice to have been complied with.
The court heard that the offence was on the lower end of seriousness, and that four employees confirmed it was a genuine one off happening.
The magistrate noted that the company’s sole director was responsibly for ensuring there was proper oversight but took steps to remedy the fault.
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