Plumbing company fined $225,000 over trench collapse
10 Oct 2025•BlueSafe Team•Source: SafeWork NSW
Mills & Watson Plumbing Pty Ltd has been convicted and fined $225,000 after a worker suffered serious injuries in a trench collapse. The company’s sole director, Christopher Allan Mills, was also convicted and fined $22,500.
The District Court of NSW imposed the penalties following a SafeWork NSW prosecution over an incident at a residential building site on 9 June 2022.
The worker was clearing a trench when part of an earthen wall collapsed, engulfing him in soil. The distance from the bottom of the trench to the top of the wall was about two metres. Other workers dug him out, and he suffered multiple fractures.
Mills & Watson Plumbing pleaded guilty to an offence under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), having failed to comply with its duty under section 19(1). Mr Mills pleaded guilty to an offence under section 32 for failing to comply with his duty under section 27(1).
Both the company and Mr Mills have the right to appeal their sentences. The full judgment is available on the NSW Caselaw website.
SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer said excavation and trench work carried a serious risk of injury or death. She identified ground collapse, instability of adjoining structures and underground essential services as potential hazards.
“Businesses are reminded of their duty to identify hazards and manage the risks to health and safety associated with excavation works.”
Workers can raise workplace health and safety concerns anonymously with SafeWork on 13 10 50 or through the Speak Up Save lives website. Resources are also available to help business owners and workers manage risks associated with excavations and earthmoving plant in construction.
How Blue Safe can help: Our free SWMS tool can help you prepare a safe work method statement for high-risk construction work involving trenching, with a focus on identifying hazards and documenting risk controls. Create a free SWMS