Renovator fined $90,000 after two workers fall in roof collapse
16 July 2026•BlueSafe Team•Source: SafeWork NSW
Building renovator George Zanbaka has been convicted and fined $90,000 after two workers fell when a concrete garage roof collapsed during demolition work. The Industrial Court of NSW also ordered him to complete work health and safety training.
The SafeWork NSW prosecution followed an incident on 26 April 2023. Two workers employed by Mr Zanbaka fell at least 2.5 metres when the concrete garage roof they were demolishing collapsed.
Mr Zanbaka pleaded guilty to an offence under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, relating to his duty to workers under section 19(1) of the Act.
Alongside the $90,000 fine, the court ordered Mr Zanbaka to undertake a Certificate IV course in Work Health and Safety and a SafeWork NSW webinar series about construction site safety.
The full judgment is available on the NSW Caselaw website. Mr Zanbaka has the right to appeal his sentence.
SafeWork NSW said falls from heights are a primary cause of traumatic injuries and deaths in NSW workplaces, and preventing fall injuries is an area for action in its regulatory priorities this year. It also reminded businesses of their duty to protect workers working at heights.
Workers can anonymously raise workplace health and safety concerns with SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50 or through the Speak up Save lives website. Resources to help business owners and workers manage the risks of working at heights are available on the SafeWork NSW website.
How Blue Safe can help: Our free SWMS tool can help you prepare a safe work method statement for high-risk construction work, including demolition and work at heights. Create a free SWMS