Carpentry business fined $120,000 after worker falls six metres

The SafeWork NSW prosecution followed an incident on 9 March 2023. The worker stepped on a ceiling joist that collapsed, causing him to fall.

Vanovi Carpentry pleaded guilty to an offence under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. The business failed to ensure workers’ health and safety, so far as reasonably practicable, as required by section 19(1) of the Act.

The full judgment is available on the NSW Caselaw website. Vanovi Carpentry has the right to appeal against the sentence.

SafeWork NSW identified falls from heights as a primary cause of traumatic injuries and deaths in NSW workplaces. It reminded businesses of their duty to protect workers and encouraged them to use available resources to manage height-related risks.

Business owners and workers can find resources on managing the risks of working at heights on the SafeWork NSW website. Workers with workplace health and safety concerns can contact SafeWork NSW anonymously on 13 10 50 or through the Speak up Save lives website.

How Blue Safe can help: Our free SWMS tool can help you prepare a safe work method statement for high-risk construction work involving falls from height. Create a free SWMS