Builder Prosecuted Over Fatal Two-Metre Fall on Victorian Site
•BlueSafe Team•Source: WorkSafe VIC
A Victorian building company has been charged after a 56‑year‑old worker died from head injuries sustained in a fall of more than two metres while pouring concrete from a plank positioned between two A‑frame ladders.
A Victorian construction firm, Great Home Group Pty Ltd, has been charged following the fatal fall of a 56‑year‑old worker who suffered severe head injuries after falling more than two metres while pouring concrete from a plank suspended between two A‑frame ladders.
The company is facing one charge under section 26(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, alleging it failed to ensure that a workplace under its management or control was safe and without risks to health.
Prosecutors allege the business did not adequately eliminate or reduce the risk of serious injury or death because it failed to provide, and ensure the use of, a suitable passive fall prevention system. Proper planning and implementation of a WHS management system, supported by Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) for work at height, are critical controls that may have addressed these hazards.
The case has been listed for a filing hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 12 January 2026.
This incident highlights the importance for builders and contractors to implement robust safety policies and procedures for working at heights, including documented SWMS for tasks such as concrete pouring from elevated positions. Resources such as structured WHS management systems and template SWMS, including those available from providers like Bluesafe, can assist duty holders to meet their legal obligations and better protect workers on site.