Roofing company fined $55,000 after work experience skylight fall
14 May 2026•BlueSafe Team•Source: WorkSafe VIC
A roofing company has been fined $55,000 after a person on paid work experience fell through a skylight at Highett Neighbourhood Community House, sustaining serious injuries that resulted in paraplegia.
Bowitt Group Pty Ltd, trading as Melbourne Commercial Roofing, was sentenced at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 6 May. It had pleaded guilty to failing to ensure a workplace under its management or control was safe and without risks to health. The company was also ordered to pay $5,888 in costs.
The court heard Bowitt Group had been engaged to carry out roofing work at the community house, where the roof contained multiple domed skylights.
In February 2024, a person undertaking paid work experience with a subcontractor was carrying a removed roofing sheet towards the edge of the roof. He fell through a skylight more than 3.5 metres to the floor below.
WorkSafe’s investigation found several Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) had been prepared identifying roofing risks and associated controls, but no fall protection measures were in place.
The court heard Bowitt Group could reasonably practicably have reduced the risk of serious injury or death by securely covering the skylights, or by installing guardrails or barriers and signs around them.
WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said falls risks were well known and there was no excuse for failing to address them. "Time and time again we see duty holders fail to take simple, easily understood precautions to address the serious risks of a fall from heights," Mr Jenkin said. "Sadly, this failure has left an individual with devastating injuries that could and should have been prevented."
The sole trader subcontractor who engaged the injured person was separately fined $50,000 without conviction over the incident in December 2025.
WorkSafe advises duty holders to use the highest possible measures from the five-level hierarchy of controls to prevent falls from height. Eligible employers can also access practical advice and resources through its free online falls basics workshops.
How Blue Safe can help: Our free SWMS tool can help you document roofing hazards and the controls needed for high-risk construction work. A written SWMS does not replace putting those controls in place on site. Create a free SWMS