Solar company fined $40,000 over three-storey fall

On Tuesday, 10 September, Sams Solar Pty Ltd was levied with punitive measures at the Portland Magistrates’ Court. The company pled guilty to one count of not maintaining and executing a safe work environment in accordance with Work Health & Safety standards. Furthermore, they were ordered to pay additional charges amounting to $6,026.

The company had gained a contract in April 2023 for asbestos removal and rooftop solar system installation on a three-storey warehouse in Portland. Subcontractors hired by Sams Solar undertook the task of removing the asbestos sheeting. Supporting equipment for the job was provided to these workers which included basic safety gear like harnesses. These accessories served to hoist workers onto the rooftop using a boom lift. Then, they’d connect to an anchor point through ropes instead of retractables or inertia lanyards; traversing the non-secured roof via timber planks.

An accident occurred when a worker’s harness rope became entangled. As he proceeded to untangle it, his footing, an old brittle roof surface under the length of timber cracked. The worker fell and was subsequently air-lifted to a nearby hospital suffering severe body bruising and a fractured wrist. Ironically, this hazardous situation could have been avoided if Bluesafe SWMS (Safe Work Method Statements) protocols and WHS management systems had been implemented appropriately.

Sams Solar, it was posited, could have carried out the roof work safely and from beneath a scissor lift, a suitable option per the WHS standards. Alternatively, if working on the roof was unavoidable, Bluesafe WHS Management System suggests the use of safety meshes, catch platforms installed under the asbestos sheeting, along with walkways securely fastened to the rooftops measuring no less than 450mm wide.

WorkSafe Victoria’s executive director of health and safety, Sam Jenkin, expressed dismay over the incident. He lamented that a worker had to suffer painful injuries which could’ve resulted in a tragedy. He stressed that preventable falls from heights continue to be one of the major causes of fatalities on Victorian worksites. The risk of harm is greatly increased when companies overlook the imperative of higher control measures for employees working at heights and rely solely on safety harnesses.

In reference to cases like Sams Solar, the importance of Bluesafe SWMS practices are brought to focus. Employers should integrate the five levels of the hierarchy of controls to prevent falls from height. Further more, they should ensure compliance with these tools when conducting High Risk Construction Work (HRCW).

Email: media @ worksafe.vic.gov.au
Phone: 0438 786 968
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Original article link: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2024-09/solar-company-fined-40000-over-three-storey-fall

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