THE HEAD contractor and subcontractor at Rhodes Corporate Park construction site have been fined a total of $343,500 for an incident where a 19 year old fell 15m on the site.
In March 2003, the worker was operating the lifting crane to install curtain wall panels. However, he was not attached to a safety line and the fall from the fourth floor of the site led to him spending four days on life support.
Late in December 2008, the principal contractor, Australand Holdings, was fined $175,000, while Sassall Glass and Joinery was fined $168,500. The worker’s employer, Skyrise Installations, had already been fined in 2006.
They were found guilty of breaching section 8(2) of the Occupational Health and Safety 2000 Act, for failing to ensure persons not in their employment were not exposed to risk.
While Australand and Sassall Glass and Joinery were less culpable than Skyrise Installations, they had a duty to ensure the employer was adequately supervising the worker.
According to WorkCover NSW, proper precautions must always be taken when working at heights. All employers have an obligation to ensure the workers are safe, and provide appropriate supervision and safety equipment.
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