Charges laid after worker falls off roof, fractures spine

Two construction companies have had charges laid against them after a worker fell three metres from a roof of a Darwin primary school.

During the incident on 8 April 2017, the 31-year-old man and two others were working on the roof of a breezeway removing asbestos sheets from the exterior of the school building.

The worker was crouching on the edge of a void in the roof attempting to remove an asbestos sheet when he slipped and fell approximately three metres through the void onto concrete. As a result of the fall, he fractured his left shoulder blade and spine, and was unable to work for 14 months due to the injuries.

NT WorkSafe will allege that principal contractor Probuild (NT) Pty Limited and the injured worker’s employer, Breakthrough (NQ) Pty Ltd, both failed to ensure adequate fall protection controls were used at the worksite. The only fall protection in place was a visual barrier consisting of yellow hazard tape stretched between bollards and extension lead stands.

NT WorkSafe will also allege that after the injured worker was taken to hospital, the two remaining workers continued to work and both companies failed to preserve the scene of the incident as required under the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011.

Both companies each face one charge contrary to Section 32 of the Act for failing to comply with a health and safety duty and also one charge each contrary to Section 39 of the Act for failing their duty to preserve an incident site.

If found guilty of both charges, each company will face a combined maximum penalty of $1,550,000.

The matter is listed for mention in the Darwin Local Court on Tuesday, 16 April 2019.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Arpad Nagy-Bagoly