Charges laid over construction site fall risks


Monday, 24 February, 2025

Charges laid over construction site fall risks

A construction company has been charged by WorkSafe Victoria over unsafe practices at a Donvale building site in 2023.

Westurban Construction Pty Ltd faces three charges under section 21(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing, as far as reasonably practicable, to provide and maintain a safe working environment. Unsafe practices included fall hazards that placed workers at risk of serious injury or death.

WorkSafe alleges the company twice breached section 21(2)(a) of the OHS Act by failing to provide safe systems of work, including scaffolding near a live edge of a balcony and a secure ladder for workers to access the upper levels of the construction site.

It is further alleged that the company breached section 21(2)(c) by failing to maintain the workplace in a safe condition by regularly removing slip, trip and fall hazards.

The matter is listed for a filing hearing at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 24 February 2025.

Image credit: iStock.com/Adam Calaitzis. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.

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