Inadvertent reveal of WHS breach sees solar installer fined
A conviction and fine has been handed to an NT solar installer who inadvertently sent evidence of WHS breaches to the regulator.
Mpriza Group Pty Ltd and company manager Nicholas Zikos were initially charged by NT WorkSafe for an incident in August 2023, where employees worked on the roof of a commercial building without adequate fall protection. Among the workers was a 21-year-old apprentice.
Zikos and the company have now been charged again after sending photos to NT WorkSafe which depicted employees working again without adequate fall protection in June 2024. One of the workers in the second incident was a 14-year-old labour hire worker.
Mpriza Group Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to three charges under Section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (the Act) for failing its primary duty of care by allowing its workers to work at heights without fall protection, exposing them to a risk of death or serious injury on the two occasions. The company was fined a total of $24,000 and required to pay a victims levy of $3000.
Zikos also pled guilty to three charges under Section 32 of the Act for failing his primary duty of care and exposing workers to a risk of death or serious injury over the two incidents. He was fined a total sum of $6000 and required to pay a victims levy of $450. The remaining charges against the company and Zikos were withdrawn.
The Northern Territory’s Work Health and Safety Regulator, Peggy Cheong, said the criminal convictions and fines were a warning to industry to stop taking safety shortcuts when working at heights.
“National data released in September showed a concerning 71% increase since 2022 in worker fatalities due to falls from heights,” she said.
“Despite these concerning statistics and WorkSafe Inspectors’ efforts to ensure compliance, we are continuously receiving safety concerns regarding workers working at heights without fall protection.”
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