The high cost of ignoring safety notices

A Victorian builder and his wife have been fined after failing to comply with a safety notice issued by WorkSafe Victoria.

The state regulator has used the case to reinforce the importance of taking action on an improvement notice within the agreed period.

The builder was convicted, fined $10,000 and ordered to pay court costs of $2500, while his wife was fined $1000 without conviction as she was a partner in the construction company.

WorkSafe told the Warrnambool magistrate that an improvement notice requiring first aid facilities was issued during a visit to a commercial construction site. When the inspector re-visited the site a month later, the notice had not been complied with.

WorkSafe executive director, John Merritt said improvement notices give people the opportunity to rectify safety issues without penalty.

The notices are negotiated, but if the agreement is breached, the chance of further action such as prosecution rises greatly.

"Ignoring an improvement and prohibition notice is a risky strategy which, as this case shows, can also be expensive," Merritt said.