Builder faces charges related to fall hazards at Melbourne construction site

Builder Faces Charges Related to Fall Hazards at Melbourne Construction Site

WorkSafe Victoria has charged a construction firm for noncompliance with safety standards after fall hazards were identified at a Melbourne building site. The company faces three counts under section 21(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for not providing and maintaining a safe working environment.

Charges Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act

WorkSafe claims the company violated section 21(2)(a) of the OHS Act on two occasions by failing to provide safe systems of work. According to the regulator, these systems should have addressed risk factors linked to working at height, a leading cause of serious injury on construction sites.

The safety regulator also alleges the firm breached section 21(2)(c) by not ensuring the workplace remained in a safe condition through regular removal of hazards associated with slips, trips, and falls. Fall hazards at height remain among the most common contributors to workplace incidents across the construction sector.

What This Means for Workplace Safety Compliance

Health and safety obligations under Victorian law require employers to actively manage risk, not merely respond after an incident occurs. For carpenters, site supervisors, and other trades working at height, this case highlights the ongoing need for documented systems that reduce fall risk and maintain a safe workplace.

Construction firms managing similar risk exposures should review their approach to hazard identification, particularly where slips, trips, and falls at height are a recurring concern. Our Construction Site Inspection Checklist and Monthly Inspection Checklist support builders in identifying and controlling these hazards before they escalate into compliance breaches.

Court Proceedings

The case will be heard at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 24 February 2025. Read the original article on WorkSafe Victoria's website for further details on the charges.

Related WorkSafe Prosecutions

This isn't the first time a construction company has faced charges over site safety failures. Similar cases include a builder fined for electric shock hazards at a Melbourne construction site, a builder facing charges following a fatal incident at a Melbourne factory, and an ongoing investigation into a ladder fall death at a Melbourne construction site.

Strengthening Health and Safety Systems on Site

Builders and construction firms can reduce exposure to prosecution by implementing robust safety management systems tailored to site-specific risk. Our Construction Management Plans assist companies in meeting their obligations under health and safety legislation, covering everything from working at height to psychosocial hazards. For broader workplace risk factors beyond physical hazards, see our Psychosocial Hazards Management Plans.

As this case progresses through court, it serves as a reminder that health and safety compliance is not optional. Every company operating at height carries a legal duty to protect workers from foreseeable risk, and failing to do so can result in serious charges, reputational damage, and financial penalties.