Darwin solar installers charged for fall safety violations

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Darwin solar installers charged for fall safety violations

A Darwin-based solar installation company and its manager are facing charges under the WHS Act for exposing workers to fall hazards on rooftop worksites.

NT WorkSafe has charged the company with three counts of breaching workplace health and safety regulations for failing their primary duty of care and failing to follow safety rules designed to manage fall risk on construction sites.

What happened at the worksite

WorkSafe alleges that in August 2023, safety inspectors visited a worksite and found roofing workers installing solar panels without fall protection in place.

This kind of oversight highlights an ongoing risk in the renewable energy sector, where rooftop work often exposes crews to serious fall risk if proper controls aren't followed. For a closer look at how regulators are addressing this issue, see our coverage of a recent SafeWork inspection targeting rooftop solar installers' safety.

Charges laid against the company and manager

The manager also faces three charges under the WHS Act following the incident. NT WorkSafe said, "Charges under Section 32 of the Act for failing to comply with health and safety duty have also been laid against both defendants as alternatives to the reckless conduct charges."

These alternative charges reflect how seriously regulators treat any failing to protect workers from foreseeable risk, particularly when fall hazards are involved.

Why fall protection matters for solar installers

Rooftop solar installation carries inherent risk, and companies operating in this space must maintain robust health and safety systems to protect their crews. Businesses working in electrical, HVAC, and solar trades can strengthen their compliance position with tailored Electrical-HVAC-Solar Safety Packages designed to address sector-specific hazards.

Employers who fail to manage fall risk face significant consequences, not just in the Northern Territory. Our recent report on Victorian employers facing $13.3 million in penalties for safety violations in 2024 shows how costly non-compliance can become across industries.

Read more here.

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