Sydney company fined for working at height injuries

A Sydney company has been fined $618,750 after two workers fell from height while working at a demolition site in 2019, highlighting ongoing risk in demolition and construction operations across Australia. This case demonstrates why robust working at height safety procedures remain critical for any business managing elevated tasks.

Head of SafeWork NSW Natasha Mann said the company pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe workplace for its staff and failing to report the incident to SafeWork. Her comments reflect a broader push by NSW regulators to hold businesses accountable for lapses in workplace safety.

What Happened at the Demolition Site

"The court heard the 2019 incident happened during the demolition of a single-storey factory at Vineyard in Sydney's north-west. The labourers were instructed to perform demolition tasks at a height of about four metres," Ms Mann said.

"The workers were standing on the open bucket of an excavator when it detached from the machine's arm and fell to the concrete floor below." Using an excavator bucket as makeshift access equipment instead of proper elevated work platforms significantly increased risk for those involved.

Reporting Failures Compounded the Risk

The court heard that safety authorities were notified about the incident by a Sydney hospital, where one of the workers was taken for treatment. This delay in reporting meant SafeWork inspectors could not assess site conditions or equipment promptly, further compounding risk exposure for remaining staff.

Failing to report a serious incident is itself a breach of health and safety obligations under NSW work health and safety laws, separate from the underlying safety failures that caused the fall.

Why Equipment Selection Matters for Height Safety

This incident underscores a critical lesson for construction and demolition businesses: never substitute purpose-built access equipment with machinery not designed for lifting personnel. An excavator bucket is earthmoving equipment, not certified fall-prevention equipment.

Businesses should consider the following when selecting equipment for elevated tasks:

• Only use equipment specifically rated and certified for lifting workers, such as scissor lifts or boom lifts
• Inspect all access equipment before each use to confirm it remains fitted correctly to supporting machinery
• Avoid repurposing excavators, forklifts, or other earthmoving equipment as elevated work platforms
• Ensure equipment operators hold appropriate licences and understand load limits

Comparable enforcement action has occurred elsewhere too — a Sydney roofing company was fined over serious fall injuries, while a Sydney scaffolding company faced a $2 million fine for a workplace death. Both cases reinforce how equipment failures and inadequate safety systems at height continue to drive serious harm nationwide.

Building a Stronger Safety Culture

Preventing incidents like this requires more than compliance on paper — it demands consistent implementation of safe work practices across every site. Businesses can strengthen their approach with:

• Documented Safe Work Method Statements for working at height tailored to specific tasks and site conditions
• Regular maintenance schedules following an SOP for equipment maintenance to catch faults before they cause harm
• Clear incident reporting protocols so SafeWork and other authorities are notified without delay
• Ongoing supervision to confirm workers follow height safety procedures on every shift

For businesses managing multiple elevated work scenarios, a Working at Height Combo Pack can help standardise safety documentation across teams. Businesses working near towers or similarly hazardous structures should also review dedicated SWMS for working on or near telecommunications towers.

Further information is available on the SafeWork NSW website.