VIC company fined $40,000 for worker injury caused by insufficient fall protection

VIC Company Fined $40,000 for Worker Injury Caused by Insufficient Fall Protection

A Victorian steel fabrication and installation company has been found guilty and ordered to pay a fine of $40,000 for endangering workers on a Geelong construction site, despite a worker suffering serious injuries from a fall.

Last week, the Geelong Magistrates' Court handed down a sentence to the company following its admission of guilt to three charges of neglecting to ensure a safe working environment and one charge of failing to provide necessary information, instruction, or training. Each charge highlights how gaps in a safe work method statement can leave workers exposed to preventable hazards.

Court Orders Costs on Top of the Penalty

Besides the $40,000 fine, the steel company was directed to pay $8,375 in costs. Together, these penalties send a strong signal to employers across the steel and construction sectors that neglecting worker safety carries real financial consequences.

WorkSafe Response to the Incident

WorkSafe Executive Director Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said the company's clear lack of concern for worker safety was unacceptable.

"It is no secret that there is simply no safe way to work from heights without appropriate training and fall prevention measures in place," Mr Jenkin said.

"It beggars belief that this company still failed to install adequate controls to ensure the site was safe even after the risk had eventuated and a worker had suffered serious injuries."

Why SWMS Matter for Fall Risk Management

A documented SWMS sets out how specific high-risk construction work will be carried out safely, including the controls needed to protect workers from falls. For steel fabrication and installation tasks, an SWMS should clearly identify:

• Fall hazards associated with elevated steel work
• Specific fall prevention equipment required for the task
• Training and competency requirements for workers
• Emergency response procedures if an incident occurs

Without a properly implemented SWMS, businesses risk repeating the failures seen in this case. Every SWMS should be reviewed regularly and updated whenever site conditions or work methods change, ensuring risk controls remain effective throughout a project's lifecycle.

Broader Implications for the Steel and Construction Industry

This case reinforces why health and safety obligations cannot be treated as a formality. Steel fabrication businesses operating at height face elevated risk, and courts continue to hold companies accountable when controls fall short.

Employers should consider these steps to strengthen compliance:

• Ensure every high-risk task has a current, task-specific SWMS
• Provide workers with adequate training before work begins
• Verify fall prevention equipment is inspected and fit for purpose
• Consult WorkSafe Victoria guidance materials for height-related tasks

Similar enforcement outcomes have occurred elsewhere in Victoria's industrial sector. Refer to our coverage of a mining company fined over a worker injury, the case where a Victorian rubber company was ordered to pay a $450,000 penalty following a worker's fatal injury, and a related incident where a Victorian abattoir was fined $55,000 following a forklift injury.

Strengthening Compliance Through Documentation

Beyond fall-specific SWMS, businesses should maintain robust documentation across all operational areas. Our SOPs for equipment maintenance help ensure machinery and tools used in steel fabrication remain safe throughout their operational life, while our SOPs for chemical handling and storage support broader workplace risk management where hazardous substances are present alongside height-related tasks.

Supporting documentation such as a worker agreement policy and a first aid worker register can further reinforce a company's commitment to protecting employees, complementing SWMS obligations with clear organisational accountability.

Read the full story here.