VIC firms penalised after steel plate drops from high rise building

VIC Firms Penalised After Steel Plate Drops From High Rise Building

A construction company and a hoist supplier have been fined a combined $45,000 after a 12-kilogram steel plate fell roughly 15 floors from a high rise project in South Melbourne, narrowly missing a worker below.

Court Outcomes and Penalties

In June, the Melbourne Magistrates' Court imposed a $25,000 fine on the construction company and ordered payment of $5,461 in costs after the firm admitted it had failed to maintain a safe work environment.

The hoist supplier received a $20,000 fine without conviction and was ordered to pay $7,441 in costs. This followed a guilty plea entered in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court last month for failing to protect non-employees from health and safety hazards on site.

WorkSafe Comment on Falling Object Risk

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said more than 100 workers across Victoria sustain serious injuries every year due to objects falling from construction sites.

"In this case, both companies failed to take action over the obvious risk posed by the unattached drop plate and it could have had catastrophic consequences for those on the ground," Mr Jenkin said.

Why This Matters for Safety Management on Construction Sites

This incident highlights how gaps in risk management around plant and equipment can put lives at stake, even when no one is directly struck. Robust safety management systems, covering hoist operation, load securing and site exclusion zones, remain essential for any high rise build.

Construction firms and their suppliers share responsibility for identifying hazards before they become incidents. Effective health and safety management requires ongoing hazard identification, not just reactive fixes after a near miss.

Key Compliance Lessons for Builders and Suppliers

• Falling object risk must be assessed and controlled through documented safety management processes, including secured fittings on hoists and drop plates.
• Non-employees, including pedestrians and visiting trade workers, are owed the same duty of care as direct employees under Victorian health and safety law.
• Compliance failures involving shared equipment, such as hoists, can result in penalties for both the construction company and equipment supplier.
• Regular inspection and maintenance of load-bearing components reduces risk exposure across the project lifecycle.

Similar enforcement action has followed other Victorian safety breaches, including a case where a VIC steel manufacturer was penalised for various safety breaches, and another where a Vic building company was charged after a worker's fatal fall. WorkSafe has also issued a safety warning after a Vic worker fell from a roof.

Strengthening Safety Management Systems on Site

Businesses operating in high rise construction across Australia should review their safety management documentation regularly to ensure hazards linked to lifting equipment, hoists and elevated work are properly controlled.

A well-maintained safety management plan should address high risk activities and incident response procedures specific to each site. SafetyDocs offers a High Risk & Incidents Management Plan to help construction firms strengthen their approach to hazard management and compliance.

For companies working specifically within steel construction, a dedicated steel construction safety package can support consistent compliance across multiple sites. Building maintenance teams may also benefit from a structured building maintenance management system to keep inspection and upkeep records current.

Fleet and site vehicle movements around hoists and drop zones also carry risk; an OHS drivers manual can support safe vehicle management around active construction zones.

For more information, visit the WorkSafe Victoria website.