WA landscaping firm fined after worker falls through roof

WA Landscaping Firm Fined After Worker Falls Through Roof

A landscaping firm based in Western Australia has been penalised with a fine of $175,000 and instructed to cover costs amounting to $6,000 after a worker sustained serious injuries in an incident involving a roof fall.

The incident happened in July 2022 while the worker was cleaning roof gutters as part of routine roofing maintenance. The roof gave way, causing him to plunge through it from a height of about 2.5 meters.

Court Outcome and Company Response

The landscaping company was recently fined by the Bunbury Magistrates Court after it acknowledged its guilt in failing to create and maintain a safe work environment, which caused serious injury to an employee.

Effective falls management practices could have significantly reduced the likelihood of this outcome. Robust safety management systems are essential whenever roofing tasks place personnel at height, particularly on ageing or unstable roof structures.

WorkSafe Commissioner's Response

Sally North, the WorkSafe Commissioner, stated that this unfortunate incident underscores the vital importance of implementing stringent safety measures to lower or completely remove the risk of falls from heights.

She emphasised that health and safety management should never be treated as an afterthought, especially in industries where roofing access forms part of everyday duties. Strong management commitment to safety is central to preventing similar falls across the sector.

Code of Practice for Fall Prevention

Ms. North said a Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls at Workplaces has been in place in Western Australia since 2004, with an updated version issued in 2022. This code sets clear expectations for safety management around roofing work and other tasks conducted at height.

Businesses managing roofing projects should reference current codes of practice alongside a documented falls prevention checklist to strengthen their approach to safety management on site.

Why Strong Safety Management Matters for Roofing Work

This case highlights recurring safety management gaps seen across roofing and landscaping sectors. Falls from height remain among the leading causes of serious workplace injury, making proactive safety management non-negotiable for employers.

Key safety management priorities for roofing and outdoor maintenance work include:

• Assessing roof structural integrity before assigning any roofing task
• Providing fall arrest systems and edge protection where falls are possible
• Maintaining a documented health and safety management plan specific to roofing hazards
• Establishing clear rescue procedures for falls incidents, such as a falls emergency rescue plan
• Reviewing management responsibilities regularly to ensure accountability at every level

Similar incidents have occurred in other roofing-related cases, including a NSW roofing company fined after worker falls and a New Zealand roofing company fined after teenage worker falls through skylight. Each case demonstrates why consistent safety management standards must apply across every roofing project, regardless of company size.

A related case, the carpentry firm fined after apprentice falls, further reinforces this pattern, showing that inadequate management of fall risks continues to result in preventable injuries and significant penalties.

Strengthening Management Systems to Prevent Future Falls

Employers can reduce falls risk substantially through disciplined safety management planning. This includes formal risk assessments, contractor obligations outlined in worker contractor manuals, and a clearly communicated worker agreement policy that sets safety expectations from the outset of any engagement.

Management teams overseeing roofing, landscaping, or maintenance contracts should treat safety management as a continuous process rather than a one-off compliance task. Regular review of management plans, combined with genuine commitment to health and safety, remains the most effective way to prevent falls and protect workers performing roofing duties at height.

Read more here.