WA sole trader fined over skylight fall

WA Sole Trader Fined Over Skylight Fall

A Western Australian sole trader was recently issued a $47,250 fine after a worker sustained multiple fractures when he fell through a skylight three years ago, highlighting the ongoing risk roofing tasks pose without proper safety management.

The man fell more than four metres while working on a workshop roof in August 2020, an incident that underscores why fall prevention remains critical for any roofing task at height.

Court Findings on Safety Failures

The trader was fined in a Katanning court after pleading guilty to failing to provide a safe workplace for his worker. This outcome reinforces how seriously courts treat breaches of workplace safety duties, particularly where fall risk goes unmanaged.

The court heard the trader did not conduct a risk assessment prior to commencing work, and the worker was not using fall protection. Without a documented risk management approach, hazards on roofs and near skylights often go unnoticed until it's too late.

Why Risk Assessments and Fall Protection Matter

Sole traders and small businesses working on roofing projects carry the same safety obligations as larger companies. A proper risk assessment, paired with suitable fall protection equipment, could have prevented this worker's injuries.

Effective safety management for roofing work should include:

• Conducting a risk assessment before any work at height begins
• Providing fall protection such as harnesses, guardrails, or safety nets
• Identifying skylights and fragile roof sections as high-risk zones
• Documenting safe work procedures for every roofing task

Businesses offering roofing services, or any trade involving work at height, should treat risk management as a core part of daily operations, not an afterthought. Health and safety obligations apply regardless of business size, and sole traders are not exempt from providing a safe workplace.

SafetyDocs offers a range of safety management resources tailored to sole traders and small operators, including our WHSE Site Management Plan for Sole Traders, designed to help small businesses meet their safety obligations without unnecessary complexity.

Similar Cases Highlight a Recurring Risk

This is not an isolated case. Falls from height continue to be a leading cause of serious injury across the roofing and construction sectors. A related incident saw a builder fined $100K over a worker fall, while another case resulted in a Sydney roofing company fined over serious fall injuries.

Tragically, not all falls result in injury alone. A separate case involving a construction company fined over a carpenter's fatal fall serves as a stark reminder of what can happen when risk management practices are overlooked.

Building a Stronger Safety Culture

Comprehensive safety management systems support businesses of all sizes in identifying and controlling risk before work begins. For sole traders managing their own sites, resources like our Environmental Management Plan for Sole Operators and Plant Roll-over Emergency Response SWMS provide practical, ready-to-use documentation to support safe operations on site.

Investing in robust safety management, thorough risk assessments, and appropriate protective equipment isn't just about compliance. It's about ensuring every worker returns home safely at the end of each shift.

For more on this story, visit the WorkSafe WA website.