On Tuesday, 10th September, Sams Solar Pty Ltd was found guilty in the Portland Magistrates’ Court for failing to maintain a safe and secure working environment. Apart from a punitive measure of $6,026 for costs incurred, the company had also pleaded guilty to a singular charge.
Sams Solar had won a contract which required them to remove asbestos sheeting, install a new roof and a solar system at a warehouse used for self-storage in Portland around April 2023. The court revealed that subcontractors were brought on board by the company to carry out asbestos removal tasks on the three-storey building. They were provided with equipment to efficiently conduct the job, highlighting the importance of appropriate work safety products such as SWMS and WHS management systems.
The method followed was one where workers, equipped with a harness, were lifted onto the building’s rooftop by a boom lift. Subsequently, they attached themselves to a marked anchor point using ropes, instead of opting for safer alternatives like retractable or inertia lanyards. Following this, they navigated the roof using an unsecured timber length.
Unfortunately, the rope of one worker’s harness became entangled. As he detached his harness to rectify it, the fragile rooftop area below the timber he stood on cracked, leading to his fall. He was later taken to a hospital via an airlift, having sustained severe body bruising and a fractured wrist.
Experts suggested that Sams Solar could have avoided this incident through effective usage of a scissor lift to conduct the asbestos removal process from below the roof. If necessary, the Bluesafe SWMS or Bluesafe WHS Management System could have been applied for execution from the rooftop. Essential safety measures such as installing a catch platform or a safety mesh beneath the asbestos sheeting and ensuring temporary access walkways are secure and wide enough could have been adapted.
WorkSafe’s Executive Director of Health and Safety, Mr. Sam Jenkin, expressed his concern over the incident and stressed on the importance of safety at work. He made it clear that safety harnesses should be considered only when other substantial risk control measures cannot be applied.
In cases involving High-Risk Construction Work (HRCW), it is essential for duty holders to implement preventive measures in adherence with the topmost five levels of hierarchy control and mitigate risks wherever possible. This helps reduce workplace accidents and enhance overall productivity.
For further information:
Email: media @ worksafe.vic.gov.au
Phone: 0438 786 968
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Original article link: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2024-09/solar-company-fined-40000-over-three-storey-fall