Issue Date:  -  Tuesday, 27 June 2006

Builder fined $7000 over lack of fall protection

A WA builder has been fined $7000 for failing to provide a safe workplace after an employee was injured when he fell 4.5 metres to the ground.

James Edward Aikman – trading as Westeel Homes – pleaded guilty and was fined in the Mandurah Magistrates Court this week.

In July 2004, Mr Aikman was building a house in Green Head, and two of his employees were laying metal roof sheets on the two-storey house at a height of around 4.5 metres.

There was scaffolding on the eastern side of the house, but not on the western side, and there was no edge protection or fall protection system in place.

A 29-year-old employee decided to get off the western side of the roof because he thought it was becoming slippery, and when he stood up he slipped and slid down the roof.

He slid down in a sitting position, trying to break his fall by grabbing a power cord, but continued to slide and fell approximately 4.5 metres to the ground.

He was taken to Jurien Bay Hospital then flown to Royal Perth Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a shattered L1 vertebra.  He then spent three months in the Shenton Park Spinal Unit.

WorkSafe Acting Director Operations Joe Attard said today that the case once again highlighted the crucial need to protect against falls from heights in workplaces.

“Sadly, an average of two Western Australians die every year as a result of workplace falls, with around 1260 additional injuries, many of them serious and permanent,” Mr Attard said.

“There have been two workplace deaths involving falls this financial year in WA, which is very disappointing when you consider that falls from height are so easily preventable.

“In this case, no fall protection was provided on the side of the roof on which the men were working, and safe systems of work must be in operation in workplaces to guard against the possibility of any worker falling from height.

“The Commission for Occupational Safety and Health launched a revised code of practice for the prevention of falls in workplaces in 2004, and I encourage everyone to ensure this code is freely available in all workplaces where falls are possible.”

A code of practice on falls has existed in WA for the past 17 years, with the original code being initiated in response to the number of fatalities being recorded in the construction industry at that time.

The current code provides information on the identification of common fall hazards at all workplaces and the use of fall-arrest equipment and systems, along with chapters on general work practices such as the use of ladders.

It also has a strong emphasis on promoting safe design principles for buildings to eliminate fall hazards from the outset, in keeping with preventative strategies to eliminate hazards and control risks at the source.

“It need not be difficult or costly to ensure that suitable barriers or fall arrest systems are organised before a tragedy can occur,” Mr Attard said.

“We need to keep in mind the potential cost of a death or serious injury – this cost is likely to be much higher, both in social and economic terms, than investing in safer work practices.

“I urge employers to ensure safe work practices are in place for anyone working at heights, and also to make sure the code of practice is freely available at the workplace.”

The Code of Practice on the Prevention of Falls in Workplaces is available by telephoning WorkSafe on 9327 8777, or on the website at www.worksafe.wa.gov.au.

Media contact:  Caroline De Vaney 9327 8744 or 0408 927563 (media enquiries only).