Van Berkel Distributors Pty Ltd – a Monbulk nursery and horticulture supplier – has been fined $65,000 after a worker fell through a shed roof onto a concrete floor, suffering a fatal head injury.
In June 2022 the maintenance manager at Van Berkel Distributors was working on replacing polycarbonate roofing sheets on a shed. He was working alone and without any fall protection. One of the sheets broke and he fell 3.3m to the floor below. He was taken to hospital where he underwent brain surgery, but he died a few days later.
The WorkSafe investigation found that the maintenance manager had no qualification in roofing and a Safe Work Method Statement had not been prepared for the task. The court heard that it was reasonably practicable for Van Berkel Distributors to mitigate the risk of falls by using a fall arrest system, such as a safety harness.
WorkSafe Executive Director Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said the risk of serious injury or death from a fall increased significantly when working at heights of more than two metres.
"The steps to reduce the risks of falls are well known, so it’s heartbreaking that we continue to see tragic and preventable loss of life such as this," Mr Jenkin said.
Guidance on safe working at heights is available on our OHS Reps site at Prevention of Falls, and employers can find guidance at the WorkSafe website – e.g. A Guide to Falls Prevention.
Read more: Nursery fined $65,000 after fatal shed roof fall | WorkSafe Victoria