Underwater Inspection Services Pty Ltd, a diving company specializing in underwater tank inspections and repairs, has been convicted and fined for multiple health and safety offenses.
The company pleaded guilty to seven charges under our OHS Act and was fined a total of $730,000.
A court found that the company repeatedly endangered its workers by failing to provide necessary training, using ill-fitting or unfamiliar equipment, and neglecting communication and rescue procedures. In one incident, a diver became trapped in a culvert and had to escape without proper assistance.
WorkSafe, the organization responsible for workplace safety, emphasized the seriousness of the offenses given the inherent dangers of commercial diving. They stressed that the safety of workers should never be compromised, particularly in such a hazardous field.
WorkSafe provided recommendations for employers in the diving industry to mitigate risks, including creating operational procedures, ensuring proper training and qualifications, and implementing emergency procedures.
Read WorkSafe’s prosecution summary here