Wattle Glen builder Prosam Building Services has been found guilty of four charges of failing to maintain a safe working environment and fined a total of $80,000 for not providing fall protection at a building site. The charges include failing to reduce the risk of falls from heights exceeding 10 meters and performing high-risk construction work without a safe work method statement (SWMS).
After receiving reports of workers being on roofs without fall protection, WorkSafe inspectors visited the site and observed workers accessing high areas without guardrails or safety harnesses. The builder failed to provide evidence of a SWMS for the high-risk work.
It was also reasonably practicable for the company to have reduced the risk by using a passive fall protection device, such as guardrails, on the second and third-story roofs and the void edges.
In response to Prosam’s conviction, WorkSafe has clarified that there are 'no excuses for such a careless approach when working from heights' and emphasized the importance of fall prevention measures such as guardrails. They highlighted the risks associated with working at heights, stating, 'The risks of falls from height are well-recognized, yet sadly they remain one of the biggest causes of fatalities and serious injuries among Victorian construction industry workers. Prevention measures such as guardrails are simple and cost-effective and can save lives.'