In May 2012, employees of Roger Wilson Plumbing were conducting sheeting work on the roof of the Percy Street SafeWay store in Portland, Victoria, when a WorkSafe Victoria inspector visited the supermarket and saw them working at a height of about 5 meters with no fall protection.
The inspector also noticed there was a risk of tools and other materials falling from the roof and potentially striking supermarket staff and members of the public. The Inspector issued a Prohibition Notice, which immediately stopped work.
Roger Jeffrey Wilson, operating under the business name of Roger Wilson Plumbing appeared in the Portland Magistrates’ Court last week.
The court found that Mr Wilson had failed to undertake an adequate risk assessment in relation to undertaking roofing works at a height greater than two metres.
He also failed to implement controls to reduce or eliminate the risk of injury or death occurring from a fall from height.
Controls, including travel restraint devices, were available and reasonably practicable in the circumstances, the court heard.
He pleaded guilty to failing to provide employees with a safe working environment as well as failing to provide and maintain systems of work that were safe and without risks to health. The company was sentenced without conviction to pay a fine of $5,000 with costs of $3,232.00.
