Parts of the construction industry are still failing to provide safe workplaces for their employees, new data from the regulator in Victoria shows.

In its latest analysis, WorkSafe Victoria said that it had successfully completed 119 work, health and safety prosecutions and enforceable undertakings last year for breaches of either the Occupational Health and Safety Act or the Dangerous Goods Act.

This saw courts hand out $13.318 million in fines, costs and enforceable undertakings.

According to the data, during calendar 2024:

  • 49 prosecutions or undertakings were levied against employers in construction, making this the worst performing sector in terms of breaches. This is followed by manufacturing (26) and transport, postal and warehousing (10).
  • The most common breaches that resulted in penalties involved risks associated with falls from height, in regard to which 36 employers copped fines and undertakings worth more than $1.66 million. This was followed by unsafe machines (17 prosecutions/undertakings) and powered mobile plant such as forklifts (10 prosecutions/undertakings). The prevalence of working at height breaches is disappointing given that this is a leading cause of workplace fatality.
  • Twelve prosecutions and $4.76 million in fines and costs related to workplace fatalities.
  • Five employers were prosecuted for matters related to occupational violence, bullying or harassment.

Last year also marked the first time that an employer was convicted under Victoria’s workplace manslaughter laws.

In February, stonemasonry business LH Holding Management Pty Ltd was convicted and fined $1.3 million in relation to the death of a worker at a Somerton factory.

The worker was fatally crushed after a forklift which’s load he had been trying to stabilise tipped over upon him.

The forklift was being driven down the slope of the factory driveway with a high swinging load as slabs of stone that were being stored on A frame steel racks were being moved from just inside the roller door to outside the factory.

WorkSafe Executive Director Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said inspectors and investigators continued to focus on industries and workplaces where workers were most at risk.

“Employers who turn a blind eye to health and safety risks in their workplace play a deadly game that can lead to horrific injuries or loss of life, as well as costly legal consequences,” Jenkin said.

“The safest workplaces are those where employers proactively engage with workers and health and safety representatives, where available, to identify and address health and safety risks by making safety a priority for everyone.”

 

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