Beachmere construction company fined $40,000 over worker injury
Date issued: 2010-02-01
People First (Beachmere) Pty Ltd has been fined $40,000 after a worker was injured using a roller to compact fill on a local building site in May 2008.
The company pleaded guilty in the Caboolture Industrial Magistrates Court on 10 July 2009 to breaching section 24 of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, having failed to ensure workplace safety.
The Court heard a casual labourer was using a padfoot roller to compact fill an elevated building site.
While rolling the surface of a site near an embankment, the roller tipped on its side and the worker had to jump clear. The roller’s protective structure hit and fractured his lower leg.
The Workplace Health and Safety Queensland investigation revealed the company failed to meet its health and safety obligations, including undertaking a site risk assessment of the roller or providing enough training for the young labourer.
Industrial Magistrate Paul Johnston took into account the company’s plea of guilty, its cooperation with the investigation and lack of previous prosecutions.
In addition to the $40,000 fine, the company was ordered to pay investigation costs of $1195 and court costs of $65. No conviction was recorded.
The prosecution was brought by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, part of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.
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