Source: WorkSafe WA

The operator of a Henderson marine yard has been fined $340,000 (and ordered to pay more than $8500 in costs) after a worker was injured in a fall from stairs.

SFM Marine Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace and was fined in the Fremantle Magistrates Court on October 15.

SFM operated the marine yard, providing the service of lifting boats out of the ocean for commercial and private boat owners and placing them on hard stands to allow for maintenance work.

In December 2020, a contractor who had been engaged by a boat owner to fabricate and install handrails on the boat fell from the top platform of a set of stairs being used to access the boat which had been placed on hard stands at the yard.

The handrail on the stairs gave way when he leaned against it and he fell approximately 2.5 metres onto bitumen, fracturing both ankles. Due to his injuries, he experiences ongoing pain and restriction in his activities.

SFM had acquired a number of sets of aluminium and steel stairs when it took control of the yard. Employees visually inspected the stairs and retained the ones they considered safe to use, including the set involved in this incident.

No formal procedures were in place for regular inspection and maintenance of the stairs, however a visual inspection was carried out by the yard manager when he placed these stairs next to the boat.

His visual assessment concluded that the handrail was intact because it was sitting in place where it should be.

Prior to this incident, the yard manager had voiced concerns to a safety consultant that stairs were non-rated and missing handrails, but the consultant’s observations and recommendations had not been received by SFM at the time of this incident.

SFM had a policy requirement for visitors to sign in and complete an induction form, but they did not consistently enforce the requirement for inductions to be completed. The company did not instruct the injured man to complete one.

WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said the case illustrated the need to regularly inspect and maintain equipment and to have formal procedures in place to ensure maintenance is carried out.

“In this case, the company depended on a simple visual inspection of the stair handrail,” Ms North said.

“A safety consultant had observed cracked welds on at least one of the stairs, something that might have also been observed by the company if it had conducted closer examinations of the stairways.

“However SFM did not have a formal process in place to ensure the stairs were regularly closely checked.

“Persons conducting a business or undertaking are advised to conduct a thorough risk assessment of the work and the workplace and must put controls in place to reduce the risk of injury to workers.

“This includes the risk of falls from height due to the failure of equipment.

“The company had a Safety Management Plan that included a system for managing risks associated with working at heights, but it evidently did not include regular checking that the sets of stairs were safe to use.

“It’s not enough to conduct a risk assessment and come up with a safety management plan if that plan is not strictly followed, as this penalty demonstrates.”

Source: WorkSafe Victoria

WorkSafe is investigating following the death of a roofer from a fall at a commercial factory in Vermont on Saturday.

It is understood the 55-year-old fell approximately eight metres through a fragile roof surface onto a concrete floor about 10.30am.

The man sustained serious head injuries and later died in hospital.

The death is the 41st confirmed workplace fatality for 2025. There were 41 work-related deaths at the same time last year.

Safe Work Australia Key WHS Statistics 2025 report

Working at Height: Why We’re Still Falling (and Dropping) Short

Each year, Safe Work Australia produces national work health and safety statistics, providing important evidence on the state of work health and safety in Australia.

According to the latest Safe Work Australia Key WHS Statistics 2025 report, 24 workers lost their lives in 2024 after falling from a height.

That’s 13% of all workplace fatalities — and it’s not a new story. 

We’ve been seeing versions of this for years.

Now add in the 17 workers who died after being hit by moving or falling objects, and you start to see the bigger picture: we’re still struggling with height safety; both the people working at height and the risks created by height.

2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25
28 falls from height (15%)	18 falls from height (13%)	21 falls from height (11%)	22 falls from height (11%)	19 falls from height (11%)	17 falls from height (9%)	29 falls from height (15%)	24 falls from height (13%)
15 being hit by falling objects (8%)	15 being hit by falling objects (10%)	21 being hit by falling objects (11%)	17 being hit by falling objects (9%)	16 being hit by falling objects (9%)	17 being hit by falling objects (9%)	12 being hit by falling objects (6%)	17 being hit by falling objects (7%)

The data is clear: Falls from height remain one of the deadliest mechanisms of workplace fatalities in Australia.

Even though the number of falls from height is smaller compared to other types of incidents (like body stressing or slips), the consequences are usually more severe. Gravity has no bias. 

Falls don’t often end in minor injuries: they end careers, and sometimes, they end lives.

In 2023–24, around 32,000 serious injury claims were linked to falls, slips, and trips. About a quarter of those — roughly 7,800 claims — were falls from a height.

Think ladders, roofs, platforms, scaffolds — the everyday workspaces for trades and maintenance crews across construction, utilities, and manufacturing.

It’s not just the frontline workers either. Supervisors, contractors, and even visitors can be exposed when controls are rushed or assumed.

And one of the most dangerous Australian mindsets is closely tied to incidents: “It’s Only a Quick Job”. 

Ask anyone in safety, and they’ll tell you how often falls from height start with the words:

“It’s only a quick job.”, or “She’ll be right mate”.

That mindset skips planning. It skips checking anchor points, exclusion zones, and rescue procedures. And it’s often those “quick jobs” that go horribly wrong: especially when time pressure outweighs proper setup.

The data shows older workers (55+) are more likely to make serious injury claims. It’s not because they’re careless, it’s because experience sometimes replaces caution, and physical recovery takes longer when things go wrong.

If a fall from height is the obvious risk, dropped objects are the silent one.

In 2024, 17 fatalities were caused by workers being hit by moving or falling objects.
That includes everything from a spanner dropped off a scaffold, to a load shifting mid-lift, to unsecured materials rolling off plant or platforms.

Dropped-object incidents don’t just injure — they cause lasting trauma for teams. These are the moments that make people rethink everything they know about “working safely above others.”

Tool tethering, secondary retention, good housekeeping, and exclusion zones under elevated work aren’t new ideas — but the stats show we still don’t apply them consistently.

So What’s the Fix?

The solution isn’t complicated — it’s consistency.

• Engineering controls first: guardrails, barriers, tool lanyards, proper access systems.
• Rescue planning built in: not bolted on later.
• Administrative control: permits, supervision, exclusion zones, job briefings that actually mean something.
• Empowerment: supervisors must feel confident to pause a job if the setup isn’t right: no questions asked.

Falls and dropped objects don’t discriminate between new workers and veterans. They punish complacency and rushed work.

Working at height is one of the most controlled activities in our industry: and still one of the most dangerous.
We don’t need new rules; we need stronger habits, smarter setups, and better conversations.

If you’re a safety leader, a rope tech, a project manager, or just someone who spends time above ground level…. ask yourself:

“Are my controls built for compliance, or for consequence?”

Because the goal isn’t just to get our people up there safely.
It’s to make sure they always come back down.

Dukes Painting Services Pty Ltd has been convicted and fined $105,000 in the Industrial Court of NSW as a result of a prosecution by SafeWork NSW.​

The proceedings arose from an incident on 13 August 2022, when a worker was placed at risk of falling from height while working on a mobile elevated working platform.​

Dukes Painting Services plead guilty to an offence pursuant to section 33 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) for failing to comply with its duty under section 19(1) of the Act.​

Dukes Painting Services Pty Ltd have the right to appeal this sentence. ​

Business owners and workers can access a range of resources to help manage the risks of working from heights on the SafeWork NSW website at: https://lnkd.in/gQNhzy5

Article written for Safety Solutions.

Working at Height Association CEO Scott Barber explains the importance of a whole system of hazard management approach to confined space.

Confined space entry remains one of the most hazardous tasks across industries, whether in utilities, construction, manufacturing or heavy industry. Workers may need to enter tanks, silos, pipelines, culverts, pits or process vessels. These spaces are inherently dangerous, combining atmospheric risks with the challenges of restricted access, difficult rescue and potential for falls.

Among the hazards, airborne contaminants like dust, particulates, fumes and gases often receive justified attention. But in many cases, the greater immediate risks arise from falls, difficult entry/exit and the ability to remove a worker quickly in an emergency. True best practice means addressing both streams of risk together, treating confined space work as a whole system of hazard management, rather than isolating issues in silos.

Beyond minimum standards

Standards such as AS 2865 (Confined Spaces) and the model WHS Regulations set essential requirements, but too often incidents occur because organisations plan for compliance rather than for consequences.

Best practice requires integrating atmospheric monitoring, fall prevention, safe access and egress, and emergency rescue capability into one system. Permits and procedures should demonstrate not only that hazards have been controlled, but that workers can enter, work and, if needed, be rescued safely.

Confined spaces: dual hazards of atmosphere and access

Every confined space presents a two-part challenge:

• Atmospheric risks: oxygen deficiency, toxic gases and respirable dust.
• Physical risks: falls during vertical entry, slips in wet or uneven spaces, entrapment, or injury during rescue.

These risks amplify each other. For example, a fall in a space with poor air quality complicates rescue, while delayed retrieval exposes the injured worker to atmospheric hazards for longer.

A multi-layered control strategy

Best practice confined space management demands a holistic approach:

• Risk assessment and planning that considers atmosphere, access and rescue equally.
• Engineering controls such as dust suppression, fixed ladders, secure anchor points and retrieval systems.
• Continuous atmospheric monitoring for oxygen, dust and gases before and during entry.
• Fall protection and retrieval systems matched to the space and the task.
• Emergency planning that assumes retrieval will be necessary and designs for it from the start.

Safe access and egress

Planning for entry is not just about opening a hatch. It means ensuring the following:

• Vertical entries have suitable tripods, davit arms and man-rated winches.
• Horizontal or restricted entries are wide enough for a worker in PPE and RPE, and suitable for retrieval if an incident occurs.
• Fall arrest or restraint systems are in place where there is a risk of descent, climb or working near an edge during access.
• Systems and PPE are designed/selected to easily integrate with a rescue capability.

Without a safe way in and out, even the best ventilation and PPE offer little protection.

Respiratory protection in balance

Where particulates, fumes or vapours cannot be engineered out, respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is vital. But RPE must be matched to both the hazard and the work method:

• P2 or P3 filters for most dust hazards.
• Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) for longer-duration tasks.
• Supplied air or SCBA for oxygen-deficient or unknown atmospheres.

However, RPE is only effective when supported by fit testing, training and program management. Importantly, RPE cannot become the sole focus; falls and rescue readiness must be given equal weight in the entry plan.

Rescue planning: the critical test

Rescue planning is often where confined space safety breaks down. Too many organisations rely on “call the fire brigade” without ensuring the following:

• Rescue can be initiated immediately by trained, equipped personnel on site.
• Rescuers are protected from the same hazards (atmospheric and fall-related) as the entrant.
• Equipment is appropriate: retrieval winches, breathing apparatus, stretchers and anchor systems must be in place and compatible with the entry method.
• Rescue drills are practised and validated under realistic conditions.
   

Permits and risk assessments should not be approved unless a credible, executable rescue plan is documented and validated.

Culture and competence

Confined space work should never be considered routine. Best practice is built on the following:

• Training that covers both respiratory and fall hazards.
• Supervisors empowered to delay or redesign work if access or rescue is unsafe.
• Investment in equipment that reduces risk without overcomplicating tasks.
• A safety culture that treats every entry as a unique event requiring thoughtful planning.

Leading a safer future

Managing confined space risk is more than meeting regulations; it is a measure of safety maturity. A best-practice approach balances respiratory protection with fall prevention, safe access and effective rescue capability.

By embedding these controls into work systems, industries across utilities, manufacturing, construction and heavy industry can build resilience, protect workers and strengthen operational performance.

Confined space management is not simply about entry; it is about ensuring workers can always come out safely.

BKH Contractors Group Pty Ltd has been convicted and fined $150,000 in the District Court of NSW as a result of a prosecution by SafeWork NSW.

The proceedings arose from an incident on 7 June 2022, when a worker fell about five metres from a temporary platform in a lift shaft onto two colleagues below while using a rattle gun to undo bolts and hook up vertical columns to be removed by a crane.

The worker, who was not using a fall protection system, sustained multiple rib fractures, a laceration to his left kidney, a left shoulder injury and a left wrist fracture.

His two colleagues suffered a soft tissue injury to his left shoulder and minor injuries, respectively.

BKH Contractors plead guilty to an offence pursuant to section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) for failing to comply with its duty under section 19(1) of the Act.

The full judgement against BKH Contractors Group can be read on the NSW Caselaw website.

BKH Contractors Group Pty Ltd has the right to appeal against its sentence.

Workers who have concerns about workplace health and safety can anonymously contact SafeWork on 13 10 50 or through the Speak Up Save Lives website.

Business owners and workers can access a range of resources to help manage the risks of working from heights on the SafeWork NSW website.

SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer said:

“Falls from heights are a primary cause of traumatic injuries and fatalities at NSW workplaces.

“SafeWork NSW reminds all businesses of their duty to ensure their workers are protected when working at heights.”

Source: SafeWork Victoria

A steel fixing company has been convicted and fined $60,000 after a worker was injured in a fall during construction of a 40-storey building in Southbank.

Coconut PT Pty Ltd was sentenced ex parte in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 11 September after being found guilty of failing to ensure work was carried out from a complete scaffold, and failing to ensure high-risk construction work was performed in accordance with a safe work method statement (SWMS).

The company was also ordered to pay $5,276 in costs.

The court heard Coconut PT was engaged to perform steel fixing works inside a jumpform, which included a scaffold system consisting of hanger brackets and planks that created temporary walking platforms. The certified design of the scaffold required the hangers to be fixed to wall forms with nails.

In May 2023, a worker was walking across the platform when it failed. He fell more than two metres to the jumpform floor, and the plank he had been standing on landed on top of him.

The worker was transported to hospital with a fractured lower back and spine, a fractured knee and a torn knee ligament.

WorkSafe’s investigation found the scaffold was incomplete due to hanger brackets not being securely fixed to the wall form – some had only a single nail or no nail at all – and because the scaffold had no perimeter protection in the form of handrails installed.

The court found it was reasonably practicable for Coconut PT to ensure no work occurred on an incomplete scaffold, and that high-risk construction work was performed in accordance with the prepared SWMS which required perimeter protection such as handrails.

WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said bringing down injuries and deaths in the construction industry was a major focus of WorkSafe’s strategic approach to reducing workplace harm.

“Each year hundreds of construction workers are seriously injured or killed in incidents that could’ve been avoided with the right safety measures in place – including the adequate use of fall prevention measures and safe work method statements.”

“WorkSafe will continue to take the strongest possible enforcement action against employers who don’t take their obligations seriously and allow workers pay the price for their safety failures.”

In 2023, almost 30 workers lost their lives due to falls from heights – making up to 15% of all workplace fatalities. Falls from height are now the second leading cause of workplace deaths, following vehicle-related incidents. The construction industry accounted for 45% of these fatalities.

These numbers highlight the ongoing risks faced by people working at heights and the urgent need for better safety systems, clearer guidance, and reliable equipment. Two key standards – AS 5532 and AS/NZS 1891.4 – have recently been updated to help address these issues and improve safety outcomes.

AS 5532: Manufacturing requirements for single-point anchor device used for harness-based work at height

This standard outlines how anchor points (used to secure safety harnesses) should be designed and tested. These anchors are essential for anyone working on roofs or elevated surfaces.

The revision addresses a key limitation in the previous version, which did not support installation on many types of timber and steel purlin roofs. The updated version now supports installation on a wider range of structures, making it easier for workers like solar installers, roof cleaners, and maintenance crews to use safe, approved anchor points in the right locations.

The revision also helps reduce risks such as swing falls and free falls and supports more sustainable practices. 

AS/NZS 1891.4: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices, Part 4: Selection, use and maintenance

This standard provides updated guidance on selecting, using, and maintaining fall-arrest equipment, like harnesses, lanyards, and lifelines.

The changes help designers, managers, and users make informed decisions based on the latest industry practices and testing standards. This reduces the risk of using incorrect or outdated equipment and improves safety for workers.

Importantly, the update does not add extra costs for users. While training materials may be revised to reflect the new guidance, no additional training beyond current requirements is expected.

These updates are designed to make height safety equipment easier to use, more reliable, and better suited to today’s building materials and work environments. By aligning safety standards with current industry needs, they help ensure workers are protected and that safety systems are practical and effective.

If you have a Small Business Set Subscription; the 1891.4 standard will automatically update. 

If you have purchased the previous standards you will need to re-purchase the standards.

Stay tuned for further news about these changes in the coming days.

Source: SafeWork SA

Two South Australian companies have agreed to make more than $580,000 in safety improvements after a worker was seriously injured in a fall from height at an Adelaide Hills building site.

SafeWork SA last month accepted Enforceable Undertakings (EU) from home builder AMS Built Pty Ltd and building products manufacturer and supplier Ruediger Constructions Pty Ltd.

The improvements agreed to in the Enforceable Undertakings will enhance safety at the companies involved, the construction industry as a whole and the broader community.

An EU is a written, legally binding commitment to implement effective work health and safety initiatives. These initiatives are designed to deliver tangible benefits for workers, industry, and the community as a whole and to resolve the issue that led to the EU.

The two EUs follow an April 2023 incident at an AMS Built double-storey residential construction site in Stirling where a Ruediger Constructions worker suffered serious injuries after falling 3.5 metres through an unguarded stair void onto the ground floor concrete slab.

The worker regained full work capacity in October 2023 and has since taken up a new role within the sector.

As the principal builder, AMS Built engaged Ruediger Constructions to provide first fix carpentry services for the residential construction project.

SafeWork SA was notified and issued an enforcement notice prohibiting work and access to the upper floor of the building.

An investigation was conducted by SafeWork SA where it was alleged that AMS Built and Ruediger Constructions committed Category 2 offences under the Work Health and Safety Act, 2012 (SA).

SafeWork SA alleged AMS Built failed to provide and maintain a safe work environment by failing to ensure the stair void was guarded prior to work being undertaken on the first floor.

It was alleged Ruediger Constructions failed to identify the hazard presented by working on the first floor of the site containing an unguarded stair void and failed to provide and maintain a safe system of work because it failed to ensure measures were in place to eliminate and/or minimise the identified risk.

The two companies applied to the Regulator to consider their application for an Enforceable Undertaking.

AMS Built and Ruediger Constructions understand the characterisation of an allegation that could be made with respect to the incident. The EU was accepted by the Regulator in August 2025.

AMS Built’s EU was accepted by SafeWork on 5 August 2025. It includes a total minimum spend of $207,233.

Initiatives include:

• Developing a working from heights safety video and promoting it on social media via a paid advertising campaign.
• Employing a WHS adviser/administrator to administer WHS functions and ensure compliance with relevant WHS legislation, regulations, and guidelines.
• Hiring a new site co-ordinator to better manage operations and to attend to site safety requirements and co-ordination.
• Purchasing a drone to conduct site safety overviews and assessments.

Ruediger Construction’s EU was also agreed to on 5 August and includes a total minimum spend on safety improvements of $373,120.

Initiatives include:

• Purchasing a scissor lift, platform ladders and new harnesses to minimise the need for workers to work from A-frame ladders.
• Employing a general WHS manager to administer WHS functions and ensure compliance with WHS legislation, regulations, and guidelines.
• Conducting a company-wide safety training day with a focus on WHS in the residential construction industry in conjunction with AMS Built and its subcontractors to spread awareness of safe work practices.

The community aspect of the Ruediger Constructions EU includes a sponsored “Industry Safety Round” of football matches at Willaston Football Club during the Barossa Light & Gawler Association’s 2026 and 2027 seasons.

Industry Safety Round guernseys will be worn by Willaston Football Club players during the round, from Under-13s up to the A-grade.

The guernseys will include workplace safety messaging and Industry Safety Round medals/trophies will be awarded to the best players on each day.

SafeWork SA can apply to the Magistrates Court for an order if a company contravenes an EU agreement.

SafeWork SA has developed comprehensive guidance material in consultation with the SafeWork SA Advisory Committee to assist EU Applicants preparing their applications.

This material focuses on priority areas highlighted by the Regulator and can be particularly useful for applicants who struggle to identify activities that relate to the risk that led to the event in question.

Attribute to SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell:

Entering into Enforceable Undertakings with these two companies is the preferred enforcement option in this case due to the opportunity to achieve far-reaching safety benefits for companies in the residential construction industry and the broader community.

The introduction of an Industry Safety Round during the Barossa Light & Gawler Association’s 2026 and 2027 seasons is a great opportunity to promote important safety messages to a new audience.

SafeWork SA is committed to working with companies to develop Enforceable Undertakings as an alternative to prosecution where appropriate.

This is demonstrated through the development of new resources designed to help businesses prepare their EU applications.

Source: WorkSafe Victoria

A carpenter has been sentenced to a one year Community Corrections Order after a young worker suffered fatal head injuries when he fell three metres through an unprotected stair void on a Glen Waverley construction site.

The sole trader, 29, trading as Big Basa Constructions, was sentenced without conviction in the Melbourne County Court today after pleading guilty to a single charge of failing to ensure a workplace under his management and control was safe and without risks to health.

He was ordered to complete 100 hours of community work and pay a $10,000 fine.

The court heard that the carpenter engaged a 23-year-old worker to assist him at the site, where he had been contracted to build frames and erect roof trusses for multi-storey townhouses. 

In September 2022, the young worker was carrying lengths of steel along the first floor when he fell through the open stair void to the concrete floor three metres below.

He suffered serious head injuries and later died in hospital.

A WorkSafe investigation found there were no guardrails installed around stair voids in the units under construction and that the ladder used at the time of the incident did not extend past the first floor level.

It was reasonably practicable for the carpenter to eliminate or reduce the risk of death or serious injury due to a fall by installing perimeter guard rails around stair voids, and by using a ladder that extended at least 90 centimetres past the first floor and was securely fastened at the top and bottom.

WorkSafe’s Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said it was unacceptable that workers continued to die or suffer life-changing injuries as a result of falls from heights.

“It’s both shocking and heartbreaking to see a young worker lose his life after a workplace fall that could and should have been prevented,” Mr Jenkin said.

“No one ever thinks an incident like this will happen at their workplace and so, far too often, duty holders ignore well-known and relatively simple measures to control hazards – leading to tragedy.”

Pearl Construction Group Pty Ltd, the principal contractor on the site, has also been charged in relation to the incident and will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 8 December 2025.

To prevent falls from height employers should implement the highest possible measures from the five levels in the hierarchy of controls:

• Level 1 Eliminate the risk by, where practicable, doing all or some of the work on the ground or from a solid construction.
• Level 2 Use a passive fall prevention device such as scaffolds, perimeter screens, guardrails, safety mesh or elevating work platforms.
• Level 3 Use a positioning system, such as a travel-restraint system, to ensure employees work within a safe area.
• Level 4 Use a fall arrest system, such as a harness, catch platform or safety nets, to limit the risk of injuries in the event of a fall.
• Level 5 Use a fixed or portable ladder, or implement administrative controls.