Steel road plate fatality lands construction company $225K fine
As a result of a prosecution by SafeWork NSW, a construction company has been convicted and fined $225,000 in the Industrial Court of NSW.
It follows a 4 July 2023 incident where a person riding an electric bicycle died from injuries sustained after colliding with the unfeathered edge of a steel road plate being used to cover a trench during the course of stormwater drainage works.
The company pled guilty to an offence pursuant to section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 for failing to comply with its health and safety duty to other persons under section 19(2) of the Act.
“Businesses working in public spaces are reminded of their obligation to ensure the safety of not only their workers but others who may also enter the work area,” SafeWork NSW Commissioner Janet Schorer said.
“Management of work health and safety risks, including on sites accessible by the general public, is an obligation under work health and safety laws.”
The judgement is published here, on the NSW Caselaw website.
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