4.1-metre fall through unguarded skylight lands $140K in fines

In Western Australia, an air conditioning company and a company director have been fined a total of $140,000 (and ordered to pay $5661 in costs) after a worker fell through an unguarded skylight. Located approximately 900 mm from where workers were installing the air conditioning unit, a worker stepped back onto the skylight and fell approximately 4.1 metres before his leg struck the balustrade of the internal staircase.

He was deflected onto the first-floor concrete landing when his left thigh struck the first-floor balustrade and suffered a large haematoma to his thigh that later required surgery, along with bruising to his head and right knee. The company director pleaded guilty to neglect with regard to the incident and was fined $20,000 — the company was fined $120,000.

Having visited the site prior to the start of work, the director failed to consider that the skylight was a hazard, which led to the company not putting measures in place to remove or mitigate the hazard. The director had, the court heard, told workers to “be careful” around the skylights, but, as WorkSafe WA Commissioner Sally North said, “that does not constitute a control measure and will not prevent falls”.

“This case is a reminder that it is the duty of anyone in charge of a workplace to eliminate the risk of falls where they can,” North added.

You can read WorkSafe WA’s Health and Safety Bulletin — published in December 2024 — in relation to falls through fragile roofs and roof openings at www.worksafe.wa.gov.au/publications/health-and-safety-bulletin-no-17-falls-through-fragile-roofs-and-roof-openings.

Image credit: iStock.com/TW Farlow. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.