A Baulkham Hills based scaffolding company, Erect Safe Pty Ltd, has been fined $90,000 after a labourer was seriously injured in a workplace incident at Barangaroo, Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said.
Lendlease Building Pty Ltd was also fined $60,000 in the Sydney District Court last week over the 2015 incident, where the worker was hit by scaffolding that fell from a forklift that was being driven by an unlicensed driver.
Mr Kean said Erect Safe failed in its duty of care by not ensuring the forklift driver held the appropriate high-risk work licence, or that he was correctly trained.
“Forklifts might look simple and easy to operate but they can be very dangerous machinery if they’re not operated by a properly qualified person,” Mr Kean said.
“No matter how competent or confident a worker might seem if they do not have the necessary licence then they simply cannot get behind the wheel.”
Mr Kean said Lendlease did not have adequate traffic management measures in place, which significantly risked the safety of their workers.
“The labourer in this case sustained serious crush injuries and had to wear a leg brace for six weeks while undergoing physical therapy and rehabilitation,” Mr Kean said.
“I hope this incident serves as a timely reminder to all companies that a high-risk workplace requires proper traffic safeguards to protect both those undertaking the work, as well as the broader worksite.
“This is all about making sure that every worker who heads off to work in the morning returns home safely to their family at night.”
Last year SafeWork NSW successfully prosecuted 34 offenders and issued 218 penalty notices.
The companies have the right to lodge an appeal.
