$125,000 Fine After Workers Fall

admin • October 15, 2024

Valmont (Vic) Pty Ltd was sentenced in the Sunshine Magistrates' Court on Thursday 3 October after earlier being found guilty of one charge of failing to provide and maintain a safe system of work and one charge of failing to ensure a workplace under its management or control was safe and without risks to health.

Valmont was fined without a conviction and mandated to pay $42,752 in costs. The company had been assigned to transform level two of a multistorey car park on Clarke Street in Sunshine into office space. The project entailed the removal of a car park ramp between levels one and two, the installation of structural steel and formwork, and the pouring of concrete into the void to finalize the office floor. In July 2019, a segment of the formwork collapsed when a steel beam connecting it to the existing slab detached as the concrete was being poured, resulting in three workers plummeting more than two metres to the level below. Two workers were hospitalized with serious injuries. A WorkSafe inquiry revealed that Valmont had failed to arrange for a building surveyor or engineer to inspect the formwork prior to the concrete pour. The court concluded that it would have been reasonably practicable for Valmont to have organized a pre-pour inspection and to have secured a written inspection report affirming that the formwork was structurally sound to bear the concrete pour.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said working with formwork could be high risk and there was no excuse for omitting important safety processes.

"Having a competent person inspect formwork before a concrete pour begins is a crucial step designed to avoid exactly this kind of disastrous scenario," Mr Jenkin said.

"In this case two workers were injured and it could very easily have been much, much worse."

To prevent falls when working with formwork employers should:

  • Ensure a competent person produces a formwork design capable of supporting the expected dynamic and static loads.
  • Have systems in place to formally sign off a formwork deck as structurally sound, complete and safe for other trade workers to use as a work platform.
  • Provide employees undertaking construction work with site specific training, including the onsite risks associated with formwork decks.
  • Ensure High Risk Construction Work is not performed unless a Safe Work Method Statement is prepared and followed.
  • Use a fall arrest system, such as a catch platform or safety nets.

For more information visit: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2024-10/125000-fine-after-workers-fall-concrete-formwork-collapse

Bushfire

By admin • January 27, 2026
Australia is a fire-prone country, and workplaces in many areas are at risk of being impacted by bushfires in some way. The effects of bushfires may include direct exposure to fire, as well as smoke exposure and psychological impacts. As with any workplace hazard, employers have a duty to manage and control the risk of injury. A bushfire risk assessment should therefore be undertaken. Through this process, employers should: Identify whether there is a potential bushfire hazard Assess the risk of bushfires affecting the health and safety of workers, including smoke exposure Identify appropriate control measures Review control measures to ensure they are effective and that no new hazards have been introduced Consultation with workers should occur at each stage of this process. When developing a bushfire risk assessment and policy, employers should consider the following: How will fire danger ratings be monitored throughout the bushfire season? How vulnerable is the workplace location? What actions will be taken on days of extreme or catastrophic fire danger? Are there workers who travel for work or spend significant time on the road? Are there workers who operate alone or in isolated locations? What emergency and evacuation plans are in place? Once a bushfire policy has been developed in consultation with workers, appropriate training must be provided. Employers are legally required to ensure workers receive the necessary information, instruction, and training to remain safe at work, including in relation to bushfire risks. For more information, take a look at: Working outside - Working near bushfires | Safe Work Australia

HSRs rights to training

By admin • January 19, 2026
Under the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 , Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) are not required to be trained in order to exercise their powers. However, in order to fully understand their role and powers, training is highly beneficial and recommended by WorkSafe. Most HSRs will not understand how to make the most of their role as an HSR without participating in training – and therefore it is not until training has been completed that an HSR can maximise their positive impact upon the safety of their workplace. HSRs rights in relation to training are outlined under Section 67 of the OHS Act. They include: The right to attend initial training after being elected The right to attend a refresher course at least once a year The right to choose their course. This includes their course provider and course* The right for their course to be paid for by their employer, as well as associated costs with attending the course The right to be paid while attending the course *The course must be approved by WorkSafe and delivered by a WorkSafe approved provider, such as BeSafe. The HSR must consult with their employer and give 14 days notice. Section 69 of the OHS Act also discusses further the rights of HSR to training. This covers the right to attend additional training, when WorkSafe has approved them under Section 69 . HSRs have a right to attend these courses on top of the s67 courses. HSRs can be a very useful resource for employers in helping to create safe and healthy workplaces. It is in their best interest to encourage their HSRs to be trained. However, in the case where an employer does not allow the HSR to be trained as per the requirements under The Act, there are penalties which apply to this conduct, as it is a breach of the Legislation. For more information take a look at: Health and safety representative training | WorkSafe Victoria HSRs' Right to Training - OHS Reps Or get in contact with us for assistance: 0467002060 HSR Training and support | BeSafe | Regional Victoria You can book WorkSafe approved courses with us at HSR Training Courses | BeSafe | Regional Victoria