$350,000 fine for workplace death

A FATAL workplace accident in Dandenong South in 2008 has landed the builder with a $350,000 fine.
In April 2008, a man was killed by the partly completed steel frame of a warehouse collapse.
Australand Industrial Constructions, the builder of the project, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the workplace was safe and without risks in Melbourne County Court and was sentenced on Friday.
The company was convicted and fined $350,000.
Judge Gaynor said the risk to people at the workplace was extraordinarily high and that Australand Industrial Constructions would have been fined $500,000 had it not plead guilty.
WorkSafe acting director of construction and utilities Allan Beacom said Australand failed in its duty.
“In this case, Australand Constructions had management and control of the construction site and failed to ensure there was adequate temporary bracing to ensure the structure was stable,” he said.
“Ensuring partially erected structures are stable, at all times, is a fundamental safety issue in construction but there are a surprisingly high number of structural failures where this simple step has not been done, and in every case, people are at risk.
“The incident must act as a reminder to all that fundamental safety responsibilities must be adhered to.”