2 WorkSafe visits reveal repeated failures by construction company

A construction company in Victoria was convicted last month and fined $47,500 following repeated breaches of safety laws and use of an unqualified project manager (WorkSafe Victoria v WAM Homes Pty Ltd [2025]).

WAM Homes Pty Ltd was brought before the Court for the results of two visits by WorkSafe Victoria inspectors:

In July 2023, WorkSafe Victoria inspectors observed multiple workers on a balcony at a worksite that had unguarded live edges 3.05 metres above the ground. WAM Homes had already been issued a prohibition notice a year earlier in relation to those issues and was later fined $15,000 for the earlier breach.
In April 2024, WorkSafe inspectors attended another construction site operated by WAM Homes and observed a worker halfway up an A-frame ladder that was positioned on an unprotected live edge on the first floor, and a second worker at the base of the ladder standing with his back to the unprotected live edge with a potential fall of over 3.4 metres. During the inspection, it was found that the project manager was not a registered builder and did not hold any qualifications; there was no health and coordination plan for the workplace; and there was no safe work method statement prepared prior to work commencing at the site.

Further, one of the workers (an employee of a contractor on site, Wanji Metal Works Pty Ltd) did not hold a current construction induction card. Wanji was separately prosecuted and fined $17,500 for not installing a passive fall prevention device and for allowing the unqualified worker on site.

WAM Homes pleaded guilty to failing to:

prepare a health and safety coordination plan for construction works prior to the work commencing;
ensure work was performed by a person who held a current construction induction card; and
eliminate or reduce risks associated with a fall from height by not installing a compliant perimeter guard rail or hand rail system and a secure ladder.

In imposing the penalty, the Court noted that a significant fine was required for specific deterrence against WAM Homes given its prior conduct.

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