4 key failures in assigning possum-removal job

A Queensland business that connects subcontractors with small ‘handyman’ type jobs was convicted and fined $90,000 after a contractor fell 6.7 metres through a skylight, suffering significant head injuries.

The contractor was allocated a job via WhatsApp to remove a possum from the roof of a residence. However, the defendant company failed to:

Obtain further detail about the task and provide it to the contractor.
Have procedures and/or policies in place to inform it of the training undertaken or licences and/or qualifications held by the contractor, including working from heights training.
Ensure that all workers undertaking work for the company involving working at heights had been trained.
Ensure that information about the readily available controls to eliminate or minimise the risk of injury from falling from heights and through surfaces had been made available to the contractor.

The Court considered that, but for the early plea and financial position of the company, a fine between $100,000 and $150,000 would have been imposed. At the time of sentencing, the company no longer undertook this work.

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