Paying the price of the unrealised risk of a fall from height

In a recent Victorian prosecution, a roofing company was fined $25,000 for putting workers at a risk from falls from height, even though no one actually fell (WorkSafe Victoria v Ahwaz Roofing Pty Ltd [2025]).

The prosecution arose following an April 2024 report to WorkSafe Victoria. The reporter observed four or five workers pressure-washing a roof of a residential premises in Victoria without fall protection in place.

A WorkSafe inspector attended the workplace and observed two persons working from more than 5.5 metres on the second storey roof. The workers were undertaking roof cleaning and gutter replacement without fall protection in place. The inspector directed the workers (which included the Director of the company) to return to the ground, and issued a prohibition notice requiring a safe system of work be implemented and a safe work method statement be prepared.

A few weeks later, the system of work had been corrected with the use of an elevated work platform and mobile scaffold platform.

The company was fined $25,000 and ordered to pay $3,500 in legal costs for putting workers at risk of serious injury or death.

This case serves as a reminder that you don’t need to have an incident involving injury or damage to be held to account by the regulators. The mere presence of the risk is enough to charge you. So the risk isn't just to your workers; it's to your reputation and your wallet also! Save yourself the costs by ensuring you manage the risks in your workplace. When it comes to falls from height, the Health & Safety Handbook chapter, Working at heights, will guide you through the risk management process.

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