Victor Harbor shed company RNI Constructions fined $90,000 after worker fell through roof

A South Australian shed company has been fined after a worker fell more than 3.6m on to a concrete slab – suffering serious life changing injuries.

A Victor Harbor shed company has been fined $90,000 after a worker fell through a roof and suffered serious life changing injuries.

The worker fell 3.61m onto a concrete floor while dismantling a shed with two colleagues on October 11, 2021.

He suffered multiple spinal and rib fractures, a broken shoulder and a punctured lung.

He had inadvertently stepped onto polycarbonate sheeting which gave way after delivering a bucket for ridge capping screws to one of his colleagues.

The shed company, RNI Constructions, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe system of work, failing to create or implement a safe work method for high risk construction work and failing to ensure employees working at height were properly briefed and was sentenced in the South Australian Employment Tribunal.

In sentencing, Deputy President Magistrate Katherine Eaton said the company – which was mainly in the business of shed construction but had also dismantled about 10 sheds – should have had routine compliance measures in place.

The worker fell through a roof more than 3.6 onto concrete.

“There was a complete absence of recognition or compliance by RNI with the safety requirements for high-risk construction work, even though the risk of injury from a fall from a roof height of more than 3.5m is glaringly obvious,” she said.

“Workers have died falling from lesser heights.”

Ms Eaton said the worker had not been involved in any of the company’s prior dismantling jobs, making “the requirement for a proper risk assessment and safety briefing was even more glaring” on this occasion.

She said the worker has suffered “serious and ongoing” injuries, making his financial and employment future “uncertain”.

Ms Eaton said there had been multiple recent falls-related workplace prosecutions in SA, indicating “this particular risk is still not being given the attention it deserves”.

“It is no small risk and the consequences are dire,” she said.

She imposed a conviction and reduced a $150,000 fine to $90,000 due to the company’s early guilty plea, significant remorse and co-operation with the SafeWork SA investigation.

RNI Construction has since stopped dismantling sheds and instead use contractors for construction work. The directors are also set to soon retire and close the business early in 2024.

SafeWork SA executive director Glenn Farrell said falls from heights involving workers were too common and more than 100 stop work notices had been issued in SA between July and November 2023.

“Explicit priority should be given to workplace safety such that everyone develops and maintains safety focus in relation to the tasks required of them.”