Roofer Andrew Hardwick pleads guilty to intimidating workplace inspector

A Sunshine Coast roofer has threatened to hit a workplace inspector who was conducting compliance checks at a job site, after saying he’d put them “on the ground”.

Andrew Hardwick leaving Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Picture: Sam Turner

A Baringa roofer has been heavily fined after he threatened and intimidated a workplace health and safety inspector at a job site.

The routine inspection at the Alexandra Headland job site on July 6, 2022 evolved into a violent confrontation between the senior inspector and Andrew Hardwick, who made threats towards the officer doing his job.

Workplace Health and Safety prosecutor Rhys Dunmall told Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday the 37-year-old roofer spoke to the inspector aggressively while at the worksite.

The court was told Hardwick, a roofing business owner, told the inspector he would put them “on the f---ing ground” following a disagreement.

“Do you really want to see me f---ing angry,” Mr Dunmall quoted Hardwick saying.

Andrew Hardwick.

As the inspector walked away, Hardwick then said “I’m going to break your f---ing nose”.

Mr Dunmall said, in a victim impact statement before the court, the inspector had to seek out psychological help following the verbal threats from the roofer.

The prosecutor told the court there was a public interest in ensuring the safety of workers by inspectors attending workplaces and exercising their “lawful compliance powers”.

He said there has been a “profound” effect on the victim from the threats.

Hardwick runs his own roofing business.

Defence lawyer Benjamin Parke said Hardwick was remorseful for his conduct and knows it was the wrong way to handle the situation.

Mr Parke said the Baringa man understood the crucial role inspectors play in the industry even though it could be frustrating at times and accepted it escalated unnecessarily.

The court heard Hardwick tried to assist some younger workers on site when the inspector raised an issue with them and it “carried on” from there.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist said all Hardwick had to do was mind his own business and nothing would have happened.

Hardwick pleaded guilty to threatening or intimidating an inspector and was fined $2200.

No conviction was recorded.