ECA Energy Solutions pleads guilty in Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court

A Craigieburn company has copped a massive fine after two workers risked “serious injury and death” while working without safety gear.

ECA Energy Solutions fronted Broadmeadows Magistrates' Court. Picture: Ellen Smith

A Craigieburn solar panel company has been slugged with a hefty fine after two subcontractors were put at risk of “serious injury or death” on a Mickleham worksite.

ECA Energy Solutions fronted Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court against WorkSafe Victoria over the charges and pleaded guilty.

Worksite inspectors found two subcontractors working for ECA Energy Solutions at a property, installing solar panels on a two-storey house on June 16, 2021. The pair were carrying solar panels on the roof, without any guardrails or fall protection, and risked a fall of more than 2m.

WorkSafe Victoria submitted the pair risked “serious injury or death” as a result of ECA’s practices and it was “reasonably practical” safeguards and protection measures were provided to them.

ECA Energy Solution’s defence submitted that while it took full responsibility for the incident, it had provided safety gear to the workers but was not used. In the time since the incident, practices have changed to ensure workers had to display proof of them using safeguards.

The court also heard how worksite inspectors had investigated the company on February 2 in 2021 and on March 5 in 2019 on different worksites where workers were working at heights of greater than 2m without proper fall protection on both occasions.

WorkSafe Victoria said these previous incidents showed it was “serious offending” where the “risk is serious” to the workers involved.

ECA’s defence submitted that “no actual harm” was caused as a result of the incidents but accepted responsibility.

Magistrate Julie Grainger agreed ECA had shown remorse and changed its practices to ensure these issues would not happen again. However, she said while the company understood its obligations it abdicated the duty to follow up and ensure safety which was a “serious shortcoming”.

The company was fined $20,000 but no conviction was recorded.