Global Renewable Energy Solutions: Company cops $500K fine for safety breaches

A Wollongong solar company has copped a hefty fine after an employee fell through a skylight and fractured his spine in Werribee.

A Wollongong rooftop solar panel installer has been fined $500,000 over multiple worksite safety breaches – including where a worker fell, fracturing his spine in Werribee.

Global Renewable Energy Solutions was found guilty in the Werribee Magistrate’s Court on Monday to five charges of failing to provide a safe working environment.

The court heard an employee fractured his spine and pelvis after falling 4.5m through a skylight while installing a solar system on a shed in Werribee South in June 2019.

He was hospitalised for more than a week, with WorkSafe investigation later finding multiple safety breaches at the site, including a lack of safety equipment.

The investigation also found a further four safety breaches in Truganina, Cobram, Newham and Corio.

WorkSafe executive director of health and safety Andrew Keen said Global Renewable Energy Solutions had shown a continued disregard for its workers‘ safety.

“This case should serve as a wake-up call to any employer that thinks it can put profits above the safety of its workers,” he said.

“It is every employers‘ responsibility to ensure they are doing everything they can to keep workers safe and when that doesn’t happen, WorkSafe can and will take action.”

The Wollongong-based company was fined $500,000 and ordered to pay costs of $5613.

The company filed for liquidation last year and has since gone into external administration.