Mpriza Group and manager Nicholas Zikos to plead guilty to working at height breaches, court hears

An NT WorkSafe spokesman said ‘the company inadvertently sent evidence their workers had been working at height at the property without fall protection’.

Solar panel installation.

Darwin business Mpriza Group and manager Nicholas Zikos will likely plead guilty to failing to ensure their workers used fall protection while working at heights after the company accidentally dobbed itself in.

The company and Mr Zikos were first charged with failing in their duty of care and failing to comply with a health and safety duty in December last year.

At the time, NT WorkSafe alleged “the manager supervising the work and a first year apprentice” were among the workers not wearing fall protection.

“NT WorkSafe will allege that over a four day period in August 2023, which included two visits from WorkSafe inspectors responding to safety concerns from members of the public, not all the workers installing solar panels on the roof of a commercial building had tethered the harness they wore to manage the risks of a fall,” the regulator said in a statement.

“If found guilty of all charges, Mpriza Group Pty Ltd faces a combined maximum penalty of $6.05 million, while Mr Zikos faces a combined maximum penalty of $1.25 million or five years’ prison or both.”

Then in August this year, WorkSafe charged Mr Zikos and Mpriza Group with two more counts each of failing to comply with a health and safety duty.

WorkSafe alleged its electrical safety inspectors were conducting random audits of newly installed solar PV systems at a residential property in Katherine when they identified a series of defects and noncompliance issues.

Barrister Marty Aust said a plea was ‘very likely’ when the case returns to court next month. Picture: Jason Walls

The regulator then issued a direction to Mpriza Group to “fix the issues”.

“Mr Nicholas Zikos and two workers attended the property to comply with the notice and a series of photos were taken and sent to NT WorkSafe as proof the issues and defects had been fixed,” it said.

“Unfortunately for Mpriza Group and Mr Zikos, the company inadvertently sent evidence their workers had been working at height at the property without fall protection.”

Both sets of charges were mentioned in the Darwin Local Court on Monday where barrister Marty Aust said while “some charges will be withdrawn”, a plea was “very likely”.

“This matter is looking like it is moving towards a very likely plea on the next occasion, subject to some matters which are being finalised,” he said.

“Can we put ‘likely plea’ (on the file) just because if it’s a plea it will take a little bit of time but I will prepare written submissions.”

Judge Ben O’Loughlin adjourned the case until October 4.