07/04/2022

SafeWork SA has issued an expiation notice to a residential builder for directing a worker to undertake high risk work without the appropriate high risk work licence.

Background

On 30 March 2022, SafeWork SA issued a residential builder a fine of $2,220 for directing a worker to modify a scaffold without seeing written evidence the worker held the relevant high risk work licence.

The modular scaffold on site had a 4.9 metre high working platform which requires a person to hold at least a basic scaffold high risk work licence.


Planks removed to allow access to top work platform.


Ladder slipped out under the mid-rail.

The recently released Managing Risk of Falls in Residential Construction 2021 proactive compliance campaign report identified 53 scaffold types used at 45 workplaces.

  • Only 19% of these scaffolds met compliance
  • 35% of prohibition notices issued were on scaffolds with unauthorised alterations.

These alterations presented an imminent or immediate risk to a worker’s health and safety.

Builders are reminded to speak with their contractors to ensure scaffold erection and alterations are undertaken by a competent person. Scaffolds with a work platform of 4 metres or more must only be altered by a person who holds the relevant high risk work licence.

SafeWork SA Executive Director, Martyn Campbell said that the expiation, issued to the business is a result of their disregard to their duty of care.

“The modular scaffold had originally been built by high risk work licence holder, so there was no excuse for alteration work to be undertaken by an unlicenced worker”.

“This incident clearly demonstrates that unauthorised alteration to a scaffold is dangerous and SafeWork SA will not hesitate to take action against businesses that direct or allow high risk work to be undertaken by unlicensed workers” said Mr Campbell.

SafeWork SA’s ‘April No-Falls’ safety campaign will see collaboration with the Housing Industry Association (HIA) and the Master Builders Association (MBA) to host two live webinars on ‘Managing risk of falls in residential construction’ on Friday, 22 April 2022.

For further details on the webinar and the month-long campaign see Safety standard must rise, for injury statistics to fall.