Its construction was the first time a court has imposed this type of penalty following a breach of the work health and safety laws.

Jeffrey Wright, 51, was replacing roofing sheets at the offices of his employer, garages and sheds manufacturer Maverick Steel Pty Ltd, in Port Adelaide when he fell 6.5 metres onto a concrete floor.

At the time of his death, he did not have any formal training or a licence for working from heights. In addition, he was not provided with any safety equipment.

SafeWork SA investigated and prosecuted Maverick Steel Pty Ltd for breaches of the work health and safety laws over the December 2019 incident.

The company pleaded guilty in the South Australia Employment Tribunal to all three counts of breaching its duties under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA).

The tribunal convicted Maverick Steel Pty Ltd and imposed a $100,000 fine, according to the judgement delivered in 2022.

The court also ordered the company to install a shed for the community at Sinclar Square, Pennington, and a plaque dedicated to Mr Wright.

Mr Wright’s sister, Moira, had advocated for the shed to be built as a way of honouring his life.

The shed has been built at Aboriginal-controlled community organisation Kura Yerlo Inc, and is located near where the workplace incident occurred. The men’s shed offers a fully-equipped workshop for between 40-60 local participants.

Falls from heights are one of the leading causes of death and serious injury in the workplace, prompting SafeWork SA to launch a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers this year.

From 2022 to 2025, SafeWork SA was notified of 12 deaths and 288 serious injuries resulting from falls in the workplace.

The campaign, called Safety at work is a serious job, features Stanley the talking safety cone providing advice on falls from heights, along with other workplace hazards.

For more information about falls from heights and the safety campaign visit www.safework.sa.gov.au

Attribute to SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell:
This initiative is a powerful reminder that workplace fatalities have real and lasting consequences.

The establishment of this men’s shed not only honours Mr Wright’s memory but also creates a lasting community asset that promotes connection, skills and awareness of workplace safety.

Falls from heights remain one of the most significant risks in our workplaces, and this case highlights the critical importance of proper training, supervision and safety equipment every time work is carried out at height.

Attribute to Moira Wright, sister of the late Jeffrey Wright:
The opening of this men’s shed at Kura Yerlo is an incredibly emotional day, but it is also a day of immense pride.

For me, this moment has been years in the making. It is the fulfilment of a quiet promise I made to my brother that his tragic death would not be in vain and that something genuinely good would come from our personal heartbreak.

We are here to transform a workplace tragedy into a community triumph, creating a living, purpose-driven legacy for Jeffrey.

It ensures that my brother's memory is forever tied to life, connection, and deep community support.

This is not just a building; it is a space where we honour Jeffrey's spirit by helping others in a safe, constructive environment.
Jeffrey was a friend to all, and he was always about true mateship.

He was a man who naturally looked out for anyone doing it tough, ensuring that those who felt overlooked or left behind always had a friend in their corner to lift their spirits. By opening this men's shed, his legacy becomes one of bringing people together and fostering that exact brand of mateship he lived by. He was the kind of person who always put others first, giving whatever he had to make sure someone else didn’t have to struggle or go without.

We are cultivating an environment here that champions safety, mental well-being, and mutual care - the very things Jeffrey stood for. This space directly combats the social isolation that often impacts men, women, and community groups.

In doing so, it will help ensure that all who attend are looked after, just as Jeffrey would have looked after them.