Blasé attitude towards safety leads to company fine

​A Darwin crane hire and rigging company has been convicted and fined $11,800 after its company director was videoed climbing a tower crane without appropriate fall protection measures in place on two separate occasions.

Top Development (NT) Pty Ltd, trading as High Rise Crane & Rigging Services, pleaded guilty in the Darwin Local Court to two breaches of Section 32 of the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act for failing to comply with a health and safety duty.

On 2 February 2016 a director of the company was observed and photographed climbing outside the tower crane without a safety harness at a worksite in Darwin’s CBD.

Despite WorkSafe Inspectors attending the worksite and receiving assurances the activity would not occur again, he was filmed the following day walking along the boom of the crane without the appropriate safety measures in place.

NT WorkSafe Executive Director Stephen Gelding said he was disappointed that a director of a company would have such a blasé attitude towards safety, when he should be setting an example for his workers.

“On both occasions, the director was working at a height of approximately 18 to 21 meters without appropriate fall protection,” Mr Gelding said.

“A fall from that height would have serious, if not fatal consequences.”

“I would like to thank both witnesses for being concerned enough to report the incidents to NT WorkSafe,” Mr Gelding said.

“It would have been alarming for both witnesses from their seventh floor office to see such a blatant disregard for safety.”

“Company directors and managers should set the proper standards for their workers, especially young workers; by working in a safe manner and ensuring the company safety procedures are followed.”

The company was also ordered to pay a victim levy and costs totalling $3,500.