RSPCA to benefit from WHS sanction

​The Darwin branch of the RSPCA will be one of the beneficiaries of a work health and safety (WHS) sanction, after NT WorkSafe accepted a proposed enforceable undertaking from a Darwin tiling company.

FR Tiling Pty Ltd and company director Farshid Yaweri were both charged with breaching Section 32 of the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act over a 2016 incident which saw a young worker fall approximately 2.9 meters through a void, breaking his left femur.

The legally-binding agreement will see the RSPCA receive approximately $18,400 worth of tiling services aimed to reduce the accumulation of biohazards, and reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls at the Darwin shelter.

The agreement will see the production of a video resource on fall protection for industry use and additional training for FR Tiling staff. The undertaking would also require Mr Yaweri to present a lessons learnt during the Work Health and Safety module of a career readiness program for graduates.

Executive Director of NT WorkSafe Stephen Gelding said a court imposed penalty would not deliver the outcomes outlined in the accepted enforceable undertaking.

“A number of the commitments will deliver an increase in knowledge and training to the company’s workers and the wider industry” Mr Gelding said.

“This will build the capacity and capability of the Territory’s workforce.”

“Mr Yaweri and FR Tiling will need to spend an additional $34,460 on top of the $10,000 already spent to meet all the commitments proposed in their undertaking.”

“The charges against Mr Yaweri and FR Tiling will be withdrawn now that the enforceable undertaking has been accepted,” Mr Gelding said.

The agreed activities of the enforceable undertaking include:

• FR Tiling staff to undertake training conducted by Health Safety Environment Australia.
• FR Tiling staff to undertake First Aid training.
• Training needs analysis conducted for FR Tiling staff and a training schedule developed for the company.
• FR Tiling director required to undertake to Due Diligence as a Director training.
• FR Tiling director required to undertake training for hazard identification and other WHS processes.
• Work health and safety documents translated for staff with limited English literacy.
• Video resource on fall protection developed for industry.
• Lessons learnt presentation by FR Tiling director during the WHS module of a career readiness program.
• $18,400 worth of tiling services for the RSPCA Darwin Shelter to reduce the accumulation of biohazards, and reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls.