In a South Australian first, two engineering firms have been prosecuted successfully after an unsafe structural design caused injuries to workers, when a roof collapsed at Angaston Football Club Stadium.
Both Combe Pearson Reynolds (CPR) and Jack Adcock Consulting were fined by the South Australian Employment Tribunal over the collapse, which occurred on 12 November 2021, during the stadium’s redevelopment.
In what could have been a far more serious accident, two apprentices suffered minor injuries as they fell from a roof, after four columns supporting the structure collapsed.
SafeWork SA investigated the accident, finding CPR’s engineering design faulty. The design used bolts to secure the base plates of the columns that did not meet the National Construction Code.
JAC was also found to be at fault as its independent compliance certification process did not identify the error.
Both companies pleaded guilty to the charges of failure to comply with their health and safety duties, under Section 33 of the Work Health and Safety Act.
CPR was given a fine of $50,000, reduced to $30,000 while JAC was fined $20,000, reduced to $12,000.
While acknowledging human error in her judgement, Magistrate Eaton pointed out the mistake was missed due to a failure of review processes.
“I accept that both had review procedures in place, but in the case of CPR they were not followed and in the case of JAC they were inadequate,” she said.
Glenn Farrell, executive director of SafeWork SA, was pleased with the results.
“SafeWork SA welcomes this important decision which puts engineers and designers on notice of the importance of their role in the ongoing safety to workers and the general public,” he said.
“The engineering industry plays a critical first step in the safety of those workers building structures, as well as the ongoing safety of those who may use or be around them.
“SafeWork SA will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute businesses and individuals who fail to meet their work health and safety obligations.”
