The Illawarra Turf Club Ltd has been convicted and fined $200,000 in the District Court of NSW as a result of a prosecution by SafeWork NSW.
These proceedings arose from an incident on 22 March 2022, when a worker suffered serious injuries after falling 5.2 metres through a skylight while working on the roof of the grandstand at the Kembla Grange Racecourse.
The Illawarra Turf Club Ltd plead guilty to an offence pursuant to section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 for failing to comply with its duty to workers under section 19(1) of the act.
The full judgment against defendant can be read on the NSW Caselaw website.
The Illawarra Turf Club Ltd has the right to appeal against its sentence.
Workers who have concerns about workplace health and safety can anonymously contact SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50 or through the Speak Up Save Lives website.
Business owners and workers can access a range of resources to help manage the risks of working from heights on the SafeWork NSW website.
Quotes attributable to SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer:
“Falls from heights are a primary cause of traumatic injuries and fatalities at NSW workplaces.”
“SafeWork NSW reminds all businesses of their duty to ensure their workers are protected when working at heights.”
Source: SafeWork NSW
