Macquarie Builders Fined $115,000 After Worker’s Scaffold Accident

Incident Overview

On Wednesday, 24 April 2019, a construction worker suffered severe injuries after falling 1.5 metres from a mobile scaffold onto a star picket at Kingston Beach in Tasmania. The worker was installing timber battens under roof rafters during construction of new public amenities when the scaffold slipped over the concrete slab’s edge.

Macquarie Builders Pty Ltd was subsequently prosecuted and found guilty of failing to ensure worker safety and not preserving the incident site. The Hobart Magistrates Court imposed a fine of $115,000 in May 2024.

The incident site was not preserved as required. WorkSafe Tasmania investigated the incident, and the matter proceeded to the Hobart Magistrates Court. Deputy Chief Magistrate Michael Daly found Macquarie Builders guilty of failing to ensure worker safety under relevant legislation. The court acknowledged the company’s generally proactive safety stance but identified significant shortcomings in this instance.

WorkSafe Tasmania continues to investigate workplace safety practices in the construction sector. Any workers, contractors or persons with information about this incident or similar safety concerns at construction sites are encouraged to contact WorkSafe Tasmania on 1300 366 322 or report online at worksafe.tas.gov.au.