Company Director imprisoned in Queensland for reckess conduct

February 8, 2019 Mining Editor

A company director of a roofing company was found guilty yesterday of ‘reckless conduct’ following the death of a roofer has been jailed and fined $1 million. The roofer fell from a height on a worksite.

Sixty-four-year-old Gary Lavin, together with his company Multi-Run Roofing was found guilty by majority verdict yesterday following a trial in the Maroochydore District Court.

The jury convicted Lavin on the basis he had failed to install edge protection on the shed which Mr Te Amo fell from, despite making reference to the safety measure in a $284,000 quote of works to be completed and a work method statement.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland alleged that Mr Te Amo was several metres ahead of two scissor lifts being used for fall control and not wearing a personal fall protection harness. The Regulator previously said, “Had the available and correct controls been used, Mr Te Amo’s death would not have occurred.”

Witnesses gave testimony during the trial that Lavin said the safety measure was too expensive. The premise of ‘reckless conduct’ by the Director was based on his knowledge of the risks from fall from height and his decision to abandon control measures to remove the risk of a fall from height.

The Courier-Mail reported that Defence barrister Laura Reece told the court her client was a man of “very limited means” and had basically no assets apart from a ute.

Judge Glen Cash fined Multi-Run Roofing AUD $1 million with six months to pay the fine.

He further imprisoned Lavin for 12 months’ which will be suspended after he serves four months for an operational period of 12 months.

In a related Victorian Case, a 72-year-old woman is believed to be the first person sentenced to prison in Australia under the breach of duty provisions of occupational health and safety legislation.

Read more Mining Safety News

Coal train derailment affecting Hunter Valley operations

Previous Article
Mount Isa locked down after hazardous substances incident
Mount Isa locked down after hazardous substances incident

Queensland Police yesterday locked down parts of Mount Isa, Queensland following a mine site incident invol...

Next Article
Weather affecting Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal
Weather affecting Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal

The ongoing effects of weather-related incidents have been felt at Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT) where...