A scaffolding company has pleaded guilty to a Category 1 offence under NSW’s workplace safety laws, in relation to the scaffolding collapse on 1 April 2019 at a construction site that resulted in the death of young worker, Christopher Cassaniti, and serious injuries to another worker.
Synergy Scaffolding Services Pty Ltd (Synergy), which was contracted to supply, erect, protect and maintain scaffold at the Macquarie Park site, this week plead guilty to a Category 1 offence, pursuant to sections 31 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 in the NSW District Court.
The matter is listed for sentencing on 21 November 2022.
Minister for Fair Trading Eleni Petinos said it is one of the first prosecutions of its kind for SafeWork NSW since major amendments were introduced to strengthen work health safety laws in 2020.
“No family should ever have to experience the tragedy of losing a loved one through an incident at work as the Cassinitis did,” Ms Petinos said.
“This is a reminder that our work health safety laws are important and must be upheld by all operators”.
In the past two years SafeWork NSW has implemented numerous programs to improve safety for workers in the construction industry including:
- The establishment of a to provide advice and feedback to SafeWork NSW for families and injured workers impacted by a workplace tragedy.
- The , for employees and workers, containing tips and training materials about work safety rights and responsibilities.
- The which allows people to anonymously report unsafe work practices directly to SafeWork NSW.
- The development of a which provides a clear guide to prevent scaffolding-related injuries and deaths.
- An annual event that brings builders, industry and government together to improve safety for workers, held in Parramatta and regionally.
