GRISLY DEATH leads to $300,000 fine for Melbourne business

Image: Getty

A Melbourne business has been fined $300,000 after a worker died from falling off a ladder and an unsecured mezzanine level.

Entire Shopfitting Pty Ltd pleaded guilty in the Melbourne County Court of failing to provide systems of work that were safe, with company director John Paul Kenneally also fined $30,000 without conviction.

The court heard that two employees were performing framing works on the mezzanine level of a new indoor play centre for children in May 2017 when the accident occurred.

• Also read: TORMENTED: Melbourne nut boss busted for bullying staffer

• Also read: Employee unfairly sacked for refusing FINGERPRINT scanner

• Also read: $16 PER HOUR to be sexually assaulted and threatened

A 55-year-old staffer climbed a stepladder but one leg of the ladder burst through a hole in the floor, tipping the worker over.

Unfortunately there were no rails or guards at the edge of the mezzanine, so he not only fell off the ladder but down more than two metres onto the ground level.

The man was taken to hospital but died from serious injuries.

"The combination of a ladder and an unguarded void is a deadly one," said WorkSafe Victoria executive director Julie Nielsen.

"There is no excuse for failing to protect workers from falls from height. The risks are well known and WorkSafe will not hesitate to prosecute employers who do not control them."

Make your money work with Yahoo Finance’s daily newsletter. Sign uphere and stay on top of the latest money, news and tech news.