Perth construction company PTG Construction and Development has been fined $18,000 and ordered to pay $1500 in costs after pleading guilty in the Armadale Magistrates Court to failing to secure a worksite where a 12-year-old Maddington boy tragically lost his life in May of 2022.
After wandering into a residential construction site on Gosnells Road West through an open gate with a group of friends, twelve-year-old Joshua Field climbed onto the roof area and fell, suffering critical injuries after being struck by a falling beam.
He was then rushed to Perth Children’s Hospital, but the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support was made two days later.
WorkSafe WA Commissioner Sally North believes the death of the young boy could have been prevented if the construction company had implemented proper safety measures.
“Security gates were present, but they were frequently left open after hours when the site was left unattended because PTG did not have a system in place to ensure the gate was ‘closed and locked when the site was unattended.” Ms North said.
“The case against [PTG] illustrates the importance of site security in protecting the public from the hazards of a construction site.”
WA’s health and safety laws require those in control of a construction site to adequately secure it from unauthorised access as far as reasonably practicable.
To improve safety standards, WorkSafe is currently inspecting construction sites throughout Western Australia to ensure employers fully understand potential risks and receive information on relevant mitigation measures.
