Undertaking to strengthen construction safety (Media release)
16 May 2022
John Holland will deliver safety improvements worth more than $1.2 million that will benefit the construction industry nationally, through an Enforceable Undertaking accepted by Comcare.
The commitment follows an incident in 2018 on the Sydney Metro project where a worker suffered leg injuries in a fall. Following a Comcare investigation, John Holland was charged in 2020 with breaching the federal Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act.
The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions agreed to withdraw the prosecution after Comcare accepted the Enforceable Undertaking.
John Holland has developed a program of work health and safety improvements and industry support including:
- A virtual reality app to identify hazards and risks in working at height, to be made freely available to the broader construction industry
- An improved site induction process using 360-degree cameras and virtual reality systems to strengthen understanding of site risks and hazards
- Engaging with the construction industry to share insights from the incident and working at height initiatives
- Partnerships with indigenous and cultural diversity organisations to provide new job opportunities, and support for an industry mental health initiative
Comcare’s head of Regulatory Operations Justin Napier said the enforcement outcome would deliver measurable improvements.
“The undertaking offers tangible work health and safety benefits across John Holland’s workplaces and for the broader construction industry,” he said. “There is also an important focus on providing work opportunities and supporting efforts to foster mentally healthy workplaces in the infrastructure sector.”
The incident that led to the Enforceable Undertaking happened on 11 September 2018 during the construction of Castle Hill Station in Sydney’s north-west. A bricklayer fell seven metres through a void onto a concrete floor, suffering severe leg fractures.
As the principal contractor for the project, it was alleged that John Holland failed to ensure the board covering the void was adequately fastened. The original charge was a Category 2 offence under the WHS Act, carrying a maximum penalty of $1.5 million.
- Details: Enforceable Undertaking (PDF, 5.7 MB); Reasons for decision (PDF, 1.1 MB); Notice of acceptance (PDF, 230.1 KB)
- More information: Regulatory guide - WHS undertakings | Comcare
Media Contact:
media@comcare.gov.au
0478 305 675
