A perth building company and its former director have been hit with significant fines after a fall at one of their sites left a worker with life-changing injuries.
Terry Dunn was working as a carpenter on CASM Construction’s site at Woottating, 65 kilometres east of Perth, on December 14, 2021 when he fell head-first 2.2 metres into an empty pool.
Mr Dunn suffered a severe brain injury in the fall, requiring a lengthy stint in rehabilitation and leaving him unable to work.
After an investigation, Worksafe charged CASM and former director Shane Alexander Lynn with work safety breaches, with both pleading guilty.
In a sentencing hearing in the Northam Magistrates Court on Monday, Magistrate Sarah Oliver fined CASM, which has collapsed since the incident, $750,000, while Lynn was fined $45,000.
Lynn was also granted a spent conviction.
Magistrate Oliver acknowledged that with CASM currently in liquidation and Lynn bankrupt, it was unlikely either fine would be paid.
Lack of barriers
The court heard Mr Dunn was discussing alfresco doors with another worker on site when he fell through a doorway and into the pool.
He suffered a fractured skull, six broken ribs, a punctured lung, a broken shoulder and considerable bruising.
The entrance to…