Roofing Contractor Fined $300,000 After Choosing Slimmed-Down Safety Because Client Wouldn’t Pay

Newcastle Roofing Professionals Pty Ltd decided to skimp on a proper fall prevention system because a client refused to cover the cost. Instead of investing in the right equipment, they went with an inferior setup.

The outcome was as predictable as a banana peel disaster—one of their workers fell four metres while trying to reach an anchor point for his harness. He suffered catastrophic injuries. Judge David Russell didn’t mince words: the PCBU “put its own financial interests ahead” of safety. The fine? A not-so-minimal $300,000.

How It Unfolded

Here’s what makes this case sickeningly banal:

• Client balks at paying for proper safety measures.

• Contractor opts for cheap alternatives—yes, contractors are supposed to know better, but apparently, it’s negotiable.

• Shortcut fails—worker ends up severely injured after a fall from height.

It’s not rocket science. Safety shortcuts cost lives.

Lessons Learned (Finally, If Anyone Listens)

1. Safety Isn’t Optional, Even If the Client Complains If your client refuses to pay for safety, that’s not an excuse—it’s a red flag. Cover the cost or walk away.
   

2. Legal Duty Doesn’t Vanish When the Ledger Opens Australian WHS law doesn’t rush to accommodate budgets. The standard is about what’s “reasonably practicable”, not what’s cheapest.
   

3. The Hierarchy of Controls Exists for a Reason Elimination, substitution, isolation, engineering controls—yes, that hierarchy matters. Using a weaker fall protection system because a client balks is ignoring.

4. Fines Are Not Budgeted Extras PCBU fines under Category 2 failures can reach $1.5 million for corporations. This $300k hit is a painful reminder.
   

5. Fiscal Consequences Aren’t The Only Consequences The injured worker doesn’t get a refund. The court justifiably labelled the contractor’s argument as “putting its own financial interests ahead of safety.”

You’d think after dozens of these warnings, someone might figure out that safety isn’t negotiable. But no—here we are, another fine, another injured worker, another case that could’ve been avoided.

If keeping people alive isn’t enough motivation, then maybe the hit to your wallet will be.

You asked for no sugar. Here it is—blunt, checked, and factual.