Worker seriously injured on owner-builder worksite (29 February 2024)

A 34-year-old worker was seriously injured when he slipped and fell approximately 3.4 metres from the roof of a shed he was engaged to construct. A second worker sustained minor injuries when he attempted to grab onto the worker as he slid down the roof. The two injured workers and a third worker had been engaged to complete the construction works by an owner-builder.

A shed under construction, from the front.
The shed under construction where the incident took place.
An under construction shed, from the side.
                                                             

Safety information

People who believe they have the skill or capacity to build their own house or supervise the construction work may do so under an owner-builder permit. Owner-builders must apply for a permit and complete a training course. This allows them to supervise or do building work worth more than $10,000 on a single dwelling-house, dual occupancy, or secondary dwelling.

As an owner-builder, you have the same responsibilities for the building work as a licensed builder. Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, owner-builders have the same duty as a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) to ensure the health and safety of any workers they engage.

Consider ‘reasonably practicable’ control measures to manage the risks associated with undertaking works as an owner-builder.

Ensure you:

  • you complete a recognised owner-builder training course
  • you and any workers engaged on your site hold a general construction induction (white card) qualification
  • you hold a valid owner-builder permit before undertaking or supervising any owner-builder work
  • you comply with all requirements of the permit
  • you only undertake or supervise work that is covered by the permit
  • any workers and subcontractors who attend your site complete a site induction
  • you develop a safe system of work for all work tasks and workers are trained in them
  • pre-start safety briefing meetings are held with workers prior to the commencement of work
  • Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) are developed and followed for high-risk construction work
  • the risk of falls is eliminated. If it is not reasonably practicable to do so, then you must implement controls such as scaffold or temporary roof guard rails to manage the risk
  • workers engaged for any works hold the relevant licence or qualification required prior to commencing work
  • where necessary hold the relevant high risk work licence for structural steel erection, which includes dogging and basic rigging.

Related guidance material

Further information

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