Charges laid after worker struck by excavator

Farrell v the Trustee for the Haros Family Trust trading as A. Haros Demolition and sole trader Josef Kovacev

17 November 2025

SafeWork SA has launched criminal proceedings against a demolition business and a civil demolition contractor after a worker was struck by an excavator in Torrensville, causing a serious injury.

A. Haros Demolition and Mr Kovacev have been charged with offences against the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (the Act) after a worker was allegedly struck by an excavator on a commercial demolition site in Torrensville on 15 November 2023. The worker sustained a serious injury.

SafeWork SA alleges that both defendants failed in their primary duty of care, by failing to provide and enforce an exclusion zone around the excavator.

They have both been charged with committing an offence against section 32 (Category 2) of the Act.

Mr Kovacev has also been charged with failing to report a notifiable incident, an offence against section 38 of the Act.

Charges laid after alleged breach and failure to display prohibition notice

Farrell v Rockdale Building Solutions Pty Ltd trading as Rockdale Homes

7 November 2025

SafeWork SA has commenced criminal proceedings against a construction company after breaches of a Work Health and Safety prohibition notice.

Criminal proceedings were lodged against Rockdale Building Solutions Pty Ltd, trading as Rockdale Homes, in the South Australian Employment Court on 7 November 2025.

The charges relate to a prohibition notice issued by SafeWork SA Inspectors at a residential construction site in Salisbury East on 7 November 2023. The Inspectors had issued the written notice to prohibit the use of non-compliant and unsafe scaffolding observed onsite.

Following a further site visit from Inspectors on 13 November 2023, it is alleged that the non-compliant scaffolding was used onsite again, in breach of the prohibition notice , without any rectification to make it compliant. Inspectors were also unable to locate a copy of the prohibition notice displayed at the site.

Rockdale Homes has been charged with breaching a prohibition notice in contravention of section 197 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (the Act) and for failing to display the notice in contravention of section 210 of the Act.

Charges laid after structural collapse

Farrell v Smart Built Pty Ltd and Director Xianmin Bai

6 November 2025

SafeWork SA has commenced criminal proceedings against a construction company and its director after a structural collapse resulting in more than $100,000 worth of damage.

Criminal proceedings were lodged against Smart Built Pty Ltd and its director in the South Australian Employment Court on 6 November 2025.

The charges relate to an alleged incident which occurred on a residential construction site in Wayville on 28 November 2023.

Three pre-cast concrete panels, weighing about 11 tonnes each, collapsed onto a neighbouring residential property, causing more than $100,000 worth of damage.

No one was seriously injured in the incident.

Following a SafeWork SA investigation, it is alleged that the company exposed workers and others at the site to a risk to their safety.

It is further alleged that the director failed to ensure the company had appropriate resources and processes in place to eliminate risks to health and safety from the work carried out.

Smart Built and its director have each been charged with committing an offence against section 32 (Category 2) of the SA Work Health and Safety Act 2012.

Charges laid after slasher fatality

Farrell v Guy Warren Jackson trading as Jacksons Slashing

23 September 2025

SafeWork SA has commenced proceedings against a slashing contractor after the death of a bystander at Salisbury Plain.

Criminal proceedings were launched against Guy Warren Jackson, trading as Jacksons Slashing, on 23 September 2025.

The charge relates to an alleged incident that occurred at Salisbury Plain on 5 October 2023 where the PCBU was undertaking slashing and mowing.

A bystander sustained a fatal head injury when they were struck by an object where it is alleged the PCBU was operating a slasher.

Following an investigation by SafeWork SA, it is alleged that the Jacksons Slashing failed to provide and maintain, so far as was reasonably practicable, the provision of safe work environment.

The company is charged with a Category 2 offence pursuant to section 32 of the Act.

Charges laid after runaway truck crash

Farrell v Schwarz Excavations and Civil Pty Ltd

15 September 2025

SafeWork SA has commenced proceedings against an earthmoving company and its director after a runaway truck crashed into a series of businesses in the Adelaide Hills.

Criminal proceedings were launched against Schwarz Excavations and Civil Pty Ltd and the company’s managing director in the South Australian Employment Court on 15 September 2025.

The charges relate to an alleged incident that occurred in Totness in the Adelaide Hills on 20 September 2023 when an unoccupied prime mover towing a trailer travelled approximately 140 metres down a slope before crashing into a number of businesses.

It was only luck that, no-one was injured in the incident, however the businesses sustained significant damage.

The company and its director have been charged with offending against section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act.

Charges laid after propellor injury

Templeton v Parilla Premium Potatoes Pty Ltd

22 August 2025

SafeWork SA has commenced proceedings against a potato producer after a worker was seriously injured by the moving propellor blades of a light aircraft.

Criminal proceedings were launched against Parilla Premium Potatoes Pty Ltd in the South Australian Employment Court on 22 August 2025.

The charges relate to an alleged incident that occurred near Parilla, about 200km east of Adelaide, on 11 September 2023.

The worker sustained serious lacerations to his right hand and arm, including the amputation of a finger.

Following an investigation by SafeWork SA, it is alleged that the company failed to have a safe system of work in place regarding the operation of the aircraft and did not have a traffic management plan relating to the aircraft’s operations.

SafeWork SA has charged the company with a Category 2 offence pursuant to section 32 of the Act.

Charges laid after trench collapse

Templeton v De-Construct Pty Ltd

8 August 2025

SafeWork SA has launched proceedings against an Adelaide demolition and civil works contractor after a worker was seriously injured when a trench collapsed at a work site.

Criminal proceedings against De-Construct Pty Ltd were filed in the South Australian Employment Court on 8 August 2025.

The charges relate to an incident that allegedly occurred at a construction site at Morphettville Racecourse as part of the development of a function centre on Sunday, 27 August 2023.

Following an investigation by SafeWork SA, it is alleged that the company failed in its primary duty of care pursuant to section 19(1) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 and has been charged with a Category 2 offence against section 32 of the WHS Act.

Charges laid after construction site fall

Farrell v Arcon Architectural Construction Pty Ltd

10 June 2025

SafeWork SA has commenced proceedings against an Adelaide construction company and its director after a worker was seriously injured when she fell from one level to another at a city construction site.

Criminal proceedings were commenced against Arcon Architectural Construction Pty Ltd and the company director in the South Australian Employment Court on 10 June 2025.

The charges relate to an alleged incident that occurred at a construction site in the Adelaide CBD on 23 June 2023.

Following an investigation by SafeWork SA, it is alleged that the company failed in its duty to protect the health and safety of workers in the workplace by allegedly failing to ensure that temporary live edge protection was adequately installed.

SafeWork SA has alleged that the director failed in their duty to ensure the business complied with its duties under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012.

SafeWork SA has charged both the company and its director with a Category 2 offence pursuant to section 32 of the Act.

Charges laid after alleged asbestos exposure

Farrell v 24 Power Fit Pty Ltd

5 June 2025

SafeWork SA has filed charges against an Adelaide fitness centre and its director after workers, staff and patrons of the centre were allegedly exposed to airborne asbestos fibres.

Criminal proceedings were lodged against 24 Power Fit Pty Ltd and its director in the South Australian Employment Court on 5 June 2025.

The charges relate to work that occurred between 1 May and 24 June 2023.

It is alleged the business failed in its duty to protect the health and safety of workers and other persons in the workplace when they were possibly exposed to a risk of airborne asbestos fibres during demolition and renovation works.

SafeWork SA has alleged that the director failed in his duty to ensure the business complied with its duties under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012.

SafeWork SA has charged both defendants with a Category 3 offence under section 33 of the Act.

Charges laid after worker’s hand allegedly crushed by machine

Farrell v Bureau Veritas Minerals Pty Ltd

28 May 2025

SafeWork SA has filed charges against a mineral testing organisation after a worker allegedly sustained a serious hand injury while clearing a blockage in a rock crushing machine.

Criminal proceedings were lodged against Bureau Veritas Minerals Pty Ltd in the South Australian Employment Tribunal on 28 May 2025.

The charges relate to an incident at the company’s Wingfield site on 29 June 2023.

It is alleged that the defendant’s failure to comply with its health and safety duty exposed the worker to a risk of serious injury.

This risk allegedly materialised when a worker’s right hand became entangled in the internal rollers of the crusher resulting in serious injury.

SafeWork SA has alleged there was a common practice of workers removing the rock crushing machine’s guard and metal arm to dislodge rock material by hand from between the two internal rollers, making it possible for a worker to become entangled in the internal rollers of the crusher.

It is alleged the defendant failed to identify the risk of a worker operating a rock crusher without a functioning interlocked guard and also that it failed to ensure the worker was adequately trained and supervised when he undertook the task.

SafeWork SA has charged Bureau Veritas Minerals with a Category 2 offence under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012.

Charges laid after worker allegedly engulfed in flame

Farrell v Winona Way Pty Ltd

22 May 2025

SafeWork SA has filed charges against an Adelaide hotel and its managing director after a worker was allegedly engulfed in flames while re-fuelling a decorative fireplace.

Criminal proceedings have been lodged against Winona Way Pty Ltd, trading as The Gully Public House and Garden, and its managing director, deemed an Officer for the purposes of the Work Health and Safety Act, in the South Australian Employment Tribunal on 22 May 2025.

The charges relate to an incident which occurred at the hotel on 2 June 2023.

It is alleged the worker was employed at The Gully Public House and Garden where he was required to re-fuel a bioethanol fuelled fireplace using a 25L plastic container.

The fuel or vapours allegedly ignited resulting in the worker suffering significant burns.

SafeWork SA has alleged the defendants failed to ensure that the task was undertaken in compliance with the manufacturer’s safety instructions and using the manufacturer’s authorised accessories and equipment and also that the worker was adequately trained and supervised when he undertook the task.

It is alleged both defendants failed to comply with their health and safety duty and exposed the worker to a risk of death or serious injury.

SafeWork SA has charged both defendants with a Category 2 offence under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012.

Charges laid over exposure to ‘unsafe’ lead levels

Farrell v AGL Torrens Island Pty Limited 

16 May 2025

SafeWork SA has lodged criminal proceedings against AGL Torrens Island Pty Limited, alleging the company exposed workers to unsafe levels of lead during the de-commissioning of its ‘A’ power station.

SafeWork SA launched the action in the South Australian Employment Court on 16 May 2025 following a lengthy and complex investigation.

It is alleged that AGL Torrens Island Pty Limited engaged the workers to de-commission the ‘A’ power station between October 2022 and April 2023.

This involved de-energising, or preparing to de-energise, cabling throughout the power station, allegedly exposing the workers to lead or lead dust.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was provided – but allegedly did not include a full-face respirator.

Five workers allegedly recorded an elevated blood lead level subsequent to the work.

It is alleged that AGL Torrens Island Pty Limited’s failure to comply with its health and safety duty exposed workers to unsafe levels of lead.

SafeWork SA has charged AGL Torrens Island Pty Limited with a Category 2 offence under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012.