Scaffolder awarded $750,000 after fall at Australian Defence Force Academy

An ACT Supreme Court judge has awarded a 23-year-old scaffolder more than $750,000 in damages following a 2023 accident at the Australian Defence Force Academy. The worker fell through an uncovered skylight while working on a scaffolding setup, landing in a laundry area where he struck a washing machine.

The former employer, ACT Height Safety Pty Ltd, denied the incident occurred, claiming the worker had only sustained a minor scratch to his hand from wire. However, Acting Justice Michael Elkaim described the company's defense as “simply unbelievable,” noting that the owner exhibited a “casual attitude to safety.”

Because the scaffolding company had gone into liquidation and was uninsured, the ACT Workers' Compensation Default Insurance Fund Manager assumed the role of defendant. Medical evidence presented to the court confirmed the fall caused serious injuries to the man's shoulder, thoracic spine, and lower back.