A Geelong restumping company was convicted and fined $40,000 today over an incident that seriously injured its owner who was trapped under a house which was being re-stumped.

Vollebregt House Restumping pleaded guilty to one count of failing to provide a safe workplace and one count of failing to ensure the public was not exposed to health and safety risks.

The Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard the company was contracted by the owners of a house in Maud Street, Geelong to restump their home in August last year.

The owner of Vollebregt House Restumping, who was working under the house when it fell from hydraulic jacks used to lift it, was trapped face down and suffered significant injuries including a broken pelvis.

A casual worker escaped with minor injuries and the owners of the house, who were inside when it collapsed, smashed their way out through the front window and escaped unharmed.

The house was later demolished due to the structural damage caused by the collapse.

WorkSafe’s investigation found the company failed to properly undergo risk assessments for the work and obtain a building permit.

Taking into account the company’s guilty plea and no prior convictions, Magistrate McGarvie convicted and fined Vollebregt House Restumping $40,000 plus $3,430 in costs.

Acting Director of WorkSafe’s Construction and Utilities Division, Allan Beacom said the incident showed the need for basic safety issues to be addressed.

“It’s yet another case where people are doing routine work and members of the public have been put at risk. ­­­­In this case, the potential for serious injuries and deaths was considerable,” he said.