Principal contractor not liable for injuries to sub-contractor on construction site

DOWNLOAD AS PDF

Construction sites are inherently high-risk environments where workplace injuries are common. Injured workers may be entitled to workers' compensation and, in many cases, common law damages. But when a subcontractor's employee is hurt on site, does the principal contractor bear any responsibility?

In a Court of Appeal decision (January 2025), the limits of a principal contractor's duty of care were tested. This case offers valuable insights into workplace injury claims, appeals, and risk allocation on construction sites.

In the significant ruling of Sawyer v Steeplechase Pty Ltd [2025] QCA 2 (handed down in January 2025), the Queensland Court of Appeal has upheld a Supreme Court decision that clarified the limits of the duty of care owed by principal contractors toward subcontractors' employees, reinforcing key principles in workplace liability for injured workers.