A Canberra event hire business has been fined more than $37,500 after seven people were injured when more than 100 panels collapsed at an art show.
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The people were hurt when the incorrectly erected panels fell over at The Canberra Times Art Show at the Hyatt Hotel on March 11, 2012.
Four of the injured were taken to Canberra Hospital following the incident about 11.40am.
One suffered a broken arm, two had their necks assessed and the fourth had cuts and abrasions.
The accident caused damage to some artwork, forcing the closure of the annual five-day art show, which raised money for Canberra charity Koomarri.
The company, Mashera, which trades as Barlens Hire, was charged with breaching work safety laws as a result of the incident.
It pleaded guilty and appeared in the ACT Industrial Court on Tuesday for sentencing.
The court heard the art show usually took place outdoors but poor weather forced the event to relocate to the Hyatt.
Barlens hired a subcontractor to erect the panels indoors. This was completed by 2am on the Saturday.
But the contractor failed to use 15 cross panels in the construction, which meant the structures were unstable.
The work was then not checked by a qualified Barlens employee.
The court heard the panels fell like dominoes.
In sentencing submissions, prosecutor Gavin Mansfield described the breach as mid-level.
Mr Mansfield said the company could have foreseen that the inadequate installation, without proper safety checks, would pose a risk to the public.
The prosecutor said his office had seen no evidence of risk assessments or safety checks being carried out by the company on about 400 other jobs.
Defence lawyer Ian Bradfield said the company had followed correct safety procedures and had no prior convictions.
Mr Bradfield said Barlens Hire had spent about $18,000 in the aftermath to update its occupational health and safety policies and procedures.
He asked the court to take into account his client's history of community and charity work, which included donations to SnowyHydro and Fashfest.
Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker convicted and fined the company $37,500 for its role in the accident.
Ms Walker acknowledged there had been pressure because of the late venue change.
But she said this did not mitigate the fact that the work should have been checked by a qualified person.
Ms Walker noted the contractor had not been charged because he could not be found.