Parents of Vic worker killed in truck rollover plead with employers to prioritise safety in the workplace

Parents of Vic Worker Killed in Truck Rollover Plead With Employers to Prioritise Safety in the Workplace

Parents of a Victorian man killed in a workplace incident more than four years ago are urging employers to prioritise safety above all else. Their message is direct: no family should endure what theirs has endured.

The 21-year-old was fatally injured after his truck rolled over in West Gippsland in May 2017. His employer was later convicted and fined following the incident, a result that offered little comfort to those left behind.

A Family's Ongoing Grief

Simonette Randall and Jim Taifer were shocked to hear 66 Victorian workers died at work in 2021. "I hear his screams in my head all the time, of him driving down that hill," Mrs Randall said.

"How scared was he? Did he know he was going to die? I don't want this to happen to anybody else."

Their family says lives were shattered by the loss. "They say time heals all, but it's something you can't forget … I keep reliving that moment," Mr Taifer said.

"For a while, I'd wake up and expect Damien to ring me that morning and then I'd remember, you know. It's just a trauma that I've never experienced in anything else in life; we miss him so, so dearly."

WorkSafe Figures Highlight Ongoing Risk

On Monday, WorkSafe confirmed 66 Victorian workers died on the job in 2021. Figures like this remind us why workplace safety practices demand constant attention rather than a one-off compliance exercise.

Truck rollovers remain a persistent hazard across transport, construction and mining sectors. Similar tragedies, including a case where a quarry worker was killed under a truck, underscore how vehicle-related incidents continue claiming lives despite existing regulations.

Interstate incidents, such as a driver killed in a cement truck rollover in the Northern Territory, further illustrate that rollover risks aren't confined to one state or industry.

Why Employers Must Act Now

Employers carry primary responsibility for identifying hazards before they cause harm. Robust workplace safety rules paired with genuine enforcement give employees confidence that management values their wellbeing.

Beyond physical hazards, organisations should recognise psychosocial risks affecting worker health. Grief, trauma and ongoing stress following an incident can devastate mental health long after physical injuries heal, so psychosocial support structures deserve equal weight alongside traditional safety measures.

Practical steps employers can take include:

• Conducting regular vehicle and plant risk assessments
• Providing accessible support services for affected staff and their family
• Reviewing fatigue management and driving schedules for transport workers
• Embedding psychosocial health considerations into broader safety planning
• Engaging health and safety representatives in incident reviews

Events like the Workplace Health and Safety Show offer employers practical guidance on strengthening safety culture and meeting obligations under current regulations.

Building a Safer Workplace Culture

Comprehensive risk documentation, including tools like office workplace safety SWMS and sector-specific plans such as those covering dealing with the public in hospitality and retail settings, helps employers translate good intentions into consistent practice.

Updated guidance, including the Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice, gives businesses a clear framework for reducing vehicle and machinery-related fatalities.

Randall and Taifer's plea remains simple yet powerful: prioritise safety, support grieving families, and never let complacency cost another life. Read the full story on the ABC News website.