May 18th 2021 |
Tuesday 18th May 2021
Company that failed to provide a safe workplace fined $120,000 on Tuesday 18th May 2021.
Failing to provide a safe workplace, which led to an avoidable accident, has landed a concrete company in court. On this date, the company was found guilty of not taking reasonable and practical steps to omit the risk of a collision between pedestrians and a powered mobile plant.
What Happened on 18th May 2021
Dandenong Magistrate Court heard that in July 2018, a truck was loading concrete while workers were cleaning up spilled slurry. When the truck was loaded, it pulled out and passed the two workers when one of them tripped and fell, and the truck's rear wheels ran over his left arm.
The worker sustained severe injuries and has had multiple surgeries resulting in the amputation of his little finger and partial amputation of his middle and ring fingers since the incident.
Court Findings on Workplace Safety Failures
The court heard that no traffic management plan was in place to identify hazards, nor were there risk control measures to separate pedestrians from vehicles, such as physical barriers or exclusion zones.
WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Julie Nielsen said no excuse exists for failing to implement appropriate safety measures. "This worker is still living with the consequences of an incident that could have been avoided."
Magistrates also ordered the company to pay costs of $13,850, reinforcing how seriously Australia's courts treat breaches of workplace safety obligations. Businesses across the country should view this ruling from 2021 as a reminder that traffic management plans and pedestrian exclusion zones aren't optional extras—they're essential controls for preventing life-changing injuries.
The original article can be found on the WorkSafe Vic website.
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