VIC company fined $1.3 million under workplace manslaughter laws

A Victorian company has become the first business fined under Victoria's workplace manslaughter laws, following a worker's fatal crushing at a Somerton factory. The case highlights growing enforcement of safety obligations across the state's construction and manufacturing sectors.

The 25-year-old employee was crushed to death by a forklift in October 2021, prompting a criminal investigation into the stone masonry business responsible for the incident.

Court Outcome: VIC Company Fined $1.3 Million

The stone masonry business recently faced sentencing in the Victorian Supreme Court, where it admitted guilt to engaging in reckless behaviour that led to the death of its employee.

Presiding justices ordered the company to pay a fine of $1.3 million, marking a significant milestone since workplace manslaughter became a criminal offence in Victoria. This ruling sends a clear message to employers regarding their health and safety obligations onsite.

WorkSafe's Response to the Fatal Incident

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Narelle Beer said the fatal incident could have been prevented, reinforcing the importance of proactive risk management in workplace safety planning.

"There is no such thing as unavoidable workplace harm and the impact that a loss of life has on family, friends and colleagues can never be understated," Dr Beer said.

Her comments echo broader concerns raised by WorkSafe Victoria, which continues to monitor compliance with health and safety duties across high-risk industries, including construction and manufacturing.

Why This Case Matters for Safety Professionals

This ruling underscores several critical lessons for technical professionals responsible for onsite safety:

• Forklift operations require rigorous risk assessments to prevent crush-related fatalities.
• Reckless disregard for health and safety obligations can now result in criminal liability under Victoria's workplace manslaughter laws.
• Employers must document and act on identified hazards before incidents occur, not after.

Businesses across Victoria should treat this fine of $1.3 million as a reminder to review their risk controls and safety documentation regularly. Similar enforcement trends have emerged in other jurisdictions, such as the Sydney scaffolding company fined $2 million for workplace death, and in Vic employers fined more than $17 million for workplace safety violations in 2025.

Another comparable case, the Vic company fined over timber mill death, further demonstrates how courts continue to hold businesses accountable for preventable workplace fatalities.

Strengthening Workplace Health and Safety Practices

Organisations seeking to strengthen their compliance frameworks should prioritise ongoing risk assessments, clear safety accountability structures, and robust incident reporting systems.

SafetyDocs also offers resources supporting broader workplace wellbeing, including its Workplace Mental Health & Psychosocial Policies, which complement physical safety measures by addressing psychological risk factors in high-pressure environments.

For businesses attending industry events, the Workplace Health and Safety Show provides valuable insight into current best practice and regulatory expectations.

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