Vic recycling facility faces charges following worker death

A recycling facility has been charged by Worksafe Victoria after an employee was fatally struck by machinery.

The incident happened in July 2024.

The 26-year-old employee was engaged in sorting recycled items at the facility when an articulated front-end loader, driven by a coworker, backed into him, leading to fatal crush injuries.

The company is facing six allegations under section 21(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for not offering and maintaining, as far as reasonably possible, a workplace that was safe and free from health hazards.

WorkSafe claims the company violated section 21(2)(a) of the OHS Act on three occasions by ‘failing to implement an appropriate traffic management system; failing to install a reversing camera on the plant; and failing to repair the plant’s reversing alarm, rear view mirror, or two cabin windows that obscured the operator’s view.’

Find out more here.