Vic school fined for safety violations that led to ground worker’s death

Vic School Fined for Safety Violations That Led to Ground Worker's Death

A private school in Victoria has been fined $140,000 for safety violations following the death of a groundworker four years ago. This case highlights ongoing risks tied to poor hazard management across construction and grounds maintenance services in Australia.

The worker died after being struck by a tree branch on the school grounds on Valentine's Day in 2018.

What Happened During the Incident

His body was found next to a large eucalyptus branch with two chainsaws – one still running and a pile of smaller cut branches.

The man was not wearing a safety helmet at the time of the incident. Melbourne County Court heard the worker was most likely cutting up the branch while it remained supported by the tree trunk. This created pressure that could make the branch move unpredictably, a common hazard within tree-felling and grounds management operations.

Court Findings on Safety Management Failures

Court proceedings revealed that workers were not informed of hazards associated with cutting a tree branch with a chainsaw. Proper safety management practices, including hazard identification and worker training, could have prevented such an outcome.

School representatives had earlier pleaded guilty to failing to provide or maintain safe systems of work, and failing to deliver information, instruction, training or supervision — core obligations under workplace health and safety management frameworks.

Why Safety Management Services Matter

Cases like this demonstrate why robust safety management services are essential across sectors handling manual and outdoor tasks, including grounds maintenance, landscaping, and construction. Employers must ensure staff receive adequate training on equipment use and hazard recognition before undertaking high-risk tasks.

Comparable incidents have occurred elsewhere. Read our coverage of a NSW logistics company fined for safety breaches that led to worker death and a Melbourne metal company fined for safety failures after a worker's crush death for further context on how courts across Australia treat safety management failures.

Building Stronger Safety Management Systems

Businesses operating in construction, grounds maintenance, or industrial services should regularly review their safety management systems to identify hazards before they cause harm. Effective management includes:

• Conducting thorough risk assessments before high-risk tasks begin
• Providing chainsaw and equipment-specific training to relevant staff
• Ensuring personal protective equipment, such as helmets, gets worn consistently
• Documenting safe work method statements for tree-felling and pruning services

Strong management practices reduce risks for workers performing physically demanding outdoor services, whether within construction, landscaping, or educational institution grounds teams.

Rising Penalties for Safety Violations Across Victoria

This fine adds to a growing list of penalties issued against Victorian employers. Our recent report on Vic employers fined more than $17 million for workplace safety violations in 2025 shows regulators taking an increasingly firm stance on non-compliance across construction, education, and industrial services.

Resources for Strengthening Workplace Safety Management

Organisations seeking to improve their safety management approach can explore digital tools designed for hazard tracking and compliance. Our Digital JSA – Job Safety Analysis Template supports teams performing outdoor or high-risk tasks by documenting hazards, controls, and required PPE before work begins.

Businesses managing multiple sites or contractors may also benefit from broader safety software solutions that centralise documentation, training records, and incident reporting across construction and maintenance services.

Read the full story on the WorkSafe Victoria website for further detail on this case and how WorkSafe continues to enforce workplace health and safety obligations across the state.