Vic trailer manufacturer fined for unsafe lifting operation

Vic Trailer Manufacturer Fined for Unsafe Lifting Operation

A Victorian heavy-duty trailer manufacturer has been fined $25,000 for workplace safety violations after a trailer fell while being lifted, narrowly missing three workers. The incident highlights how critical safe lifting procedures are for transport equipment builders and underscores why robust safety systems matter across the transport manufacturing sector.

The company pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to maintain safe systems of work and was sentenced in the Ballarat Magistrates' Court. The court also ordered the company to pay costs of $5,742.

What Happened During the Lifting Operation

On 20 June 2018, three workers used two cranes to lift a partially constructed trailer. This process was usually completed by attaching chains to lifting lugs, fixed to the trailer using a magnetic drill.

On this occasion, workers were repairing the magnetic drills. Before lifting, they looped a chain and hooked it around rails at the front and rear of the trailer.

As a worker placed a support stand under the raised trailer, it fell, striking the stand. The trailer then rolled to the right, narrowly missing all three workers involved in the transport equipment build.

Why Safety Systems Matter in Transport Manufacturing

This case demonstrates why transport manufacturers must prioritise health and safety when developing lifting procedures for heavy machinery. Failing to maintain adequate safety controls can expose workers to serious harm, even when established transport industry practices are followed.

Employers in transport and manufacturing sectors should ensure lifting equipment is properly maintained and that alternative procedures are risk-assessed before work proceeds. When standard methods, such as magnetic drill attachment, aren't available, a formal review of safety protocols becomes essential before any lift takes place.

• Conduct risk assessments before altering standard lifting methods
• Ensure chains, lugs, and support stands are rated for intended loads
• Maintain lifting equipment regularly to prevent unplanned workarounds
• Train workers on safe systems of work for crane-assisted lifts

For guidance on developing safe lifting procedures, refer to our Standard Operating Procedure for Crane Lifting, which outlines best practice controls for transport and manufacturing worksites.

Related Workplace Safety Prosecutions

This isn't an isolated case within Victorian manufacturing. Similar prosecutions include the Vic concrete manufacturer fined for a near miss workplace incident and the VIC steel manufacturer penalised for various safety breaches, both reinforcing the importance of consistent safety compliance across heavy industry.

Read the full story on the WorkSafe Victoria website.