WorkSafe charges company following death of traffic controller on freeway

WorkSafe Victoria has brought charges against a traffic management firm following a worker's death in a crash on the Eastern Freeway two years ago.

The man, aged 58, was on duty checking streetlights for malfunctions when his parked utility vehicle was hit by another car in August 2023.

WorkSafe said the company ‘faces one charge under section 21(2)(a) of the OHS Act of failing to provide or maintain a safe system of work, and one charge under section 26(1) of the same Act of failing to ensure a workplace under its management or control was safe and without risks to health.’

The safety authority claims the company did not adequately mitigate the risk of severe injury or fatality by establishing a protocol that mandated two employees to jointly inspect streetlights, thereby removing the necessity for workers to exit their vehicles.

The case is scheduled for a filing hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court next week.

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