WorkSafe has charged a traffic management company after a worker was struck by a passing truck and died while working on the Western Highway at Lawloit, between Kaniva and Nhill (see our previous article).
In January 2025, the 55-year-old worker was packing up road signage with a co-worker when he was struck by a truck and died at the scene.
BCivil Recruitment Pty Ltd faces two charges, including one under section 21(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing to provide and maintain for its employees a working environment that was safe and without risks to health.
WorkSafe alleges the company breached section 21(2)(a) of the OHS Act by failing to provide and maintain a safe system of work where traffic control signs and devices were attended to in the direction of travel, road signs on one side of the road were attended to before signs on the opposite side, and workers did not cross live traffic during this process.
BCivil Recruitment also faces one charge under section 23(1) of the OHS Act for failing to ensure that persons other than its employees were not exposed to health and safety risks.
WorkSafe provides extensive guidance to employers on safe traffic management - Traffic management | WorkSafe Victoria - and Transport Victoria publishes the Code of Practice for Worksite Safety - Traffic Management.
Austroads also publishes a 10-part guide to temporary traffic management that includes information on hazards and controls - Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management.
Read more: Traffic management company charged after roadside fatality | WorkSafe Victoria