COMPANY AND DIRECTOR CHARGED OVER STAIR VOID DEATH

WorkSafe has charged building company Akgul Trade Pty Ltd and its sole director after the 2023 death of a worker at a residential construction site in Greenvale.

The 60-year-old electrician died after falling from scaffolding on the third level of the building through an internal stairway void to the concrete floor below.

Akgul Trade Pty Ltd faces a single charge under section 26(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing to ensure a workplace under its management and control was safe and without risks to health.

The company's director faces three charges, including one charge under section 26(1) of the OHS Act for failing to ensure a workplace under his management and control was safe and without risks to health, and one charge under section 144(1) of the OHS Act for being an officer of a company that breached section 26(1) of the OHS Act, a contravention that was attributable to his failure to take reasonable care.

WorkSafe alleges both the company and director failed, so far as was reasonably practicable, to reduce the risk of serious injury or death from a fall.

The director also faces one charge under section 24(1) of the OHS Act for failing to ensure persons were not exposed to health and safety risks by the conduct or undertaking of a self-employed person.

It is alleged the director breached regulation 118(c) of the OHS Regulations by allowing workers to access the scaffold after becoming aware that it was in an unsafe condition following the fatal incident.

Read more: Charges for company and director over stair void death | WorkSafe Victoria

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