Melbourne Magistrates' Court has fined Saferoads Pty Ltd, a road safety equipment manufacturer, $650,000 after a falling steel barrier crushed and killed a truck driver at a depot in Nar Nar Goon.
The company received a $425,000 fine for breaching section 23 of our OHS Act - failing to ensure the safety of people other than employees - and a further $225,000 for breaching section 26 - failing to ensure the workplace, and the means of entering and leaving it, are safe and without risks to health.
In November 2021, a forklift was unloading heavy road safety barriers from a truck when an unrestrained barrier fell on the driver, causing fatal injuries. A WorkSafe investigation revealed the company had safety procedures in place but did not enforce them or inform delivery drivers. CCTV footage showed repeated safety breaches in the days leading up to the incident.
WorkSafe emphasise the tragedy could have been avoided if the company had enforced its own safety policies. Employers should ensure pedestrians are separated from moving machinery, use effective communication systems, maintain clear signage, and conduct regular equipment inspections.