If you haven’t heard yet, Victoria has brought their first workplace manslaughter charge.
The Director of the stonemasonry business is facing 25 years in jail. As a parent of young children, I know I absolutely will expect my children to go to work and come home safe. I expect that the business they work for knows how to run the basics, the fundamentals, and how to keep them safe.
There have been at least 3 recent prosecutions in Australia involving forklifts/mobile plants. To operate these businesses, it requires planning and attention to the basics and fundamentals. Get these things right and everyone goes home at the end of each day.
Work safety is a culture, driven from top. When a death is preventable, it carries weight and responsibility of those in charge. On all fronts this is simply tragic and preventable. It’s not that complicated.
A change for the good? I think so.
The first individual in Australia convicted for industrial manslaughter occurred earlier this year, also involving a forklift – First individual convicted for industrial manslaughter | WorkSafe.qld.gov.au
Some recent and related articles:
Forklift truck tip over fatality (2 May 2022) | SafeWork NSW
Forklift fatality | SafeWork NSW
Details of successful prosecution against E201856 | WorkSafe.qld.gov.au
Red Insight is dedicated to working with employers to ensure workplaces are safe for all staff. Contact us to find out how we can help.
Written by Carrie Loughnan