Australian waste company was found guilty of failing to ensure the safety of its workers following the death of a truck driver in 2019.
Brian Rintoule was killed when his vehicle rolled over into the gate of a property in southern Victoria. He had been trying to open the gate after putting the parking brake on.
The body of the truck driver was found the following day. The company pleaded guilty to the two charges and was fined $300,000.
The County Court of Victoria was also found guilty of failing to maintain a safe plant. After the incident, a VicRoads inspector said the garbage truck that was owned by the company was “unroadworthy.”
Among the major defects that the inspector found was a faulty parking brake.
According to Kelly Harris, the acting executive director of WorkSafe, the death of the truck driver highlighted the tragic human cost of not following the most basic safety procedures.
She said that regular inspections and maintenance of heavy vehicles are vital to protect the health and safety of both the workers and the public.
Despite the increasing number of work-related fatalities, WorkSafe is still focused on preventing employers from failing to take adequate measures to ensure the safety of their employees.