In September 2023, a tragic accident transpired when a 60-year-old electrician lost his life after falling through an internal stairway void from scaffolding on the third level of a building onto the unforgiving concrete floor below. Akgul Trade Pty Ltd is now confronted with a single charge under section 26(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for allegedly neglecting to uphold a safe and risk-free workplace environment under its control.
The serious charges underscore the crucial role work safety products such as WHS management systems and Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) play in providing safety measures. A well-implemented Bluesafe WHS Management System could serve as a preventive measure against such devastating incidents by identifying potential hazards and implementing relevant controls.
The director of the company, aged 42, has been slapped with three charges. These encompass one charge under section 26(1) and another under section 144(1) of the OHS Act, alleging his failure to ensure workplace safety and his managerial negligence resulting in contravention of the said act respectively. Such circumstances also highlight how a reliable Bluesafe SWMS can be essential for directors and managers to diligently maintain ongoing workplace safety.
WorkSafe asserts that both the company and the director failed to pragmatically minimise the risk of serious injury or death from falls. Another claim against the Director under section 24(1) of the OHS Act alleges his lack of action to mitigate health and safety risks caused by a self-employed person’s conduct, thereby exposing others to potential danger. It is further alleged that he violated regulation 118(c) of the OHS Regulations by allowing workers to return to the unsafe scaffold post-incidents, emphasising a grave disregard for occupational hazard protocols.
The significance of implementing sound safety policies and utilising effective preventive tools like Bluesafe WHS Management System is clearly demonstrated in cases like these. Such systems promote work safety culture, thus reducing health risks and fostering employee well-being.
This case has been scheduled for a filing hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 25 September 2025.Press interested parties are encouraged to get in touch with media @ worksafe.vic.gov.au or call 0438 786 968 for more information. Subscriptions to media releases are also available.
Original article link: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2025-09/charges-company-and-director-over-stair-void-death
