Two companies charged over fatal truck tailgate fall
10 June 2025•BlueSafe Team•Source: WorkSafe VIC
Rodrigues Transport Pty Ltd and Ensign Services (Aust) Pty Ltd face charges following a fatal fall from a truck tailgate. The 55-year-old man was loading linen trolleys when he fell 1.2 metres.
The man fell from an unprotected edge of the tailgate while loading the trolleys into the truck. He suffered serious head injuries and subsequently died in hospital.
Rodrigues Transport Pty Ltd faces a charge under section 21(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for allegedly failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace. It also faces a charge under section 26(1) for allegedly failing to ensure a workplace under its management or control was safe and without risks to health.
WorkSafe alleges Rodrigues Transport failed to eliminate or reduce the risk of serious injury or death because it did not install safety rails on the tailgate or implement a procedure requiring their use.
Ensign Services (Aust) Pty Ltd faces a charge under section 26(1) of the OHS Act for allegedly failing to ensure a workplace under its management or control was safe and without risks to health.
WorkSafe alleges Ensign Services failed to eliminate or reduce the risk of serious injury or death because it did not install swing gates at the loading dock for use with trucks that lacked tailgate safety rails.
A filing hearing for both matters is listed at Melbourne Magistrates' Court for Tuesday 10 June.
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