Crane company fined $200,000 after unsupervised worker injured

WVCT Oz Pty Ltd, which trades as Western Victorian Crane Trucks, pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to provide the information, instruction, training or supervision needed for an employee to work safely. The Geelong Magistrates’ Court sentenced the company on 3 February and ordered it to pay costs of $5,556.

The incident occurred in September 2024 while the driver was unloading steel trusses with a remote-operated, vehicle-mounted crane. The crane locked down because the load exceeded its capacity.

Following instructions he had previously received, the driver tried to move one of the trusses manually. The crane then slewed, pinning him beneath the load. His wrist was broken and required a metal plate and 10 screws.

The court heard the driver had joined the company three months earlier, did not yet hold a high risk work licence and had never attempted the task alone. The day before the incident, he told his supervisor he was uncomfortable making the delivery on his own, but was told he would lose his job if he refused.

WorkSafe’s investigation found the company needed to supervise employees carrying out the task without a high risk work licence to reduce the risk of a steel frame striking them and causing serious injury or death.

WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said asking workers to undertake high risk work without appropriate training, licences and supervision was inexcusable. “To threaten a worker who raises genuine concerns about a task they’ve been given with losing their job demonstrates an egregious disregard for health and safety,” Mr Jenkin said.

“Employers owe it to their workers to give them the instruction, training and supervision to work safely – it’s not just the right thing to do, it’s the law.”

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