Crane Safety Breach Costs Company $200,000
•BlueSafe Team•Source: WorkSafe VIC
A Victorian company faces hefty penalties after a worker's unsupervised crane task resulted in a serious injury. The incident underscores the critical importance of WHS management systems and proper employee training.
WVCT Oz Pty Ltd, operating as Western Victorian Crane Trucks, faced the Geelong Magistrates' Court on 3 February, admitting guilt to failing to furnish adequate information, instruction, training, or supervision for safe work practices. The court ordered the company to pay $5,556 in costs alongside a $200,000 fine.
The incident occurred in September 2024 when a driver, operating a remote-controlled vehicle-mounted crane, attempted to unload steel trusses at a Charlemont construction site. The crane locked due to an excessive load, prompting the driver to manually adjust a truss. This led to a slewing crane and the driver being pinned down, resulting in a fractured wrist requiring surgical intervention.
Investigation revealed the driver lacked a high-risk work licence and was undertaking the task solo for the first time, having joined the company just three months earlier. Notably, the driver had expressed discomfort with the delivery task to his supervisor the day before the incident but was threatened with job termination if he refused.
WorkSafe's inquiry stressed the necessity for WVCT Oz to mitigate risks such as workers being struck by heavy loads by ensuring employees performing such tasks hold relevant high-risk work licences and are adequately supervised.
Sam Jenkin, WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer, emphasised the importance of equipping workers with the right training and supervision, stating, "To threaten a worker who raises genuine concerns with losing their job illustrates a grave disregard for health and safety." He reiterated that providing proper WHS management systems is not just ethical but a legal obligation. Helpful resources for implementing effective safety measures, such as SWMS, can be found here.
Employers are urged to adopt comprehensive WHS policies and procedures to ensure all high-risk work is conducted safely. For more information, refer to WorkSafe Victoria's guidelines or consider exploring available safety policies and procedures.