A Gippsland grain transporter has been convicted and fined $350,000 after a truck driver died when he fell almost four metres from the top of a trailer.
D&A Martin Transport Pty Ltd ware sentenced in the Melbourne County Court after pleading guilty to a single charge of failing to provide and maintain plant that was safe and without risks to health.
In January 2022, a 60-year-old truck driver was collecting a load of grain at a Maffra depot, a task that required him to climb on top of the trailer to check the hatches.
Both sides of the trailer were fitted with guard rails which were raised by flicking a switch.
However, the front section of the right side guard rail failed to raise, so that when the driver reached out for it while leaning forward he overbalanced and fell about 3.9 metres from the top of the trailer to the concrete ground below.
He was found unresponsive by another worker and died in hospital the following day.
WorkSafe’s investigation found the guard rail failed due to a lack of inspection and maintenance and repairs that had previously been made were poorly done.
WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said the case sadly highlighted the potential consequences when employers neglected proper maintenance.
Source: Gold FM
