Alice Springs fuel company charged over truck driver’s death

NT WorkSafe has charged Indervon Pty Ltd (Indervon), an Alice Springs fuel distribution company over the death of a 51-year-old fuel truck driver in 2017.

Mr Mustapha Dahmani, a recent arrival to Alice Springs, was into his fourth week of employment with Indervon when he died on 16 July 2017. At the time of the incident, Mr Dahmani was undertaking a bulk fuel delivery run unsupervised in a Kenworth T409 truck, despite concerns raised on Mr Dahmani’s familiarity in safely operating a vehicle fitted with an 18 speed manual gearbox.

An investigation found Mr Dahmani failed to negotiate a curve in an unsealed portion of the Maryvale Road approximately 74 km south of Alice Springs, causing the truck to tip and rollover. Mr Dahmani was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the incident.

Indervon has been charged with two breaches of Section 32 of the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 for failing to comply with a health and safety duty.

NT WorkSafe will allege Indervon:

• Failed to provide adequate training, instruction and supervision of Mr Dahmani, to safely operate a vehicle fitted with an 18 speed manual gearbox on isolated and unsealed roads, unsupervised.
• Failed to provide a safe system of work by not acting on concerns and recommendations raised by Mr Dahmani’s mentors during the induction period, relating to his competence to safely operate the company’s vehicles. These recommendations included:
  • Restricting Mr Dahmani to yard work or short deliveries on the sealed roads within Alice Springs.
  • Not allowing Mr Dahmani to undertake long distance deliveries on unsealed roads, unsupervised.

If found guilty Indervon will face a maximum penalty of $1,500,000 for each charge.

The matter is listed for mention in the Alice Springs Local Court on Wednesday 14 August 2019.