Charges laid over death of itinerant man
NT WorkSafe has charged supermarket giant Woolworths Ltd and Victorian based transport and warehouse company Glen Cameron Nominees Pty Ltd over the death of a 47 year old itinerant man from Maningrida.
On Friday 7 October 2016, the deceased male had fallen asleep in the loading dock area at Hibiscus Shopping Centre in Leanyer. The driver of a prime mover leaving the loading dock did not see the deceased and ran him over. The driver was a subcontractor to Glen Cameron Nominees Pty Ltd.
Woolworths Ltd and Glen Cameron Nominees Pty Ltd have each been charged with one breach 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 Woolworths Ltd:
- Failed to implement a traffic management plan, despite knowing the loading dock was frequently used as a short cut by pedestrians and a resting place by itinerants.
- Failed to provide a site induction to the driver of the prime mover.
- Failing to ensure that Glen Cameron Nominees Pty Ltd had proper procedures in place to provided necessary training, instruction or supervision to the driver compliance with its health and safety duties.
NT WorkSafe will allege Glen Cameron Nominees Pty Ltd:
- Failed to have and maintain an induction program for the driver or refresher training on an annual basis.
- Failed to arrange a site induction for the driver at Hibiscus Shopping Centre in Leanyer.
- Failed to ensure that the driver was aware of and complied with the company’s Standard Operating Procedures SOP 54 and SOP 55 which required drivers to physically check both the rear and front of the vehicle for pedestrians before moving.
If found guilty, Woolworths Ltd and Glen Cameron Nominees Pty Ltd will each face a maximum penalty of $1,500,000.
The matter is listed for mention in the Darwin Local Court on Tuesday 21 August 2018.