Transport company fined for loading dock death

A Victorian based transport and warehouse company has been fined $154,000 today in the Darwin Local Court over the death of a 47 year old Maningrida man in 2016.

Glen Cameron Nominees Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to one breach of Section 32 of the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act for failing to comply with a health and safety duty.

The man, who can’t be named for cultural reasons, fell asleep in the loading dock area at Hibiscus Shopping Centre in Leanyer on 7 October 2016. He was run over and killed when a driver of a prime mover leaving the loading dock failed to see him. The driver was a subcontractor to Glen Cameron Nominees Pty Ltd.

NT WorkSafe Acting Executive Director Chris Wicks said despite working for Glen Cameron since 2012, the sub-contractor involved in the incident was never provided induction training, or a site induction of the Hibiscus Shopping Centre in Leanyer.

“Induction training and site inductions isn’t just telling a new worker where the kitchen and toilets are, inductions are an important part of maintaining a safe workplace,” Mr Wicks said.

“Induction training is an opportunity to educate new employees or sub-contractors on your company’s safety policies, including any standard operating procedures or emergency processes they need to follow.”

“Every workplace is different and site inductions will provide your employees with procedures to safely enter and operate in the workplace, as well as highlight hazards particular to that workplace,” Mr Wicks said.

“If the driver was properly inducted, he would have been aware that Glen Cameron had two standard operating procedures that required drivers to physically check both the rear and front of the vehicle for pedestrians before moving the vehicle.”

“If the driver followed these two procedures, he would have seen the deceased and the incident would have been avoided,” said Mr Wicks.

“It’s a waste of time developing safety policies or standard operating procedures if your employee’s are not aware of them.”

“I urge all companies to review their induction training and make sure all employees and subcontractors are provided proper induction training to safely do their work.”

Glen Cameron was also required to pay court costs of $1,500 and a victim levy of $1,000.

Charges were also laid against Woolworths Ltd. This matter is still before the courts.