Trucking company fined for milk tanker death
A trucking company, Peter Stoitse Transport, has pleaded guilty in the Latrobe Valley County Court to two charges of failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment after one of its drivers was killed.
The charges concern an incident in May 2018: the driver of a milk tanker was killed when his truck rolled onto its side when travelling around a bend in Victoria’s Leongatha region. An investigation into the incident revealed that nine prior rollovers had occurred since 2009, but the company had failed to give information, training or supervision to its staff driving milk tankers that were carrying dynamic loads.
WorkSafe Victoria alleged that it would have been practicable for the drivers to be properly trained and for a safe system of work to be adopted to keep the tankers in safe mechanical condition.
The company was fined almost $500,000 in total for its safety transgressions: it copped a $300,000 fine for failing to provide a safe system of work, another $150,000 for failing to provide information, instruction or training, and a further $40,000 after pleading guilty to a charge of failing to notify WorkSafe Victoria of a subsequent rollover event that left a driver in need of hospital treatment in September of the same year.
WorkSafe Victoria Executive Director Health and Safety Narelle Beer said that the company had a clear disregard for its drivers’ safety.
“Any vehicle used by a worker as part of their job is considered to be a workplace and employers therefore have a duty to ensure they are kept in a condition that is safe and without risks to health,” Beer said.
“Tragically, two workers have been killed in vehicle accidents so far this year and WorkSafe will continue to take strong enforcement action against those duty holders refusing to keep their workers safe on the road.”
WorkSafe Victoria recommends that employers assess work-related vehicle risks by having safe systems of work in place, having regular vehicle inspections and checks, and ensuring that drivers are properly qualified and trained.
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