Dial A Tow found guilty of breaching workplace safety act over death of Lee Ravlich

A tow truck company has been found guilty of failing to prevent the death of one of its workers – a veteran West Adelaide footballer – in a horror industrial accident.

A tow truck firm has been found guilty of breaching the Work Health and Safety Act by failing to prevent the death of one of their workers.

Lee Ravlich, 64, a former talented football player for West Adelaide in the SANFL had been working for Dial A Tow Australia for eight days when he suffered fatal injuries on March 14, 2018.

In a judgment handed down last week but only published on Saturday, SA Employment Tribunal deputy president Magistrate Stuart Cole found the company could have done more to prevent the death.

Mr Ravlich was working with another driver at Dry Creek learning how to safely draw cars onto the back of the truck.

To get the vehicles onto the truck, the tray would extend away from the cab before moving on an incline to the ground.

The type of tow trucks being used by Mr Ravlich left the headboard and tool boxes at the back of the truck cab while the tray moved away.

Mr Ravlich was returning tools and chains to the toolbox while the other worker was moving the tray back into position. As the tray was returned to position the engine revved louder.

Former West Adelaide footballer Lee Ravlich practising his kicking technique at training in August 1976.

Former West Adelaide footballer Lee Ravlich at the West Adelaide Football Club in August 1975. Picture: Bryan Charlton

Detectives at the scene of a fatal industrial accident in Dry Creek. Picture: Tait Schmaal

Police examine the accident site at Dry Creek. Picture: Tait Schmaal

The operator was using a wireless remote to move the tray when he heard Mr Ravlich scream.

Unknown to the operator, Mr Ravlich had still been at the tool boxes with his back to the tray. Despite multiple people coming to his aid, Mr Ravlich died at the scene.

AHRNS Handling Equipment, who manufactured the tray, pleaded guilty to failing to breach their duty of care.

Dial A Tow pleaded not guilty to the same charge.

During a trial before Mr Cole, the Tribunal heard that a pressure sensitive device which would have shut down the tray could have been installed for around $5000.

Mr Cole said that the company had relied on safety signs on the truck and administrative instructions to warn of the crush point. He found the company guilty.