Shepparton’s Gvip Storage Pty Ltd charged over workplace death

A Shepparton fruit grower has been charged over the death of a truck driver who was found unresponsive after entering a cool room.

A well-known Shepparton fruit grower has been charged over the death of a truck driver in March 2023. Picture: Zoe Phillips

A prominent Shepparton fruit grower has been charged over the death of a man at its storage facility.

GVIP Storage Pty Ltd fronted the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Friday for a brief filing hearing.

A 50-year-old truck driver entered a low-oxygenated cool room in March last year where he collapsed and died.

The driver was found unresponsive after his truck was spotted outside the cool room, with the engine still running.

WorkSafe will allege the company failed to reduce the risk of serious injury or death by prohibiting entry to cool rooms operating with a controlled atmosphere and by having clear and prominent warning signage.

WorkSafe charged GVIP on December 11.

GVIP, which is owned by the Georgopoulos family, supplies major retailers with apples, pears and stone fruit from its 600ha of orchards.

According to their LinkedIn, the founders, Chris Georgopoulos and Michael Zurcas, have four generations of knowledge and a combined 60 years of experience.

The business will front court at a later date.