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Gate Automation Systems fronts court over workplace breach

A Scoresby business’s negligence caused the death of a much-loved truckie who was crushed to death by a falling gate which fell off the rails at its Dandenong South depot.

Veteran truck driver Stuart Baker was killed when a gate fell off its rails and crashed him. Picture / Craig Membrey
Veteran truck driver Stuart Baker was killed when a gate fell off its rails and crashed him. Picture / Craig Membrey

A Melbourne gate repair business has admitted to a health and safety breach after a much-loved truckie was fatally crushed by a falling gate.

Gate Automation Systems Pty Ltd entered a guilty plea in County Court on Thursday to a charge of failing to ensure that its employees and others were not exposed to risk under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Truck driver Stuart Baker, 59, of Membrey’s Transport and Crane Hire Depot was killed while attempting to manually close an automatic gate that was being repaired by GAS at the transport company’s Dandenong South depot on April 23, 2022.

There had been ongoing issues with the double front automated gate system at Membrey’s and GAS had been engaged to do the repairs.

Stuart Baker had worked for Membrey’s Transport and Crane Hire Depot for 30 years. Pictures / Craig Membrey
Stuart Baker had worked for Membrey’s Transport and Crane Hire Depot for 30 years. Pictures / Craig Membrey

A service technician had left the 12m wide sliding gate in an unsafe condition by removing the motor without addressing the risk of it falling off the rails and crushing a person.

Court documents showed that before the technician left, he advised Membrey’s general manager Leigh Canet to lock the gate closed and to put a chain around the posts and bars on the gate so that it could not move past the support posts and fall.

When Mr Baker was manually closing the gate, it fell from the support posts and crushed him, resulting in serious injuries that led to his death.

Dozens of prime movers formed a convoy in honour of veteran truckie Stuart Baker.
Dozens of prime movers formed a convoy in honour of veteran truckie Stuart Baker.

He had worked at Membrey’s for 30 years and left behind a reputation for kindness among staff, customers, friends and family.

Dozens of prime movers gathered at the Hallam Truck Centre to form a convoy down the Princess Highway to honour Mr Baker three weeks after his death as it travelled to Bunurong Memorial Park under police escort.

Gate Automation Systems will be sentenced at a later date.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/gate-automation-systems-fronts-court-over-workplace-breach/news-story/ceab177a2a18b760995371d3a67d6a14