County Court: Malec Holdings fined by WorkSafe after driver died at Yarraville depot in 2020

A WorkSafe investigation into a 65-year-old man who died after he was run over by a truck found the transport company failed its duty.

The drivers had returned to the Yarraville depot after collecting logs interstate when the man was run over by a truck and died at the scene. Picture: Generic

The transport company responsible for a driver who was fatally run over by a truck in Melbourne’s west has been fined over $300,000.

Malec Holdings was sentenced in the Melbourne County Court on Thursday after it pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a system of work that was safe and without risk to health.

In October 2020, a 65-year-old man died after he was run over by a B-double at a Yarraville depot.

Two truck drivers had returned from their usual NSW trip to collect logs before unloading and maintaining the vehicles.

The court heard that as one driver reversed his truck towards the “cramped” car park, the other followed closely on foot.

As the driver began a U-turn, the victim stood on a pile of wood and slipped or tripped on the debris before he was run over by the trailer’s rear axles.

He died at the scene.

A WorkSafe investigation found it was reasonably practicable for Malec to have reduced the risk of injury or death by removing the need for B-doubles to reverse in the workplace, and by implementing a traffic management plan.

Outside of court, WorkSafe director Narelle Beer said these tragedies were far too common, with 15 people losing their lives and another 372 seriously injured in vehicle-related incidents so far this year.

“This awful death could have easily been avoided if the right controls were in place,” she said.

Malec was convicted and fined $320,000.