Industrial manslaughter laws to be introduced after 23 workplace deaths in 2018

The grieving families of Victorians killed at work will help the Andrews Government design new workplace manslaughter laws to put negligent employers behind bars for up to 20 years.

The grieving families of Victorians killed at work will help the Andrews Government design new workplace manslaughter laws to put negligent employers behind bars for up to 20 years.

The crackdown is expected to be introduced to parliament this year after a horror twelve months in which 23 Victorians lost their lives in the workplace.

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New figures obtained by the Herald Sun show seven workplace deaths last year involved victims aged under 25.

Nine deaths occurred at construction sites and another eight people were killed in accidents on farms.

Twenty-three Victorians were killed in the workplace last year. File image: Kylie Else

Another four workers have already died this year, including a 19-year-old man who was electrocuted while installing an airconditioner on a roof.

Workplace Safety Minister Jill Hennessy said the lives of 23 families “were changed forever by workplace deaths” last year.

“No one should die doing their job,” Ms Hennessy said.

“While individuals have a role to play in keeping themselves and others safe at work, occupational health and safety laws are very clear that the safety of staff is the responsibility of every Victorian employer.”

The government is now setting up a workplace fatalities taskforce to consult the families of those victims as it drafts changes to Victoria’s occupational health and safety laws.

Under the proposed changes, employers would face fines of almost $16 million and individuals responsible for negligently causing workplace deaths could be jailed for up to 20 years.

Workplace Safety Minister Jill Hennessy. Picture: Stefan Postles/AAP

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Workplace Safety Minister Jill Hennessy said the lives of 23 families “were changed forever by workplace deaths” last year.

“No one should die doing their job,” Ms Hennessy said.

“While individuals have a role to play in keeping themselves and others safe at work, occupational health and safety laws are very clear that the safety of staff is the responsibility of every Victorian employer.”

The government is now setting up a workplace fatalities taskforce to consult the families of those victims as it drafts changes to Victoria’s occupational health and safety laws. Under the proposed changes, employers would face fines of almost $16 million and individuals responsible for negligently causing workplace deaths could be jailed for up to 20 years.

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