Cutri Fruit and AH Vision charged after worker death

A northwest Victorian stone fruit grower and a labour hire company will face court after a 70-year-old farm worker died two years ago.

Two companies, including a northwest Victorian stone fruit grower, will face court following the death of a 70-year-old farm worker two years ago.

WorkSafe Victoria has laid five charges related to the death against Cutri Fruit Pty Ltd, based at Woorinen South, while Swan Hill labour hire company AH Vision Pty Ltd faces one charge.

A 70-year-old Afghan national suffered fatal head injuries when he fell from a trailer being towed by a tractor between two farms in January 2022.

WorkSafe alleges Cutri Fruit failed to provide a safe system of work; failed to provide or maintain safe plant and failed to provide workers with necessary information, instruction and, or training.

It is also alleged the company failed to use engineering and administrative controls to reduce the risk associated with plant.

AH Vision Pty Ltd has been charged by WorkSafe Victoria for allegedly failing to provide employees with necessary information, instruction and training.

Both Cutri Fruit Pty Ltd and AH Vision Pty Ltd are scheduled to appear at the Swan Hill Magistrates’ Court on January 24.

Cutri Fruit was founded by the Cutri family in 1983 with Gaethan Cutri now at the helm as CEO.