Vic companies facing workplace manslaughter charges

WorkSafe Victoria has charged two companies with multiple health and safety breaches, following the death of an apprentice in West Melbourne. Nordic Elevators Pty Ltd and Nordic Elevator Services Pty Ltd are both facing a single charge of workplace manslaughter under section 39G(1) of the OHS Act. Nordic Elevators also faces a single charge under sections 21(1) and 21(2)(e) of the OHS Act for failing to provide employees with the necessary supervision to perform their work safely.

Nordic Elevator Services is also facing a single charge under sections 21(1) and 21(2)(a) of the OHS Act for failing to provide and maintain safe systems of work, plus a single charge under section 23(1) of the OHS Act for failing to ensure people other than employees were not exposed to health and safety risks.

The charges follow the electrocution of a 21-year-old apprentice electrician who was performing maintenance work on a car lift at a West Melbourne apartment building alone in March 2021. The matter will be addressed at a filing hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 1 March 2023.

Image credit: iStock.com/Kunakorn Rassadornyindee