Wheel manufacturer charged over serious safety breaches

A Victorian wheel manufacturer has been charged following a number of incidents at a Mildura workshop between August 2018 and February 2020. Titan Australia Pty Ltd is facing three charges under section 21(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing to provide and maintain a workplace that was safe and without risks to health. The company also allegedly breached section 21(1)(e) of the OHS Act twice, by failing to provide instruction, training or supervision.

WorkSafe Victoria also alleges that Titan Australia contravened regulation 101 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations by failing to locate or guard operator controls from unintentional activation. The company is facing a further five charges under section 38(1) of the OHS Act for failing to notify WorkSafe immediately after becoming aware that an incident had occurred and five charges under section 38(3) of the OHS Act for failing to provide a written record to WorkSafe within 48 hours of an incident. The company has also been charged with a single breach of section 39(1) of the OHS Act for failing, without reasonable excuse, to ensure that the site where an incident occurred was not disturbed.

The matter will be addressed at a filing hearing on 3 May 2022.

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