Myer and supplier charged after robot warehouse fatality

After a 27-year-old man sustained fatal injuries after coming into contact with an energised and operating automated robot at a distribution centre, WorkSafe Victoria has charged Myer Pty Ltd and a warehouse robotics supplier.

For failing to provide or maintain a safe working environment, Myer faces two charges under section 21(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and for failing to ensure persons other than employees were not exposed to health and safety risks, it faces two charges under section 23(1) of the Act.

WorkSafe alleges that, when it failed to ensure access points to the grid where the automated robots operated were guarded by an interlocked physical barrier, Myer breached section 21(2)(a) of the OHS Act by failing to provide or maintain safe plant.

The company breached section 21(2)(a) of the OHS Act by failing to provide or maintain safe systems of work when it failed to ensure access only occurred after the grid was de-energised and locked-out, it is further alleged.

Under section 21(1) of the Act, a warehouse robotics supplier faces two charges for failing to provide or maintain a safe working environment. WorkSafe Victoria alleges the supplier breached section 21(2)(a) of the Act by failing to provide or maintain a safe system of work by failing to ensure access to the grid only occurred once the automated robots were de-energised.

The company breached section 21(2)(e) of the Act by failing to provide necessary supervision to ensure that its employees did not access the energised grid, it is further alleged.

The matters are listed for a filing hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 28 September 2026.

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