Ability Works Australia Ltd now faces two accusations under the Section 21(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, having allegedly neglected to present a safe work environment. WorkSafe proposes that the firm violated Section 21(2)(a) of the OHS Act, as it seemingly didn’t implement an effective system of work to inhibit workers with mobility or visual impairments from reaching the staircase leading from the break room at its Kew locale.
There are also suggestions that the establishment overlooked Section 21(2)(e) of the OHS Act by failing to dispense necessary supervision to empower employees to operate safely. A well-implemented Bluesafe WHS Management System might have mitigated such breaches by building a standard for safety through comprehensive guides, policies, and procedures to meet required regulation.
Regrettably in December 2022, a team member who had vision and hearing disabilities was tragically harmed and subsequently passed away in the hospital following a fall in a stairwell during their lunch interval. It becomes starkly apparent how crucial systems like Bluesafe SWMS, which create Safe Work Method Statements, really are to the prevention of such tragic incidents.
The legal case is slated for a submission hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 17th December 2024.
For any media-related queries, you can get in touch:
Email: media @ worksafe.vic.gov.au
Phone: 0438 786 968
Please subscribe to our media releases to stay updated.
Original article link: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2024-12/company-charged-staircase-risk-workers-disability