05:33 pm, Wednesday 17 March, 2010

The Melbourne Magistrates Court has convicted and fined a transportation company yesterday over serious injuries suffered by a driver when a truck trailer collapsed on him.

The company was fined $170,000 and was ordered to pay WorkSafe costs amounting to $41,270.

The case stemmed from a 2006 incident in Lemnos, near Shepparton. The driver asked a forklift operator to put an adjustable mezzanine floor in the truck’s trailer into place.

The driver climbed into the trailer to engage the floor’s corner supports, while the operator lifted the floor in position. However, one of the supports got severed, which caused the trailer’s rear floor to collapse onto the driver.

The driver had to be confined in hospital for 12 days to treat his broken arm and leg, fractured shoulder, broken ribs, and torn knee ligament.

According to Acting Executive Director for Health and Safety Stan Krpan, WorkSafe found the drivers and other workers who were tasked to adjust trailer floors lacked of training, instruction and equipment.

“This is a large operator that has nearly 5,000 vehicles across 11 countries – working with adjustable trailer floors will be part of the job for many of their employees,” Mr Krpan said.

“The bottom line is that people should not be in a position where they’re working, unprotected, under suspended floor panels.”

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know