A plumbing company and a hire equipment provider have been convicted and fined a combined $630,000 after a 25-year-old worker was crushed against an overhead steel frame while operating a boom lift at a North Blackburn construction site.

Ridge Commercial Pty Ltd and Licojo Pty Ltd were sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court after both pleaded guilty to charges under Victoria’s Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The court heard the worker died in August 2023 while using the boom lift to install safety mesh for future roofing works. WorkSafe Victoria’s investigation found that no spotter was being used for the task and that an operator protection alarm (OPA) fitted to the boom lift had been disconnected. The boom lift was owned by Ridge Commercial and had been serviced by a Licojo technician on the morning of the incident.

Ridge Commercial was convicted and fined $400,000 on two charges of failing to provide or maintain a safe workplace. The court found it was reasonably practicable for the company to have had a system requiring daily pre-start inspections of the boom lift and to have arranged for a licensed safety observer. Licojo was fined $230,000 on a single charge of failing to ensure persons other than employees were not exposed to health and safety risks, as it was reasonably practicable for its technician to have identified the non-operational OPA during the service and removed the boom lift from operation. Both companies were also ordered to pay $5,525 each in costs.

WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said the tragedy was entirely avoidable.

“This tragic death could have been avoided if both companies had adhered to the relevant industry standards and guidance,” Mr Jenkin said. “As an employer, you must take all necessary steps to ensure your workers and others affected by your actions are safe and without risks to health.”