A 65-year-old lift technician has died after being crushed at a residential property in Mount Waverley — Victoria’s 19th confirmed workplace fatality for 2026.
WorkSafe Victoria confirmed the incident occurred on Friday 29 May 2026, when the man was performing regular maintenance and servicing works at the property. He was later found deceased at the bottom of a lift shaft.
Paramedics attended the scene but were unable to save the man. WorkSafe Victoria is investigating the circumstances of the death.
The fatality is a sobering reminder of the serious risks facing lift technicians and maintenance workers who work on complex, heavy mechanical systems. Working in or near lift shafts presents significant risks of entrapment, crush injury, and falls — hazards that demand robust safe work procedures, effective isolation and lockout/tagout systems, and rigorous supervision.
What employers should consider
WorkSafe Victoria urges all employers in the lift and escalator industry to review their safe work procedures for maintenance activities, including:
- Ensuring equipment is fully isolated and de-energised before any technician enters or works near a shaft
- Implementing formal lockout/tagout procedures that cannot be bypassed
- Providing adequate supervision for all maintenance tasks, particularly those involving confined or restricted spaces
- Reviewing emergency response plans for working in lift shafts and similar environments
This is the 19th confirmed workplace fatality in Victoria for 2026.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact WorkSafe Victoria on 13 23 60.
