A worker has died after being crushed against pallet racking at a warehouse in Tottenham, Victoria, marking the 33rd workplace fatality confirmed by WorkSafe Victoria in 2026.

The incident occurred on the morning of Tuesday, 15 September 2026. A 54-year-old man was standing beside a reach stacker when a load dislodged from the machine and crushed him against nearby pallet racking. He died at the scene.

WorkSafe Victoria is investigating the circumstances of the incident. Police attended and will prepare a report for the coroner.

The death comes less than a week after another Victorian worker died in a separate scissor lift incident at a factory in Truganina on 9 September — underscoring what has been a devastating fortnight for workplace safety in the state.

Reach Stackers: A Known Risk

This is not the first time a reach stacker has been linked to a serious workplace incident in Australia this year. In a case handed down earlier this month, a company was fined $800,000 following a reach stacker incident that endangered both workers and pedestrians — highlighting the serious consequences of inadequate safety controls around this type of heavy equipment.

Reach stackers are used extensively in container yards, warehouses and logistics operations. They are capable of lifting loads exceeding 40 tonnes, and incidents involving load instability, operator error or inadequate exclusion zones can have catastrophic consequences.

WorkSafe Victoria’s guidance on plant and mobile equipment safety makes clear that employers must:

• Conduct a risk assessment before any lifting or moving operation
• Establish and enforce exclusion zones to prevent workers from entering the path of moving loads
• Ensure operators are trained and licensed for the specific class of plant
• Inspect and maintain equipment to manufacturer specifications
• Never allow workers to stand or work in the vicinity of a suspended or moving load

Victoria’s Toll in 2026

The Tottenham fatality is Victoria’s 33rd confirmed workplace death this year. Vehicle and plant-related incidents continue to account for a significant proportion of workplace deaths nationally, according to Safe Work Australia preliminary data.

If you have information about this incident or any unsafe workplace, you can report it to WorkSafe Victoria on 13 23 60, or anonymously via their website.