Importer charged after stone slab fatality

The 34-year-old woman died after three stone slabs weighing up to 250 kilograms each fell onto her as she was helping to unload a shipping container in April 2020. 

Australia Rong Hua Fu Pty Ltd, trading as RHF Stone, is facing three charges under section 21(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing to provide or maintain a safe working environment.

It's alleged the company breached section 21(2)(a) of the OHS Act by failing to provide or maintain a safe system of work for the unloading of stone slabs.

WorkSafe alleges a further two breaches of section 21(2)(a) of the OHS Act of failing to provide or maintain safe plant, relating to a forklift being used at the time of the incident and racks used to store stone slabs at the warehouse.

The matter is listed for a filing hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 28 February 2022.