Charges over shipping container crush

Best Benchtop and Stone Pty Ltd is facing three charges under section 26 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing to ensure that a workplace was safe and without risks to health.

It follows the death of a man who was helping the company's director unload a shipping container when approximately 30 stone slabs weighing 220 kilograms each fell onto him.

WorkSafe alleges it was reasonably practicable for the company to take measures to reduce the risk of the slabs falling during the unloading process and causing serious injury or death to persons carrying out tasks inside the container.

The matter is listed for a filing hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 9 March 2022.