A plumbing contractor, construction company and hire equipment provider have been charged by WorkSafe Victoria with failing to maintain a safe workplace, following the August 2023 death of a man after an accident involving an elevated work platform (EWP).

The 25-year-old victim died in hospital from his injuries after he was crushed between roof rafters and the basket of the boom lift he was operating while on a construction site in North Blackburn.

Ridge Commercial faces three charges under section 21(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act of failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace.

“WorkSafe alleges the plumbing operator twice breached section 21(2)(a) of the OHS Act by failing to provide or maintain safe plant and safe systems of work,” it says. “And breached section 21(2)(b) of the OHS Act by failing to have a trained and licensed safety observer present at all times during boom lift operation.”

Maben Group also faces three charges under section 21(1) of the OHS Act of failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace.

“WorkSafe alleges the construction company twice breached section 21(2)(e) of the OHS Act by failing to provide necessary supervision to employees during boom lift operation,” WorkSafe continues. “And breached section 21(2)(b) of the OHS Act by failing to arrange the appropriate induction for workers when the boom lift arrived at the site.”

Licojo faces two charges under section 23(1) of the OHS Act of failing to ensure persons other than employees were not exposed to health and safety risks.

“WorkSafe alleges the hire equipment provider failed to ensure the boom lift’s operator protection alarm was functioning, and failed to ensure a worker who had serviced the boom lift prior to the incident was licensed and adequately trained,” the statutory body states.

The matters are listed for a filing hearing at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 1 July 2025.