$200,000 Fine After Unsupervised Worker’s Crane Injury
-
Do you have legal Safe Systems of Work?
-
Are you the "Workplace" Duty Holder?
For those that Own, Operate, Control, Manage or Supervise a workplace.
Contact us now for your Free! “Partnering” 7 Point Safety Compliance Assessment.
Original article: $200,000 fine after unsupervised worker’s crane injury (worksafe.vic.gov.au)
What happened
A transport company, WVCT Oz Pty Ltd trading as Western Victorian Crane Trucks, has been convicted and fined $200,000 in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court after one of its workers was seriously hurt using a crane without the right licence or supervision. The company was also ordered to pay $5,556 in court costs.
The incident
Back in September 2024, a truck driver was unloading steel trusses at a construction site in Charlemont using a remote-operated vehicle-mounted crane. The load was too heavy and the crane locked down. The injured worker tried to reposition the truss by hand, just as he had been told to do. But the crane slewed suddenly, pinning him to the ground and breaking his wrist. He needed a metal plate and 10 screws in surgery to repair the damage.
At the time, the driver did not hold a high risk work licence, and this was his first time doing this task alone, even though he had only been with the company for about three months. The court heard that the day before the incident he told his supervisor he wasn’t comfortable doing the job by himself, but was told he’d lose his job if he didn’t.
Why this matters
WorkSafe’s investigation found that WVCT Oz should’ve provided proper training, licences and supervision, especially for hazardous work like operating a crane. Putting someone in that situation without the right support exposed the worker to serious risk of injury or worse.
WorkSafe’s Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said employers have no excuse for letting workers perform high risk tasks without the right skills and oversight.
TL;DR
- Transport company fined $200,000 plus costs after an unsupervised crane incident injures a worker (10 Feb 2026).
- Worker tried to reposition a heavy load without a licence or supervision and got pinned, leading to a serious wrist injury.
- The case highlights why training, proper licences and supervision are non-negotiable for high risk work.
Commentary by Ray Boekelaar (Senior certified OHS/WHS Safety Consultant for www.solvesafety.com.au)
Ray Boekelaar is more than just a career “work retired” grandfather, father, and blogger, who loves AWD-SUV semi off road adventure camper traveling the highways and byways throughout the vast states and territories of the Australian continent. When he is not doing some casual OHS Safety or Real Estate Consulting for these respective organisations, as a “key opinion leader” (KOL) you will find him in between times trip planning historical tourist destinations and heading out into the sunset, on his next of many scheduled road touring travel adventures.
Schedule Your Safety Consultation & Compliance Assessment
Health and Safety Goals - What are you trying to Achieve?
