A filing hearing has been held for a Horsham contractor charged with breaching the Occupational Health and Safety Act following the death of a worker in 2019.
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According to a WorkSafe media release, the 56-year-old man was crushed when a brick wall collapsed onto him during demolition work at a Ballart property in September, 2019.
Horsham Back-Hoe Hire faces two alleged breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing to provide a safe working environment.
Horsham Back-hoe Hire Pty Ltd also trades as Horsham Earthmoving and Demolition, according to the Australian Business Register.
The Ballarat Magistrates' Court was told on Friday the company was represented by the director, who is the wife of the deceased man.
WorkSafe prosecutor James Henderson said the charges were only against the company.
A hand-up brief will be served on Horsham Back-Hoe Hire's lawyers by March 19.
WorkSafe charged the company on January 22.
It is alleged the failure to establish and maintain an exclusion zone around the live demolition areas was a breach of section 21(2)(c) of the OHS Act.
WorkSafe alleges the company's failure to provide the information, instruction and training necessary to enable its workers to perform their work in a way that was safe and without risks to health was a breach of section 21(2)(e).
The matter will return to the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on April 30 for a committal mention.
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