Building regulator charged following inspector's death

The VBA is facing one charge under section 32 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for recklessly engaging in conduct that placed another person at a workplace in danger of serious injury.

WorkSafe alleges the regulator refused to transfer the inspector to a different supervisor and continued to pursue performance and redundancy processes while aware that this conduct may have placed the inspector at risk of psychological injury.

The VBA also faces a second charge under section 21(1) of the OHS Act for failing to provide or maintain a workplace that was safe and without risks to health.

It is alleged the regulator breached section 21(2)(a) of the OHS Act by failing to provide and maintain an adequate system of work to reduce the risk of workplace related stress and psychological injury, including anxiety and depression.

The matter is listed for a filing hearing at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 26 October 2023.