Company charged for staircase risk to workers with disability

Ability Works Australia Ltd faces two charges under section 21(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace.

WorkSafe alleges the company breached section 21(2)(a) of the OHS Act by failing to provide a safe system of work to prevent workers with mobility or vision impairment accessing the staircase from the break room at its Kew workplace.

It is also alleged the organisation breached section 21(2)(e) of the OHS Act by failing to provide necessary supervision to enable employees to work safely.

In December 2022, a worker with vision and hearing impairments was injured and later died in hospital after they fell down a stairwell during their lunchbreak.

The matter is listed for a filing hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 17 December 2024.