Melbourne Firm Slapped with $150k Fine Over Pandemic Safety Breach

A Melbourne-based manufacturing company has been ordered to pay $150,000 in fines and costs after a court found it failed to adequately train its staff in COVID-19 infection controls during the height of the pandemic.

The case, heard in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, centred on a 2021 incident where the company, which cannot be named for legal reasons, was found to have neglected its duty of care. Workplace safety regulator WorkSafe Victoria brought the prosecution, arguing the business did not provide sufficient instruction on using personal protective equipment (PPE) and maintaining safe distancing.

Magistrate John Hardy stated the fine reflected the serious consequences of the lapse, noting that proper training was a fundamental and well-publicised requirement for all Victorian businesses operating during lockdowns. “The community rightly expected employers to take every reasonable step to protect their workers and the public,” he remarked from the bench.

A WorkSafe Victoria spokesperson told local media the outcome sends a clear message to Melbourne’s business community. “This wasn’t a minor oversight. At a time when case numbers in Victoria were critically high, ensuring staff were competently trained in infection prevention was a non-negotiable part of operating safely,” the spokesperson said.

The hefty penalty serves as a stark reminder for Melbourne businesses to rigorously maintain and document all workplace safety procedures. Industry groups have urged local operators to review their current training protocols, not just for pandemic-specific scenarios but for all health and safety compliance, to avoid similar costly legal action.