This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE state workplace health and safety regulator WorkSafe has charged the embattled Victorian Building Authority (VBA) over the suicide of an inspector.
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.
Senior inspector Rob Karkut took his own life in May last year after 16 years with the VBA, which led to the uncovering of a toxic workplace culture.
“WorkSafe has charged the Victorian Building Authority after an inspector took their own life in May 2022,” WorkSafe said in a statement.
“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 faces a second charge for failing to provide or maintain a workplace that was safe and without risks to health.
It is alleged the regulator failed 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 26th October.
The charges come days after The Age reported that the terms of the chief commissioner and board members of the VBA that expire tomorrow will not be renewed, with a shake-up of the body expected in a bid to tackle cultural issues. The positions of chief commissioner Michelle McLean, Carmel Coate, Julia Cornwell McKean, Sam Torre and Yvonne von Hartel will not be renewed.
Earlier this year, Sue Eddy abruptly resigned as the VBA CEO just days after reports emerged of hundreds of “inspections by iPhone” carried out by the state’s construction industry watchdog.
An investigation by The Age and 60 Minutes revealed that VBA inspectors had carried out hundreds of virtual audits instead of physically attending construction sites, despite legal advice that this might breach the state’s Building Act.
