A construction company has been fined $1.1 million over the death of a truck driver in 2012 under new nation-al work safety laws. The truck driver was electrocuted when his tip truck touched low-slung power lines on a work site.

The company was found guilty of safety breaches that led to the drivers death, including having posted no signs warning of the power lines or attached flags to the lines themselves.
Industrial magistrate Lorraine Walker said the company, which was now in liquidation, had shown no remorse for the death and had a poor corporate culture, with a the son of the general manager appointed safety officer despite no being qualified for the job.

The court also heard of the company’s attempts to hinder the investigation into the death. That included an officer of the company altering the workers attendance record. ACT Worksafe Commissioner Mark McCabe said the record fine sent a “strong warning” to companies and company directors that they could be criminally liable under the new laws.

The maximum penalty for a safety breach by a corporation is $1.5 million.