Tragedy struck a warehouse in Shepparton, northern Victoria, when workers found their colleague, a truck driver, dead in a coolroom. The discovery was made on Wednesday afternoon, prompting an investigation by authorities.
The incident has been identified as the third workplace fatality in Victoria this year, compared to 11 deaths at the same time in 2022.
Unattended Truck with Running Engine Spotted
The alarm was raised after the transport worker’s truck was spotted unattended at the workplace, with the engine running. The vehicle was discovered two hours after the driver had completed his shift for the day.
It remains unclear how long the driver had been in the coolroom before he was discovered.
Worker Found in Low-Oxygenated Coolroom
The 50-year-old man was found in a coolroom used to preserve apples, which had a low oxygen level.
The exact cause of his death is yet to be determined, pending an autopsy. WorkSafe, the workplace safety watchdog, is investigating the incident to determine if any safety protocols were breached.
Victoria’s Third Workplace Fatality this Year
The latest incident marks Victoria’s third workplace fatality this year, with the two previous deaths being agriculture-related.
This includes a 65-year-old farm worker who died while moving cattle at Yarrawonga South in the state’s north. WorkSafe has urged employers to prioritize workplace safety to prevent further tragedies.