A Dandenong mechanic was convicted and fined $40,000 after a car fell and crushed a man.
Birch Automotive pleaded guilty to two charges associated with failing to provide a safe system of work, according to WorkSafe.
A court heard that the victim was a visiting mechanic to the site.
He was talking to a Birch Automotive employee beneath a hoist holding a Holden sedan on 12 September 2016.
The car slipped and fell onto the victim when the hoist arms moved.
He suffered a broken hip, eight broken ribs, a fractured sacrum (a bone in the pelvic area), broken collar bone and a heart tear.
The car also struck the employee, but he managed to jump clear without injury.
WorkSafe investigated the incident and found the hoist did not have its support arm locking mechanisms engaged to stop the car from slipping off.
WorkSafe operations and emergency management head Adam Watson said the incident was a terrible example of a trauma that could have been avoided through safe working procedures.
“Incidents like this just should not happen,” he said.
“The dangers associated with hoisting heavy items such as cars are obvious and workplaces performing these kinds of tasks need to develop plans to ensure work can be done safely, communicate these to all staff and insist that they are followed.
“Staff should also to be properly trained so that they can recognise the dangers in the work they do.”
The company was also ordered to pay $3500 in costs.
