MELBOURNE company Altus Traffic Pty Ltd has pleaded guilty to a workplace offence after the death of an employee at Mowbray in early 2013.
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Ravenswood man Terence William Close, 62, died on February 5, 2013, when a car struck him while he was controlling traffic at a roadworks site in Vermont Road.
In September 2013, Mayfield driver Murray Higgs was sentenced in the Launceston Magistrates Court to three months’ jail, wholly suspended for 12 months, after he pleaded guilty to having caused the death of Mr Close by negligent driving.
Today in the Magistrates Court, a lawyer for Altus Traffic entered a plea of guilty to the offence of having failed to comply with a category two health and safety duty.
However, the lawyer for Venarchie Contracting Pty Ltd, which contracted Altus Traffic for the traffic controlling of the roadworks site, entered a plea of not guilty to the same charge.
Magistrate Sharon Cure ordered the companies to reappear for a mention on May 19, and adjourned the hearing for Venarchie to July 6.
The chief executive of Altus Traffic, Steve O'Dwyer, issued a statement which said the company deeply regretted the incident that resulted in the death of their valued employee, Mr Close.
"Terry's death has affected us all and our hearts go out to his family," Mr O'Dwyer said.
