Case sheds light on senior executives' role in workplace health and safety
A former executive of a trucking company has been sentenced to jail for his role in the Eastern Freeway crash that killed four police officers in April 2020.
Magistrate Daniel Reiss on Tuesday sentenced Cris Large, former national operations manager at Connect Logistics, to three years in jail after he was found guilty of breaching health and safety standards while he was at his role.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) previously charged Reiss for "failing to fulfil their primary duty as an operator" in the lead-up to the crash.
Eastern Freeway crash
The Eastern Freeway crash in April 2020 resulted in the deaths of Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King, and Constable Josh Prestney.
It took place after a semi-trailer operated by the Connect Logistics collided with several vehicles.
The driver of the semi-trailer, Mohinder Singh, was fatigued and under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the incident. He was sentenced to more than 18 years in jail with a non-parole period of 14½ years.
The case prompted a seven-month investigation to the business practices at Connect Logistics, which revealed several breaches to safety standards within the organisation.
This includes Large allowing drivers to drive without proper training, fatigue management, or supervision, news.com.au reported. He also approved falsified timesheets for drivers, including for Singh.
In court, Reiss called out Large for his "deceitful and deliberate" actions that endangered his employees and other road users.
Role of senior managers
Back in November, the managing director of Connect Logistics was also convicted and fined $22,500 for his role in the fatal crash.
According to the magistrate, the managing director knew there was a problem with the company's compliance to the Heavy Vehicle National Law but did not do anything further.
Belinda Hughes, NHVR Director of Prosecutions, said the case underscores the responsibility of senior management in health and safety.
"Fatigue isn't a minor issue; a fatigued driver risks their own lives and the lives of the road users around them. This case demonstrates the shared responsibility for drivers to be fit to drive. The duty rests on the company and senior management just as much as the driver," Hughes said in a media release.
Connect Logistics, which is no longer operating, was previously convicted and fined with $2.31 million after it plead guilty for its involvement in the crash.
