Victoria Building Authority to stand trial over inspector's death

The Victorian Building Authority has been committed to stand trial over the death of one of its inspectors.

WorkSafe charged the regulator in September 2023 after a worker took their own life in May 2022.

It's alleged the regulator refused to transfer the inspector to a different supervisor, and continued to pursue performance and redundancy processes.

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The regulator should have known the conduct would have placed the inspector at risk of psychological injury, WorkSafe alleged.

The Victorian Building Authority was charged with recklessly engaging in conduct that placed another person in danger of serious injury.

Another charge of failing to provide or maintain a workplace that was safe and without risks to health was also laid.

After a three-day committal hearing, Magistrate William Parker today ruled there was sufficient evidence for the regulator to face trial on the safe workplace charge.

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But he struck out the recklessly engaging in conduct offence after determining a jury could not find the regulator guilty of that charge.

A representative for the Victorian Building Authority pleaded not guilty to the remaining offence and the case was listed for trial in the Victorian County Court.

A directions hearing has been set down for April.

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