Historic $1.3 Million Fine Under Victoria’s Workplace Manslaughter Laws for Stonemasonry Business

Incident Overview

On Thursday, 21 October 2021, Michael Tsahrelias, a 25-year-old subcontractor, was killed at a stonemasonry business in Melbourne when a load tipped from a forklift and crushed him. The incident was captured on security footage and led to charges under Victoria’s workplace manslaughter legislation against the business owner and operator.

In February 2024, a Victorian court imposed a $1.3 million fine on LH Holding Management Pty Ltd, owned by Laith Hanna, marking a significant application of the state’s workplace manslaughter laws. The court also ordered Hanna to pay $120,000 in compensation to the Tsahrelias family and complete two years of unpaid community work.

• Fatalities:
  • On Thursday, 21 October 2021, Michael Tsahrelias, a 25-year-old subcontractor, was killed at a stonemasonry business in Melbourne when a load tipped from a forklift and crushed him
• Injuries:
  • None reported.

• On Thursday, 21 October 2021, Michael Tsahrelias, a 25-year-old subcontractor, was killed at a stonemasonry business in Melbourne when a load tipped from a forklift and crushed him

WorkSafe Victoria investigated the incident and determined that Laith Hanna and LH Holding Management Pty Ltd had breached work health and safety laws by failing to maintain safe operating procedures. The investigation identified the decision to reverse a forklift down a slope with a heavy load as a critical breach that directly caused Tsahrelias’s death.

WorkSafe Victoria investigated this incident and has completed its proceedings. Any workers, contractors or witnesses with additional information about unsafe forklift operations or work health and safety concerns at stonemasonry or similar businesses can contact WorkSafe Victoria on 1800 136 089 or visit worksafe.vic.gov.au to report concerns.

In Summary

On Thursday, 21 October 2021, Michael Tsahrelias, a 25-year-old subcontractor, was killed at a stonemasonry business in Melbourne when a load tipped from a forklift and crushed him. The incident was captured on security footage and led to charges under Victoria’s workplace manslaughter legislation against the business owner and operator.

The incident occurred at a stonemasonry business in Melbourne on 21 October 2021. Security footage captured the fatal event, documenting the unsafe operation that led to Tsahrelias’s death.