Coronial
VIChome

Finding into death of Mr ST

Deceased

ST

Demographics

33y, male

Date of death

2019-12-21

Finding date

2020-09-18

Cause of death

Crush injury to the head (depressed right temporoparietal skull fracture)

AI-generated summary

A 33-year-old man died from crush injuries to the head while working on a Land Rover at home. He was working alone beneath the vehicle supported by a single jack stand when it failed and the vehicle crushed him. The jack stand had sunk into unsuitable dirt ground, despite manufacturer warnings to use only on hard, level surfaces and in pairs. The death was preventable through adherence to safety protocols: using appropriate surface preparation, dual jack stands, and not working alone on vehicle maintenance. This case highlights the critical importance of proper equipment selection, correct installation practices, and awareness of equipment limitations in DIY vehicle work.

AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.

Error types

Contributing factors

  • Jack stand used on unsuitable ground surface (dirt rather than hard, level surface)
  • Single jack stand used instead of required pair
  • Working alone without assistance
  • Unsuitable surface causing jack to sink and buckle under vehicle weight
  • DIY vehicle maintenance performed without proper safety protocols

Coroner's recommendations

  1. ACCC consider renewing its national 'Safe Summer' campaign with a view to including DIY motor vehicle repairs and maintenance, and review its strategies for disseminating information involved in the campaign
  2. WorkSafe Victoria consider once again collaborating with the ACCC in its campaign to promote safety precautions for DIY vehicle maintenance
Full text

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