Northern suburbs man dies after being caught in Tula lathe

22 June 2009

A man has died in hospital two weeks after his clothes were caught in an operating lathe at Tullamarine.

The man was working at a plastics manufacturing factory on 4 June when his coat was caught by the lathe and he was dragged in.

WorkSafe is investigating the death of the 60 old man from Delahey who was the 14^th Victorian to die in traumatic circumstances at work since 1 January.

WorkSafe’s Executive Director, John Merritt, said the fatality was the second this year involving unguarded equipment and one of a number of incidents where people have suffered injuries.

“Incidents like this devastate families, workmates and businesses yet so many ignore the known and clearly visible risks in their workplaces.”

The incident that precipitated this death came just a week after another company and its manager were prosecuted, convicted and fined in the County Court after a similar matter several years ago.

“If employers and workers do not protect their people and their businesses, they must accept the consequences. For individual and everyone associated with the incident they can be truly horrific.

“The outcomes are not what you see on TV and it’s not clever special effects. It is real-life horror that with some thought, planning and discussion can easily be avoided often with material that’s on site or at little cost.

“It’s not enough to rely on something being ‘industry practice’ when that practice is dangerous. It’s not good enough to rely on the fact that someone has been trained or are very experienced; and it’s certainly not good enough for you to do nothing.

“The deaths and high profile incidents are just the tip of the iceberg. Invariably they involve people doing routine work, but the less prominent injuries caused by poor manual handling practices, slips trips and falls also have an immense community and personal costs.

Mr Merritt said workplace injuries cost the community hundreds of millions of dollars every year in treatment and rehabilitation costs.”

Prevention of deaths and injuries is rewarded by a happier and more stable workforce and lower business costs.

Mr Merritt said a series of WorkSafe business briefings which run until mid-July and which will soon be in the western and northern suburbs will focus on ensuring safety is maintained in tough times, dealing with workers compensation claims and helping injured workers back to work.

Information on a range of free services such as the free, safety inspection by an independent consultant will also be available.

Bookings are essential for the 2009 WorkSafe roadshow. Go to www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/register or for more information call WorkSafe’s advisory service on 1800 136 089.

Briefings in the northern and western suburbs.

Date	Location	Time	Venue
Thursday 25 June	Melton	8.30am	Melton Community Hall 232 High St, Melton
Thursday 25 June	Macedon	4pm	Macedon Spa 652 Black Forest Dr, Macedon
Tuesday 30 June	Diamond Creek	8.30am	Ashton Manor 49-55 Main St, Diamond Creek
Tuesday 30 June	Broadmeadows	4pm	The Meadows 80 Northcorp Bvd, Broadmeadows
Tuesday 7 July	Altona	8.30am	Grand Star Receptions Cnr Grieve Pde & Dohertys Rd, Altona North
Tuesday 14 July	East Melbourne	9am	Dallas Brooks Centre 300 Albert St, East Melbourne
Tuesday 14 July	Moonee Ponds	4pm	Moonee Valley Racing Club McPherson St, Moonee Ponds