Man dies after being caught in lathe

A man who was dragged into a lathe by his coat while working on the lathe has died two weeks after the incident, which occurred at a plastics manufacturing factory on 4 June in Tullamarine, Victoria.

WorkSafe is investigating the death of the 60-year-old man, who was the 14th Victorian to die in traumatic circumstances at work since January.

WorkSafe 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.

“If employers and workers do not protect their people and their businesses, they must accept the consequences. For individuals 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 immense community and personal costs.

“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.”