Company fined over fatality

By Rebecca Fraser
DANDENONG glass manufacturer Pilkington has been fined $310,000 over the death of a worker crushed by eight tonnes of glass that toppled from a forklift.
Hung Nguyen Huu had worked for the company for 17 years, and was directing a forklift driver in a warehouse at the Greens Rd factory when the incident occurred on 10 November 2001.
The forklift was carrying four packs of glass sheets each weighing almost two tonnes. Victorian County Court Judge Michael Bourke handed down the sentence on Monday after Pilkington pleaded guilty in June to two breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985.
WorkSafe Victoria manufacturing, logistics and agriculture director Trevor Martin said companies facing court frequently expressed regret about serious incidents and safety improvements after the event.
“Tragically it is too late, the damage is done and no amount of regret will change things,” Mr Martin said. “The improvement work, safe systems and proper planning and supervision should all have been in place.
“If they had this man would not have died. If forklifts are not used safely there can be blood on the floor,” he said. WorkSafe Victoria spokesperson Michael Birt said the tragedy highlighted the importance of forklift safety.
“If this could happen here it could happen anywhere,” he said. “This just goes to show how forklift accidents can occur in such tragic and spectacular circumstances.”
Australian Workers Union national secretary Bill Shorte said in terms of Pilkington’s global budget the fine was equivalent to a corporate speeding fine. “Compare it to the penalty Mr Huu has paid for the company’s negligence,” Mr Shorte said. “Nothing can bring back Mr Huu whose children have been deprived of his care and attention.
“We can never be satisfied with an outcome in a situation where a worker has died.
“However, we do hope this fine will serve as a warning to other employers that their first priority must be ensuring a safeworking environment for employees,” he said. A statement released by Pilkington on Monday said the company deeply regretted the accident.
“We continue to do what we can to support Hung’s family, and as a team at Pilkington we remain focused on safety and implementing the best possible systems to provide a safeworking environment,” the statement said.