Vic: Five workplace deaths in a week prompts safety call

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2006
Vic: Five workplace deaths in a week prompts safety call

MELBOURNE, April 27 AAP - Victoria has recorded one of its worst weeks for workplace
deaths, with a painter becoming the fifth person to die in a week.

WorkSafe Victoria spokesman Michael Birt said the painter fell 4.5 metres to his death
while working at a house at Wonga Park, in Melbourne's east, yesterday.

The 64-year-old fell from the balcony of the house, which was under construction and
had incomplete balustrading, Mr Birt said.

"It's arguably the worst week in recent years for workplace deaths," he said.

"WorkSafe is calling on employers and employees to go back to the basic idea of hazards
and work practices that they know are dangerous.

"People do things they know are dangerous but think it's okay."

Mr Birt said the five deaths had resulted as workers carried out routine jobs.

On Sunday, a man died when a tree he was cutting down fell on him at Wodonga on the
Victoria-NSW border.

On Saturday, a man died in hospital after suffering an electric shock while changing
lightbulbs at a car yard at Coburg the previous Tuesday.

A man died in hospital last Thursday, after he was crushed by a machine at CUB at Abbotsford
on April 13.

And last Wednesday, a truck driver was electrocuted when his tip-truck hit power lines
at Nhill in country Victoria.

"One of the things we're saying to people is to get back to those basics," he said.

"It's the risk that you have got to identify first, not wait until someone's not moving first."

Mr Birt said an investigation had been launched into yesterday's death.

AAP ce/gfr/tnf/sd

KEYWORD: WORKSAFE

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